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Idalia Makes Landfall, Raises Water Levels
UPDATE: FEMA is deploying resources to help those impacted by Hurricane Idalia. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell called it the strongest hurricane to hit Florida’s Big Bend Area in more than 100 years and said it’s still “very much an active situation.” More than 1,500 federal personnel are on the ground, as well as more than 500 search and rescue workers. Critical supplies including food and water were prepositioned to surge to areas hit hard by the storm. Criswell urged those in the storms path to shelter in place. Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend this morning as a Category 3 storm.
MIAMI, FL. — A Category 3 hurricane has slammed into the coast of northern Florida and is raising water levels this morning.
The National Hurricane Center says Idalia is causing storm surge across Florida’s Big Bend region, and that water levels along the coast are rising rapidly. Forecasters say the storm surge could be worsened by extreme high tides called king tides, which normally occur twice a year in coastal areas and usually cause flooding.
Several areas along the Florida Gulf Coast are forecast to have their highest tides today.
