Florida braces for Storm Idalia with memories of Hurricane Ian still fresh

Florida preparing for the arrival of idaliaa tropical storm that is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday as a major hurricane on the west coast of this state, near where the hurricane did a little less than a year ago. hurricane ianwhich left death and destruction in its wake.

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according to National Hurricane Center (NHC) of USAduring this same Monday Idalia, now with sustained winds of 65 km/h (100 km/h) and about 90 miles (150 km.) south of the western tip of Cubait will become a hurricane and will continue on Tuesday over waters of the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico.

NHC forecasters predict that by early Wednesday the center of idalia makes landfall as a “dangerous major hurricane” on the west coast of Floridain some part of the strip that extends from the bay of Tampa until Indian Passnorthwest of the state.

The imminent arrival of Idalia has motivated the governor of this state, Ron DeSantisdeclare a state of emergency in 46 counties, as announced this morning at a press conference and in which he also said that “tens of thousands” of operators are prepared for the restoration of power.

“Please be ready”invoked DeSantis.

The governor and presidential candidate for the Republican Party alerted the population that the forecasts indicate that Idalia will impact as at least a category three hurricane on the scale Saffir-Simpsonout of a maximum of five, that is, with a minimum of maximum sustained winds of 111 miles per hour (178 km/h).

The public schools of the Hernando counties announced that they will not open for the next three days, the same as the Citrus Countywhich will close from noon today, among other demarcations that have decided to close schools and universities as a preventive measure

Authorities in Pasco County, where some 600,000 people reside, today issued evacuation orders for coastal towns and areas prone to flooding due to the threat posed by the expected rise in the tide, which could increase up to nine feet (2.7 meters ) north of Tampa Bay.

The disaster that is expected to cause idaliain whose wake of damage pteve entering northern and northeastern counties Floridaas warned DeSantishas motivated the president of USAthe democrat Joe Bidenissue an emergency declaration for this southern state, making it easier to facilitate federal aid.

The authorities of cities and counties of the tampa bay At least three sandbag distribution centers have opened, including one with an automatic machine for residents to fill their own bags, a development that is a result of lessons from Hurricane Ian last year.

Ian made landfall on September 28 of last year on the southern Florida coast of the Gulf of Mexico with maximum sustained winds of 250 km/h (155 mph), and a storm surge of 17 to 20 feet (5.1 to 6 meters) coming ashore and causing extensive devastation.

The authorities estimate that United States, Ian caused a total of 156 deaths.

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IDALIA AS STRONG AS IAN

Jonathan Petramala, a “hunter” of hurricanes and other meteorological phenomena and director with Brandon Clement and Andy Coates from the documentary “Price of Paradise: Surviving Hurricane Ian” (The price of paradise: Surviving Hurricane Ian), told EFE on Monday that Idalia “can easily become as strong as Ian.”

He “best scenario” in terms of impact for the population is if, as the forecasts indicate, Idalia makes landfall in the so-called “Big Bend”, says Petramala, a partner at Climate Productions.

He “Big Bend” is an area in the northwest of Florida less densely populated than the bay of Tampafurther south, which will be affected by the proximity of the hurricane but for now the forecasts do not place it in the path of a direct hit, according to the models of the NHC.

“It is definitely a dangerous cyclone”said petramala in a message to urge the population to prepare, especially residents of the Tampa Bay area, who, according to the hurricane “hunter”, cannot rely on the luck they had in 2022 and they must flee from danger.

The message of the powerful documentary about Ian released in 2023 is precisely that: the need to evacuate the area before the disaster and to take care not only of the wind but particularly of the water.

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.