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Hurricane Idalia sweeps into Georgia after unleashing Florida floods

Almost 438,000 customers in Florida and Georgia lose power as rushing water covers streets near the coast

Reporters wade through flood waters as it inundates the downtown area after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30th in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty

Wed Aug 30 2023 - 21:31

Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Wednesday in Florida as a Category 3 storm and unleashed devastation along a wide stretch of the Gulf Coast.

It submerged homes and vehicles, turning streets into rivers, unmooring small boats and downing power lines before sweeping into Georgia.

Almost 438,000 customers in Florida and Georgia lost power while rushing water covered streets near the coast.

As the eye of the storm moved inland, high winds shredded signs, sent sheet metal flying and snapped tall trees.

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Idalia came ashore in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula.

It made landfall as a high-end Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 200km/h.

There were no confirmed storm deaths in Florida, although fatal traffic accidents in two counties may end up being storm-related, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said at a news conference.

A 59-year-old man driving a lorry in heavy rain veered off the road outside Gainesville. In Dade City a 40-year-old man lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree, authorities said.

State officials, 5,500 National Guardsmen and rescue crews were in search-and-recovery mode, inspecting bridges, clearing toppled trees and looking for anyone in distress in one of Florida’s most rural regions.

Because of the remoteness, search teams may need more time to complete their work compared with past hurricanes in more urban areas, said Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida department of emergency management.

On the island of Cedar Key, fallen trees and debris blocked roads, and propane tanks exploded.

The system remained a hurricane as it crossed into Georgia with top winds of 144km/h after drenching Florida mostly to the east of Tallahassee. Forecasters said it would punish the Carolinas overnight as a tropical storm.

Some models had predicted that Idalia could circle southward toward land again after that, but the National Hurricane Centre predicted it would move deeper into the Atlantic this weekend.

In Tallahassee, Florida’s capital, the power went out well before the centre of the storm arrived, but the city avoided a direct hit. A giant oak tree next to the governor’s mansion split in half, covering the yard with debris.

“If they do cut down the whole tree, that is more room for my kids to hit baseballs,” Mr DeSantis said.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee called Idalia “an unprecedented event” since no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend.

The state, still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s hurricane Ian, feared disastrous results.

Idalia grew into a Category 2 system on Tuesday and then a Category 3 storm on Wednesday before peaking as a Category 4 hurricane. It then weakened slightly.

Airports in the region, including Tampa International Airport, planned to restart commercial operations either later on Wednesday or Thursday.

As he finished tying down about 20 sailboats and motor yachts docked on Wilmington Island east of Savannah, Georgia, Brandon Long said his biggest worry was that the storm surge was forecast to coincide with a higher-than-normal tide.

“If these docks float off their pylons or come apart because of the violent current and the choppy waters, then that’s what destroys a marina,” said Mr Long, owner of the Bull River Marina.

Officials in Bermuda warned that Idalia could hit the island early next week as a tropical storm.

Bermuda on Wednesday was being lashed by the outer bands of Hurricane Franklin, a Category 2 storm that was on track to pass near the island. - AP

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