LIVE: Idalia makes landfall in Florida

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, stronger than experts initially predicted. It has been seriously affecting Florida’s Big Bend region since Wednesday morning.

Track Hurricane Idalia live:

The storm began to approach the coast on Tuesday afternoon and throughout the night. Large cloud formations could be seen from the beaches on the state’s west coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, Idalia is bringing winds up to 130 mph and 16-foot waves, significant rainfall, and flooding.

Throughout Wednesday, the effects of Idalia left more than 270,000 customers without power in Florida and more than 100,000 in Georgia, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. The counties with the most damage to their electrical infrastructure are Wakulla, Taylor, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Columbia, Gilchrist and Levy. In those counties, 60% of customers were left without power.

However, things seem to be slowly getting back to normal. Florida’s governor announced that the state’s airports in Tampa, Gainesville and Tallahassee will reopen this Wednesday. At a press conference, DeSantis confirmed that all three will open later this afternoon and that flights will begin operating normally as soon as weather permits.

Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the list of counties in states of emergency to a total of 49 counties, in addition to ordering evacuations in 30 of them. The counties on the coast are the most vulnerable. The city of Cedar Key, located on Cedar Key Island, is an example of a particularly vulnerable area. There, the waves and wind have caused severe damage throughout the city. Many people used sandbags for extra reinforcement.

According to experts, the effects of Idalia are being intensified by the current supermoon. This lunar phenomenon raises tides above normal levels while exacerbating flooding.

Gov. DeSantis asked people in Florida to “have a plan in place and make sure your hurricane supply kit is stocked.”

According to authorities, some counties could resume their activities as soon as this Thursday. Schools are expected to reopen in Osceola, Orange, Volusia, Lake and Brevard counties as soon as the storm has passed.

List of counties under Florida state of emergency:

Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hemando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla.

Counties with evacuation orders:

Mandatory evacuation: Citrus, Dixie, Gulf, Lafayette, Levy, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwanee, Taylor, Alachua, Flager, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jefferson, Leon, St Johns, Wakulla.

Voluntary evacuation: Baker, Madison, Hamilton, Marion, Putnam, Union, Volusia.

Evacuation according to the area: Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, Nassau, Sumter.

Details for each county and area are available on the Florida Emergency Services website.

Heading to Georgia

After Florida, Idalia will head northeast toward Georgia and South Carolina. South Georgia and its coast have been experiencing gusts of wind up to 78 mph. On Wednesday, about 38,000 customers in Georgia were without power.

DeSantis warns of looting after Idalia

Following reports of looting in Steinhatchee, a village in Taylor County, the governor warned of severe consequences for those who engage in it. “We will not tolerate any looting after a natural disaster,” he said at a press conference.

He also reminded offenders that they never know who they might be messing with, given that the Second Amendment is highly respected in that county. “I’d also just remind potential looters that people… you never know what you’re walking into. People have a right to defend their property,” he added.

For Biden, Idalia is another example of the “climate crisis”

The president said he had spoken with all the governors of the states most affected by the heavy winds and rains and was prepared to mobilize federal resources to help where he can. Deanne Criswell, president of FEMA, will meet with DeSantis in the Sunshine State.

At the same time, she assured that Idalia is the perfect example to evidence the climate crisis facing the United States. “I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of the climate crisis anymore. Just look around. Historic floods, more intense droughts, extreme heat, [and] significant wildfires have caused significant damage like we have never seen before,” she added.

Idalia moves into South Carolina

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Idalia was moving across South Carolina with sustained winds of 65 mph.

“On the forecast track, the center of Idalia will move near or along the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina through tonight and then just offshore the coast of North Carolina on Thursday. Idalia will then move eastward over the western Atlantic into the weekend,” the center’s statement said.

Charleston Harbor records fifth highest water level

The Weather Service released that the water level in Charleston Harbor is already at 9.03 ft, making it the fifth highest water level, behind the 9.29 ft recorded in 2016 with Hurricane Matthew and 9.92 ft with Hurricane Irma in 2017. The highest level was recorded in 1989 during Hurricane Hugo (12.52 ft).

Florida Bridges Cleared

Governor Ron DeSantis reported that all state bridges in Florida, including the Cedar Key Bridge, have been cleared.

“This is an important step in recovery and will allow first responders, law enforcement, utility linemen and supplies to come onto the island,” he said.