Authorities in Florida have declared a state of emergency and ordered evacuations as Hurricane Idalia strengthens and heads towards the state’s west coast.

Florida Calls for Evacuations on the West Coast as Hurricane “Idalia” Approaches

Authorities in Florida have ordered evacuations and mobilized the National Guard in response to the approaching Hurricane “Idalia.” Prior to this, Governor DeSantis had declared a state of emergency for parts of the state.

The authorities in the US state of Florida have urged people on the west coast to seek safety ahead of the arrival of Hurricane “Idalia.” The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned that “Idalia” is expected to strengthen into an “extremely dangerous hurricane” as it moves over the unusually warm Gulf of Mexico before making landfall on Wednesday. Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis has called upon residents in 23 counties to evacuate “immediately.” He advised coastal residents that they do not need to drive hundreds of miles but should seek shelter outside the danger zones in shelters or hotels.

“This is going to be a stronger hurricane, probably a category three,” Governor DeSantis stated. “Idalia” had already reached hurricane strength on its way to Florida during the night. State of Emergency Declared

Governor DeSantis had previously declared a state of emergency in 46 counties as a precautionary measure. Additionally, 1,100 members of the National Guard have been mobilized, equipped with amphibious vehicles and aircraft for rescue and recovery operations.

US President Joe Biden agreed to the state of emergency during a phone call with Governor DeSantis on Monday. According to the White House, the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is preparing for assistance measures and the deployment of personnel. “Idalia” to Make Landfall on the Northwest Coast

“It is expected that ‘Idalia’ will make landfall on the northwest coast of Florida, an area that, according to Governor DeSantis, has not experienced a stronger hurricane in a long time. The Tampa Bay metropolitan region, with its approximately 3.2 million residents, is likely to be particularly affected by the storm,” stated the NHC. Tampa International Airport has already been closed. Storm Surges and Flooding

Parts of Florida and the southern part of Georgia could be affected by storm surges and flooding until Wednesday. From Wednesday to Thursday, some areas of South Carolina could experience flooding.

A heatwave in the Gulf of Mexico, with water temperatures reaching up to 31 degrees Celsius, is causing “Idalia” to rapidly intensify on its way to Florida, according to the NHC. Strong hurricanes typically reach category 3 or higher on the five-level Saffir-Simpson scale. According to the NHC, these storms can cause “devastating” and “catastrophic” damage. Flooding in Cuba

Prior to reaching Florida, “Idalia” had already affected the Caribbean nation of Cuba as a tropical storm, causing flooding, particularly in the capital city of Havana. According to authorities and state media, around 8,000 residents in the western Cuban province of Pinar del Río were evacuated to safety.

Tropical storms and hurricanes hit the coasts of Mexico, the United States, and Caribbean countries every year. According to experts, they are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.