Idalia has intensified into a hurricane and Governor Ron DeSantis has issued evacuation orders.
"Evacuation orders have been issued for 21 counties. If you are under an evacuation order, take it seriously and get to a safer area. Travel tens of miles, not hundreds of miles, to safety," posted DeSantis.
Find evacuation orders here: https://www.floridadisaster.org/evacuation-orders/
Evacuation orders have been issued for 21 counties. If you are under an evacuation order, take it seriously and get to a safer area. Travel tens of miles, not hundreds of miles, to safety.
Find evacuation orders here: https://t.co/Q3ylnJLhpP
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 29, 2023
"I urge Floridians to heed the directives from local officials," said DeSantis at a press conference today with Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, Major General John Haas, and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. "There are going to be evacuation orders issued in all these gulf coast counties in the A and B zones. You are going to be told to evacuate."
DeSantis said the State is prepared in case of fuel shortages.
"We do have a lot of fuel that is stationed. It's on the way. It's going to be pre staged. 200,000 gallons of fuel," said DeSantis. "There may not end up being major interruptions in fuel supply but there may be so we want make sure that we have that available."
🚨JUST IN: DeSantis says there are 200,000 gallons of fuel pre-staged to be made available once #Idalia passes pic.twitter.com/poWq1FFnL0
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) August 28, 2023
“We are arranging for tens of thousands of utility linemen to be pre-staged so they can help with power restoration once the storm hits. We also have mobilized 5,500 National Guardsmen who are going to be there to be able to assist with both preparation and recovery efforts and we have seven urban search & rescue teams," said DeSantis in an interview with the Weather Channel this morning. “Our message is, as these local counties are doing their preparations, there are evacuation orders that have been or will be issued and we're asking Floridians to heed those orders...Please take precautions to protect yourself and your family."
.@GovRonDeSantis on #Idalia preparations: "[W]e are arranging for tens of thousands of utility linemen to be pre-staged so they can help w/power restoration....We also have mobilized 5500 National Guardsmen...to...be able to assist w/both preparation & recovery efforts… pic.twitter.com/5Ii255wbNe
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 28, 2023
DeSantis held four press conferences today in Tallahassee and along the gulf coast to prepare Florida for the impacts of Idalia. DeSantis updated the Emergency Order to include 13 more counties declared in a state of emergency, making the total 46 counties under a state of emergency.
"As of 5 p.m. #Idalia is forecast to make landfall at Florida’s Big Bend on Wednesday as a major hurricane," DeSantis posted. "For those in the potential path of this storm, stay tuned for updates & heed all evacuation orders. Follow @FLSERT and your local media for the most up-to-date information."
As of 5 p.m. #Idalia is forecast to make landfall at Florida’s Big Bend on Wednesday as a major hurricane. For those in the potential path of this storm, stay tuned for updates & heed all evacuation orders.
Follow @FLSERT and your local media for the most up-to-date information. pic.twitter.com/4moLnIpaom
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 28, 2023
DeSantis said he spoke with President Biden today and upon DeSantis's request, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted a pre-landfall emergency declaration for Tropical Storm Idalia. Additionally, the State Emergency Operations Center has activated to Level One in anticipation of potential impacts from the storm.
Florida Department of Emergency Management is warning that the cone of the storm only represents the probable track and that it could extend outside that area and people should be prepared.
"When monitoring Idalia, remember, the cone only represents the probably track of the CENTER of the storm, it does NOT show the size of the storm," the agency posted. "Impacts will extend far outside of the area that is shown. You should have your plan in place and heed all warnings from officials."
When monitoring #Idalia, remember:
- The cone only represents the probable track of the CENTER of the storm, it does NOT show the size of the storm
- Impacts will extend far outside of the area that is shown
- You should have your plan in place & heed all warnings from officials pic.twitter.com/QRMt9NifsK— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) August 28, 2023
