5 things to know as Idalia expected to make landfall in Florida

Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall in Florida early Wednesday morning, as residents of Florida and nearby states are bracing for impact. 

The National Hurricane Center expects the storm to reach a category 3 “major” hurricane before making landfall on the Gulf coast of Florida early Wednesday morning. State and national officials are all warning that the storm could strengthen as it continues to head up the East Coast.

Here are five things to know ahead of Idalia’s expected landfall:

1. Multiple states declare state of emergency 

Multiple states have joined Florida in declaring states of emergency. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) declared a state of emergency Saturday and has since expanded his executive order to include more counties included. As of Tuesday afternoon, 49 of the 67 counties in the state were under states of emergency. He also has delivered updates multiple times in the days since, in order to provide up-to-date information ahead of the storm’s impact. 

North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia have all followed as warnings heighten around the potential impact the storm could cause as it heads in the north-northeast direction. The National Weather Center said as the hurricane travels up the East Coast late Wednesday and Thursday, it will bring “the center of Idalia near or along the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas.”

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Monday declared the emergency, activating the emergency operations plan in the state. A press release from his office said the state of emergency also lifts rules governing transportation, allowing aid and resources to be transported, saying, “It is important for North Carolinians to gather emergency kits and prepare for the storm before it’s too late. We also want to make sure our farmers are able to protect their crops.”

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon and warned that the storm could bring tornadoes and heavy rainfall.

“We are taking every precaution ahead of Hurricane Idalia’s landfall tomorrow, and I am taking this additional executive action to ensure state assets are ready to respond,” he said in a statement. “Georgians in the expected impact area can and should take necessary steps to ensure their safety and that of their families. We are well positioned to respond to whatever Idalia may bring.” 

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) issued a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon, saying in a statement, “Although South Carolina may avoid the worst of Hurricane Idalia’s impacts, this State of Emergency is issued out of an abundance of caution to ensure that we have the necessary resources in place to respond to flooding events and are able to respond quickly if the forecast worsens,” adding, “Now is the time for South Carolinians to begin making proper preparations, and everyone should begin actively monitoring official sources for the most up-to-date information – especially those along our coast and in low-lying areas.”

2. FEMA says it will be a ‘life threatening’ event 

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell warned that the storm could be “life threatening” and described the various steps the federal government is taking to help states. 

In an update on Tuesday, Criswell said she spoke with Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and “encouraged the state to share information about areas of concern so FEMA can set up response and recovery operations in the appropriate areas as quickly as possible.”

FEMA has activated its National Response Coordination Center to support requests for federal assistance, Criswell said. FEMA also has fully stocked distribution warehouses and is working with the American Red Cross and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which have also provided resources and help. 

FEMA has deployed 640 personnel, which Criswell said includes six Incident Management Assistant teams, nine Urban Search and Rescue teams and three Disaster Survivor Assistance Strike teams, which are “all prepared to respond if requested to do so.” 

“Those living in Hurricane Idalia’s path should rush to complete preparedness actions, as this storm is expected to intensify rapidly into a dangerous major hurricane before landfall Tuesday night. There is a danger of life-threating storm surge along portions of the Florida Gulf Coast, from Tampa Bay to the Big Bend region,” FEMA’s statement read.

Criswell also said FEMA was “closely coordinating” with officials from Georgia and South Carolina and “stands ready to provide support as needed.”

3. Supermoon will worsen Idalia’s storm surge: National Hurricane Center

On Wednesday, August will see its second full moon, and, according to NASA, it will be a “supermoon,” which refers to “a full moon occurring near or at the time when the Moon is at its closest point in its orbit around Earth.” 

During a “supermoon,” otherwise known as a “perigean full moon,” high tides and low tides are  more extreme, since the moon is closest to Earth. Scientists and elected officials alike have raised concerns that the risk of high tide, just as the storm is expected to make landfall, could cause more severe damage as the rising water levels flood more of the coast.

The National Hurricane Center warned in its latest bulletin that “The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline.”

The NHC warned that, if the peak surge comes at high tide, then water levels could reach heights of up to 15 feet above ground, in the area from Aucilla River to Yankeetown, Florida. In Tampa Bay, levels could reach 4-6 feet above ground.  

The NHC provides a list of potential storm surge areas and the respective heights that water levels could reach if the storm peaks at high tide. 

4. Biden pre-approves disaster relief, speaks to DeSantis

President Biden pre-approved disaster relief and ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local response efforts, Biden announced Monday. 

His action authorized the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate relief efforts and to “provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures” in order “to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe,” in several listed counties, read the announcement. 

Biden approved an emergency declaration in Florida ahead of the storm and said on Tuesday that he has been frequently communicating with DeSantis, telling reporters, “We’re providing everything he could possibly need. We’re in constant contact.” 

“We’re worried about the surge, the ocean surge. We don’t know exactly — hour to hour, we’re watching this,” he continued. “But I told the governor, and the mayor of the region that’s likely to be hit first, that we’re there as long as it takes, and we’ll make sure they have everything they need.”

DeSantis, at a press conference on Monday ahead of Biden’s approval, said he expected Biden to approve the request for the emergency declaration and dismissed a reporter’s question about whether he has any concerns communicating with the president, considering he is running for his job in 2024.

“No, I mean, look, I think when you have situations like this, you’ve got to put the interests of the people first,” DeSantis said at the press conference. 

“I mean, you know there’s time and a place to have political season. But then there’s a time and a place to say that this is something that’s life threatening. This is something that could potentially cost somebody their life, it could cost them their livelihood, and we have responsibility as Americans to come together and do what we can to mitigate any damage and to protect people,” DeSantis continued.

5. Mass evacuations begin

DeSantis and other Florida officials have pushed residents to heed orders to evacuate the area if they live in a zone ordered or recommended to do so. 

Since issuing the state’s emergency declaration, DeSantis has expanded the order to include more counties. As of Tuesday afternoon, 49 of 67 counties were under a state of emergency and there were notices to evacuate throughout 22 counties. 

The evacuation zones in Florida are depicted on a map with various classifications, depending on whether it is mandatory or recommended to evacuate. The evacuations, as indicated clearly on the map, are located almost exclusively along the coasts of the state.

DeSantis and other officials have stressed the concern about a storm surge and the risk residents along the coasts face as water levels, the National Hurricane Center is warning, could reach up to 15 feet along the coast, if the peak storm surge happens during high tide. 

Florida residents ordered to evacuate have been pushed to do so immediately if they have not done so already. DeSantis said on Monday that those who have been ordered or suggested to evacuate do not have to flee the state. Going tens of miles inland could suffice, as opposed to traveling hundreds of miles to a different state, DeSantis said on Monday.