Hurricane Idalia pummels Georgia after slamming Florida

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 3 tropical storm yesterday, pushing flood waters into homes and ripping off rooftops, trees and power lines.

It knocked out electricity for more than 400,000 people across Florida and Georgia. The storm has also claimed three lives.

Floridians who evacuated fearing the storm are returning home to assess damages.

The devastating hurricane—the strongest to make landfall in the area southeast of Tallahassee in 125 years—also felled a 100-year-old oak tree next to the Florida governor’s mansion. The three had split due to the winds. Governor Ron DeSantis and his family were inside, but none were harmed.

Forecast
Idalia blew into Georgia and South Carolina last night, bringing maximum sustained winds close to 125 mph and inundating communities.

It is forecast to move off the coast of North Carolina today and into the Atlantic Ocean.

President Joe Biden called the governors of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas and assured full federal support.

“I don’t think anybody can deny the impact of the climate crisis anymore,” he said to White House reporters.