By EFE
Aug 29, 2023, 14:02 PM EDT
MIAMI – More than 1.6 million people are ordered to evacuate their Florida homes as Hurricane Idalia approaches, which forecasters predict will make landfall in the northwestern part of the state with Category 3 winds (starting at 111 miles per hour or 178 kilometers per hour) this Wednesday.
“You still have time this morning to make your final preparations, but you have to do it now,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday at a press conference announcing that tolls will not be collected on the seven-mile highway. counties to facilitate population movements.
The governor, who declared a state of emergency in 46 of Florida’s 67 counties, has urged residents of coastal towns and flood-prone areas to heed mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders that have been issued over the past 24 hours. .
From the state emergency operations center, DeSantis warned that the greatest concern for the authorities is the storm surge, which in parts of the northwest coast of Florida, the so-called “Big Bend”, can raise the sea level up to about 15 feet. (4.5 meters) above its usual level.
“When there is a storm of this nature, we say that you have to run from the water, hide from the wind,” the governor explained to Fox News, who suspended his campaign for the Republican primary due to the hurricane.
In addition to temporary shelters, there are hotels in the area where Idalia, currently a category 1 hurricane, is expected to pass through, which are prepared to receive evacuees.
He also stressed that up to 30,000 workers are ready to proceed to restore power if the hurricane causes damage to poles and wiring.
The imminent arrival of Idalia as a major hurricane has forced the closure of schools in 42 school districts today and tomorrow, as well as 23 universities.
The arrival of Idalia, which at 11 am (15 GMT) was located 275 miles (440 km) south-southwest of the city of Tampa, has prompted the deployment of 1,100 National Guard troops, who have boats and rescue aircraft.
The international airports of Tampa and St. Pete-Clearwater remain closed this Tuesday, while the public railway company Amtrak has canceled or modified more than a dozen routes in Florida.
The evacuation orders have also included the MacDill air force base in Tampa Bay, as well as part of the Chevron company personnel who work on three oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, south of New Orleans.
The southeastern US vigilante
After the arrival of Idalia on the Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico, where it is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane, that is, at least category 3 on the Saffir Simpson scale (out of a maximum of 5), the cyclone will continue on land for the north of this state, the southeast of Georgia and near the coast of Carolina of the South.
In the latter state, Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency due to the hurricane, which can produce heavy rains and landslides between Wednesday and Thursday.
The entire coastal strip of Georgia and much of that of South Carolina is on Tuesday under a tropical storm warning due to Idalia, which has strengthened in recent hours and now has maximum sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (140 km/h) and is moving north at 14 miles per hour (22 km/h).
In Florida, residents rush preparations with memories of the effects of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall less than a year ago with 250 km/h (155 mph) winds and a storm surge of 17 to 20 feet (5. 1 to 6 meters) that came ashore and caused great devastation.
In this state alone, Ian killed nearly 150 people, according to figures from the coroner’s commission, and destroyed or severely damaged at least 20,000 homes and buildings.
The eye of Idalia made landfall on Monday at Cape San Antonio, the western tip of Cuba, and has so far left almost 60% of homes and buildings in the Pinar del Río province without power.
Idalia: How to prepare for the arrival of a hurricane or tropical storm