On Wednesday, Hurricane Idalia struck Florida, hitting with the force of a Category 3 storm, causing widespread destruction along a significant portion of the Gulf Coast.

The impact was immense: houses and vehicles were submerged, streets transformed into waterways, small boats became untethered, and power lines were brought down.

The storm continued its path into Georgia after leaving a trail of havoc, the Associated Press reported.

The consequences were dire, with nearly 438,000 homes and businesses in Florida and Georgia left without electricity, as floodwaters inundated streets in the coastal regions.

As the hurricane’s center moved further inland, its powerful winds tore apart signs, sent pieces of sheet metal airborne, and snapped tall trees like matchsticks.

Idalia made landfall in the sparsely populated Big Bend area, where the Florida Panhandle transitions into the peninsula.

At 7:45 a.m., it struck near Keaton Beach as a formidable Category 3 hurricane, boasting sustained winds of around 125 mph (205 kph).

By midday on Wednesday, there were no confirmed storm-related fatalities in Florida.

However, Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned that fatal traffic accidents in two counties might ultimately be attributed to the storm’s impact during a press conference.

Written by staff