Tropical Storm Idalia: A Report on the Damage and Impacts

Tropical Storm Idalia, which was once a powerful Category 4 hurricane, has left a trail of destruction and flooding across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. The storm made landfall near Keaton Beach in Florida on August 30, with winds of 125 mph and a storm surge of up to 16 feet. It then weakened as it moved inland, but still brought strong winds, heavy rain and power outages to millions of people. As of August 31, Idalia was moving eastward over the Atlantic Ocean, away from the U.S. coast, with winds of 60 mph. The storm is expected to weaken further and dissipate by September 1.

Florida

Florida bore the brunt of Idalia’s fury, as the storm made landfall in the Big Bend region, which is the area between the panhandle and peninsula. This region is vulnerable to storm surge due to its low-lying terrain and shallow continental shelf. Idalia pushed seawater onshore along a wide swath of the state’s west coast, inundating coastal communities and causing widespread damage to homes, businesses, roads and infrastructure.

According to the latest reports, at least eight people have died and dozens have been injured as a result of Idalia in Florida. The storm also caused widespread power outages, affecting more than half a million customers at its peak. Many areas were also flooded by the storm surge and rainfall, which exceeded 10 inches in some places.

Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 67 counties and urged residents in the evacuation zones to leave before the storm hit. He also activated the National Guard and requested federal assistance from President Joe Biden. The governor warned that Idalia was a “life-altering event” for some communities that may never look the same.

Some of the hardest-hit areas in Florida include:

• Keaton Beach: This is where Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 125 mph and a storm surge of up to 16 feet. The town was severely flooded and many homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged. Residents described the scene as “devastating” and “apocalyptic”.
• Perry: This is the county seat of Taylor County, where Idalia made landfall. The town experienced severe flooding and wind damage, with many streets turned into rivers and buildings ripped apart. Residents said they had never seen anything like this in Perry before.
• Crystal River: This is a coastal city in Citrus County, where Idalia brought a storm surge of up to 10 feet. The downtown area was submerged by water and many shops and restaurants were flooded or damaged. Residents said they were shocked by the extent of the damage.
• Tampa: This is a major city in Hillsborough County, where Idalia brought strong winds and heavy rain. The city experienced some flooding, power outages and downed trees, but avoided major damage. The Tampa International Airport was closed for several hours due to the storm.
• Fort Myers: This is a city in Lee County, where Idalia brought gusty winds and rain. The city also experienced some flooding, power outages and downed trees, but avoided major damage. The Southwest Florida International Airport was also closed for several hours due to the storm.

Georgia

Georgia was also impacted by Idalia, as the storm crossed into the state as a Category 1 hurricane on August 30. It was the first hurricane to make landfall in Georgia since 1898, when a Category 4 storm struck near Brunswick. Idalia brought strong winds, heavy rain and flash floods to parts of southeast Georgia, especially along the coast.

According to the latest reports, at least three people have died and several have been injured as a result of Idalia in Georgia. The storm also caused widespread power outages, affecting more than 300,000 customers at its peak. Many roads were also impassable due to flooding, debris or power lines.

Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency for 92 counties and activated the National Guard. He also requested federal assistance from President Joe Biden. The governor warned that Idalia was a “historic” storm that posed a serious threat to life and property.

Some of the hardest-hit areas in Georgia include:

• Valdosta: This is a city in Lowndes County, where Idalia brought strong winds and heavy rain. The city suffered significant damage from flooding, downed trees and power lines. Many roads were impassable and some buildings were damaged or destroyed. The city said the recovery efforts were underway, but the damage was vast.
• Brunswick: This is a coastal city in Glynn County, where Idalia brought strong winds and storm surge. The city experienced coastal flooding and wind damage, with many streets and homes flooded or damaged. The city said it was assessing the damage and working to restore services.
• Savannah: This is a coastal city in Chatham County, where Idalia brought strong winds and storm surge. The city experienced coastal flooding and wind damage, with some streets and homes flooded or damaged. The city said it was working to clear debris and restore power.
• Tybee Island: This is a barrier island near Savannah, where Idalia brought strong winds and storm surge. The island experienced coastal flooding and wind damage, with some streets and homes flooded or damaged. The island said it was working to clean up and recover from the storm.

South Carolina

South Carolina was also impacted by Idalia, as the storm moved along the coast of the state as a tropical storm on August 31. Idalia brought gusty winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding to parts of southeast South Carolina, especially in Charleston and Hilton Head Island.

According to the latest reports, no fatalities or injuries have been reported as a result of Idalia in South Carolina. The storm also caused some power outages, affecting more than 50,000 customers at its peak. Some roads were also flooded or blocked by debris.

Governor Henry McMaster issued a mandatory evacuation order for some coastal counties and closed schools and government offices. He also activated the National Guard and requested federal assistance from President Joe Biden. The governor warned that Idalia was a dangerous storm that could cause life-threatening flooding.

Some of the hardest-hit areas in South Carolina include:

• Charleston: This is a coastal city in Charleston County, where Idalia brought gusty winds and storm surge. The city experienced significant coastal flooding, especially in the historic downtown area. Many streets and buildings were flooded or damaged. The city said it was working to pump out water and remove debris.
• Hilton Head Island: This is a resort island in Beaufort County, where Idalia brought gusty winds and storm surge. The island experienced moderate coastal flooding and wind damage, with some streets and homes flooded or damaged. The island said it was working to restore services and reopen businesses.
• Myrtle Beach: This is a coastal city in Horry County, where Idalia brought gusty winds and rain. The city experienced minor coastal flooding and wind damage, with some streets and homes flooded or damaged. The city said it was working to clean up and recover from the storm.

North Carolina

North Carolina was also impacted by Idalia, as the storm moved along the coast of the state as a tropical storm on August 31. Idalia brought gusty winds, heavy rain and flash floods to parts of eastern North Carolina, especially along the Outer Banks.

According to the latest reports, no fatalities or injuries have been reported as a result of Idalia in North Carolina. The storm also caused some power outages, affecting more than 20,000 customers at its peak. Some roads were also flooded or blocked by debris.

Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for 34 counties and activated the National Guard. He also requested federal assistance from President Joe Biden. The governor warned that Idalia was a fast-moving storm that could cause dangerous flash floods, tornadoes and rip currents.

Some of the hardest-hit areas in North Carolina include:

• Cape Lookout: This is a national seashore on the Outer Banks, where Idalia brought gusty winds and storm surge. The seashore experienced moderate coastal flooding and wind damage, with some roads and facilities flooded or damaged. The seashore said it was working to assess the damage and reopen to visitors.
• New Bern: This is a city in Craven County, where Idalia brought gusty winds and heavy rain. The city experienced minor flooding and wind damage, with some streets and homes flooded or damaged. The city said it was working to clear debris and restore power.
• Wilmington: This is a coastal city in New Hanover County, where Idalia brought gusty winds and heavy rain. The city experienced minor flooding and wind damage, with some streets and homes flooded or damaged. The city said it was working to assess the damage and recover from the storm.

Tropical Storm Idalia was a powerful and destructive hurricane that impacted parts of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina from August 30 to August 31. The storm caused at least 12 deaths, dozens of injuries, widespread power outages, severe flooding and extensive damage to homes, businesses, roads and infrastructure.

The authorities and the public have been responding to the storm with emergency declarations, evacuations, rescue operations, relief efforts and recovery plans. President Joe Biden has approved federal assistance for the affected states and has pledged to support them in their recovery.

Idalia was the second major hurricane of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season