Idalia: Long Road To Recovery For Some Florida Communities; Man Killed By Falling Tree In Georgia

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T​his article is no longer being updated. For the latest news on Idalia, click here.

I​dalia remains a tropical storm and is swirling near the North Carolina coast Thursday morning where heavy rain is falling and has prompted flash flood warnings.

Residents in several communities along Florida's Gulf Coast and inland face a long cleanup, as damage assessments and recovery from Idalia get underway.

The storm flooded homes and businesses, forced evacuations across dozens of cities and towns, shut down hundreds of schools and left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity.

The impacts were felt from Southwest Florida to North Carolina.

(​MORE: The Latest Forecast For Idalia)

Here's a look at our live updates as Idalia came ashore and moved inland Wednesday:

(​8:50 p.m. ET) Idalia Remains A Threat

From weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman: Idalia may be a tropical storm, but there are still impacts likely overnight into Thursday in the Carolinas.

These include the threat of storm surge flooding along the coast, flooding rainfall and isolated tornadoes.

A​s of the 8 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, the storm was located over South Carolina about 60 miles west of Charleston with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.

(​8:41 p.m. ET) Looking for ways to help people affected by Hurricane Idalia?

T​he state of Florida has stood up its disaster fund, and agencies like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and United Way are also helping. Click here to find out how to donate.

(​8:30 p.m. ET) Major Flooding In Charleston

The National Weather Service is tracking reports of major coastal inundation at Edisto Beach and downtown Charleston.

"Water has breached the Charleston Battery," the weather service said in a social media post. "Dunes are breached at Edisto with water flowing under homes and onto roadways."

(​7:21 p.m. ET) Man Killed By Falling Tree In Georgia

A​ man died while clearing a tree in the Valdosta area as Idalia moved through, The Associated Press reported.

“The guy was out working on cleaning up a tree in the road, just a local citizen doing good things,” Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk told the AP. “A big gust of wind came up and dropped another tree, killed him instantly.”

(6:00 p.m. ET) Car Flips On Highway In South Carolina

A likely tornado caused by Idalia picked up and flipped a car off of the highway in Goose Creek, South Carolina, as onlookers watched in disbelief. Two people in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.

Click here to watch the full video.

(​5:27 p.m. ET) Evacuations Lifted In Hillsborough, Pinellas Counties

Evacuated r​esidents in the Tampa Bay area's two largest counties are being allowed to return home. Mandatory evacuation orders in Hillsborough County expired at 5 p.m. Neighboring Pinellas County also lifted its evacuation order and reopened access to the barrier islands.

I​n both counties, the evacuation orders applied to those in Zone A, typically considered the most vulnerable to coastal flooding.

I​n addition, the Sunshine Skyway bridge, which crosses Tampa Bay and connects Pinellas and Manatee counties, is now open. So is the Howard Frankland, which spans a smaller portion of the bay between Tampa in Hillsborough County and St. Petersburg in Pinellas.

(​5:12 p.m. ET) Idalia Weakens To A Tropical Storm

Idalia is now a Tropical Storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, according to the latest public advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC). The storm is currently about 40 miles west of Savannah, Georgia.

Hurricanes are ranked one through five based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, with storms between 74 mph and 95 mph categorized as a Category 1 hurricane.

(​4:57 p.m. ET) Surfer Rescued In Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Lifeguards rescued a man from waters off of Jacksonville Beach on Wednesday. People are urged not to go into the water right now because of dangerous conditions spurred by Hurricane Idalia.

“The surf is rough, the rip currents are exceptional and they don’t want anybody out there in the water,” The Weather Company’s Alex Morgan reported live at the scene.

Click here to watch the full rescue.

(​4:36 p.m. ET) Savannah Government Offices To Remain Closed Through Thursday

Government offices in Savannah, Georgia, will remain closed through Thursday due to inclement weather from Hurricane Idalia, the city announced in a news release.

Essential services including public safety, sanitation, water and sewer, stormwater, park and tree, and traffic engineering will still respond at full capacity as weather conditions permit.

(​4:25 p.m. ET) Century-Old Oak Falls On Florida Governor's Mansion

Idalia knocked down a 100-year-old oak tree that fell on the Florida governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. First lady Casey DeSantis and her three children were in the mansion at the time. No one was hurt. Click here to see what happened.

(4:20 p.m. ET) Boats Loose In Tampa Bay

Clayton Tieman, owner of TowBoatU.S.Greater Tampa Bay, says he’s busy retrieving boats cut loose by Idalia.

“The vessels we are seeing here are pleasure boats of various sizes,” Tieman told weather.com in a phone interview. “Some of them were anchored in the Clearwater area that drug their anchors and (are) now sitting on beaches or sea walls.”

(​4:16 p.m. ET) Carolinas To See Heavy Rains Overnight

Tropical storm warnings are in effect for nearly the entire coast of North Carolina and South Carolina. Storm surge is expected to range from 1 to 4 feet and some areas may see as much as 7 to 10 inches of rain.

“In addition to the storm surge along the coast, we’re talking inland flooding as a very strong possibility,” said weather.com meteorologist Ari Sarsalari.

Click here to watch the full forecast.

(4:10 p.m. ET) Photos Show Idalia’s Wrath

Images show the damage brought by Idalia in Florida and Georgia. In the image above, buildings are destroyed after burning as the storm passed through Hudson, Florida, on Wednesday.

(​3:59 p.m. ET) Tree Falls Through House In Georgia

Strong winds have toppled trees across Georgia, blocking roads and damaging homes. In one photo out of Waycross, Georgia, a tree splintered at its trunk, falling and splitting open a house.

(​3:39 p.m. ET) More Than 450,000 Power Outages in Florida, Georgia

A​bout 285,000 homes, businesses and other utility customers are without power in Florida, according to PowerOutage.us. That includes virtually all of Taylor County, where Idalia made landfall, as well as neighboring Jefferson, Suwannee and Madison counties.

M​ore than 173,000 outages are being reported in southeast Georgia.

(​3:20 p.m. ET) Tampa Airport Reopening For Arrivals Only

T​ampa International airport plans to resume service at 4 p.m., but for arrivals only. Full operations are expected to resume early tomorrow morning. More than 700 flights to or from TIA were canceled yesterday and today.

Flights are also set to resume tomorrow at S​t. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, which also serves the Tampa Bay area.

(​3 p.m. ET) Idalia Tracking Toward South Carolina

From weather.com digital meteorologist Chris Dolce: Idalia will weaken to a tropical storm in the next few hours as it tracks toward South Carolina. That doesn't lessen its heavy rain threat and possible flooding in eastern Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Strong wind gusts could still down trees and knock out power as well through the overnight as it moves eastward.

We are also watching high tide closely this evening along the Southeast coast. Charleston is predicted to have major coastal flooding from a combination of Idalia's onshore winds and that high tide, which could cause flooding of roads in the downtown area.

(2:20 p.m. ET) Valdosta Residents Urged To Shelter In Place

Trees and power lines are down as flash floods and dangerous winds sweep across Georgia. Local officials in Valdosta urged residents to shelter in place, sharing photos of debris strewn roads.

In front of one house, video from WCTV-TV shows a tree that has been uprooted by the storm.

(​2:18 p.m. ET) Homes, Businesses Flooded On Anna Maria Island, Florida

R​esidents and business owners are reporting flooded streets and water inside some buildings on Anna Maria Island, a barrier island at the southwest tip of Tampa Bay. The island consists of the towns of Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth told the Bradenton Herald she's lived there 60 years and can't remember ever seeing this much saltwater flooding. Water crept through her front door, something that's never happened before. The good news? It's already receding.

“The tide came in dramatically, and it’s leaving almost as dramatically,” Titsworth said.

(​2:09 p.m. ET) Where's Idalia Now?

T​he core of the storm is currently about 10 miles north-northwest of Waycross, Georgia, and about 100 miles west-southwest of Savannah. Maximum sustained winds are 75 mph and the storm is moving northeast at about 20 mph.

(2:03 p.m. ET) Flooding In Downtown Charleston

Video from Charleston, South Carolina, shows at least one street flooded with water. City offices closed at noon and crews worked to position temporary pumps, clear ditches and drains and sweep streets in low-lying areas.

(​1:59 p.m. ET) Flooding Plus Power Outages A Dangerous Combination

F​looding combined with power outages is creating a dangerous situation in some areas.

"We encourage citizens who are experiencing water in their homes, to safely disable the power if possible to avoid electrical issues and fire hazards," the Pasco County, Florida, Sheriff's Office said in a social media post.

The post included a photo of a home on fire surrounded by floodwaters.

(1:31 p.m. ET) FEMA: ‘This Is Still Very Much An Active Situation’

There are over 1,500 federal responders on the ground in areas affected by Hurricane Idalia, including 300 personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and 500 urban search and rescue personnel.

“This is still very much an active situation,” FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said in a press conference a few minutes ago. “Remnants of the storm are still affecting Florida as we speak and the storm is over Georgia and moving into South Carolina.”

Criswell said the current priority is making sure people are safe, especially those who chose not to evacuate.

(​1:24 p.m. ET) Two People Killed In Vehicle Crashes

T​wo people are dead after vehicle crashes that happened during the storm. One was in Pasco County, in the Tampa Bay region, and the other in Alachua County, where the city of Gainesville is located. It's not yet known if those deaths were directly related to Idalia.

(​1:18 p.m. ET) 60 People Rescued From Flooding In Hudson, Florida

T​he Pasco County Sheriff's Office rescued at least 60 people from flooded homes in the town of Hudson, located on the Gulf Coast about 30 miles northwest of Tampa.

"PSO deputies continue to patrol during Hurricane Idalia and are seeing flooded roadways including water encroaching on homes, downed trees and power lines," the sheriff's office said in a social media post.

"Staying home and off the roads is strongly encouraged with Pasco’s weather conditions today. Don’t attempt to drive through flooded roadways, as they may be deeper than expected or contain other unseen hazards."

T​he sheriff's office is also searching for a person who has been missing since yesterday, but it isn't clear if the man's disappearance is connected to Idalia or not.

(​1:15 p.m. ET) Charleston International Airport To Suspend Operations

Charleston International Airport will close its air traffic control tower at 6 p.m. due to impending weather. The tower is scheduled to reopen on Thursday at 8 a.m.

According to airline tracking site FlightAware, 33 percent of incoming flights and 18 percent of outgoing flights at the airport are canceled today.

(12:48 p.m. ET) Governor: No Confirmed Fatalities Tied Directly To Storm

Urban search and rescue teams have been deployed in Florida and National Guard units across the state are helping clear major roads and debris thrown around by the storm.

“There are as of now no confirmed fatalities,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference a few minutes ago.

(​12:36 p.m. ET) Flooding Is Ongoing In Pinellas County, Florida

B​arrier islands in Pinellas County, most of which is on a peninsula bordered by Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, remain closed due to extensive flooding, according to the latest update from the county sheriff's office. Areas most impacted include Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach.

"Water is not receding and we anticipate additional flooding with high tide this afternoon," the update said.

S​ome streets in downtown St. Pete were also covered in floodwaters this morning.

M​any of those areas are under mandatory evacuation orders. Residents are being asked to continue to stay away, and those who didn't leave are being asked to stay in their homes.

(12:05 p.m. ET) Glynn And Chatham County Bridges Close

The cable-stayed bridge on State Route 25 that spans the Brunswick River in Brunswick-Glynn County closed at 10 a.m. The US 17/SR 404 Spur cable-stayed bridge that spans the Savannah River in Savannah-Chatham County will close at 2 p.m.

The closures will remain in place until storm impacts subside and an extensive inspection of the bridges are performed.

(11:55 a.m. ET) Emergency Shelters Opening In South Carolina

As Hurricane Idalia makes its way to the Southeast coast, South Carolina is opening emergency shelters for evacuees.

So far, a shelter has opened in Ridgeland, South Carolina, at the Ridgeland High-Junior-Elementary Complex as well as the Sheriff’s Admin Facility in North Charleston. Both facilities are pet friendly.

(11:37 a.m. ET) Storm Surge Pushes Sailboats Into Bridge

Storm surge reversed the flow of the Steinhatchee River in the Big Bend region of Florida. Sailboats were torn from their moorings and their masts were crushed under a bridge by waters sent backward up the river.

According to the National Weather Service, water levels on the Steinhatchee River rose to over eight feet this morning.

(11:35 a.m. ET) Flash Flood Emergency Leads To Water Rescues In Valdosta, Georgia

As Idalia began to push into Georgia, heavy rain and strong winds caused a dangerous situation in and around Valdosta, Georgia, where a flash flood emergency was declared. The National Weather Service relayed reports of water rescues as the floodwaters rose. Radar estimated that the area received 3 to 5 inches of rain in less than an hour, the NWS said.

(11:26 a.m. ET) Idalia Weakens To A Category 1 Hurricane

Idalia is now a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 90 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Hurricanes are ranked one through five based on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Category 1 hurricanes have wind speeds between 74 mph and 95 mph and can expect to cause damage, especially to trees and power lines.

(11:10 a.m. ET) Idalia Preliminarily Ties A Record

With sustained winds at 125 mph during landfall, Idalia has tied the record for the strongest hurricane to strike Florida’s Big Bend since record-keeping began in 1851.

Idalia ties the unnamed September 1896 hurricane for the strongest maximum sustained winds to strike this stretch of Florida’s coast; maximum wind speeds will be confirmed by the National Weather Service at a later date.

(11:03 a.m. ET) Storm Surge Batters Keaton Beach

Huge waves battered homes in Keaton Beach, Florida, near where Hurricane Idalia first made landfall. Feet of storm surge flooded onshore, swamping coastal areas.

Click here to watch footage from the scene.

(10:48 a.m. ET) What To Watch For In The Next Hours

From weather.com meteorologist Ari Sarsalari, here are things to keep an eye out for over the next few hours as Idalia moves inland:

-Continued storm surge flooding from the Big Bend all the way down through Tampa and Fort Myers. That situation won't improve much until later this evening.

-A significant swath of wind damage that will create power outages through southern/southeastern Georgia from Valdosta to Vidalia/Statesboro/Savannah.

-Increasing storm surge flooding along coastal parts of Georgia and South Carolina, which will likely peak this evening at high tide.

(10:30 a.m. ET) Georgia Begins To See Damage

Power lines are reported down across I-75, and traffic is diverted off the highway. Power outages were increasing in the state, with more than 20,000 outages by 10:30 a.m.

(10:09 a.m. ET) Structures Damaged In Perry, Florida

In Perry, Florida, photos show buildings, signs and windows ripped apart by damaging winds. Idalia continues to push inland as a Category 2 hurricane.

(9:26 a.m. ET) Photos: Homes Damaged Across Florida Coast

Photos from Keaton Beach, Florida, and Cedar Beach, Florida, show the damage Hurricane Idalia has caused for coastal homeowners.

(9:17 a.m. ET) Over 6 Feet Of Water At Cedar Key Tide Station

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tide station observed water levels in Cedar Key, Florida, at more than 6 feet above the normal high tide and still rising into the “major flooding” category.

(9:10 a.m. ET) Florida Power Outages Top 215,000

More than 215,000 customers were without power in Florida as of 9 a.m. Wakulla, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee and Dixie counties had the highest concentrations of outages, according to PowerOutage.com.

(8:50 a.m. ET) Steinhatchee Businesses, Roads Underwater

Steinhatchee, Florida is experiencing extreme flooding from Idalia’s storm surge. Video from Stag Harbor Marina shows buildings and roads overtaken by water, with debris and broken wood floating in toward town.

Water levels were near the roof lines of some businesses, including Roy’s Restaurant and Crabbie Dad’s Bar & Spirits.

(8:45 a.m. ET) Flooded Roads, Mobile Home Park In Pasco

Pasco’s Sheriff’s Office tweeted warnings to residents as the city saw flooding encroaching on homes, downed trees and downed power lines.

Photos shared by the sheriff’s office showed a flooded mobile home park and rescue workers heading out with row boats to conduct water rescues:

The sheriff’s office urged people to stay off of roadways and to consider turning off their electricity if their home is experiencing flooding.

(8:35 a.m. ET) Huge Tree Limbs Crash Down On Live TV

Reynolds Wolf of The Weather Channel was live on air as huge live oak tree branches crashed into a yard while he sheltered under a home’s outdoor canopy.

“This is incomprehensible what we’ve seen happen here over the last half-hour,” he said while looking out over the yard littered with large fallen tree branches.

You can see the video as it happened here.

(8:20 a.m. ET) Storm Surge Flooding Pours Ashore In Steinhatchee

Along the Big Bend, new video from Steinhatchee, Florida, showed severe flooding in coastal areas as storm surge pushed farther inland.

(8:10 a.m. ET) Restrict Water Usage, Clearwater Officials Tell Residents

"For those who have chosen to remain on the beaches despite the mandatory evacuation order, please restrict your water and toilet usage. Due to flooding, the city's lift stations and stormwater system are under strain," the City of Clearwater said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

(​7:45 a.m. ET) Landfall Has Occurred

T​he National Hurricane Center said Idalia made landfall at 7:45 a.m. ET near Keaton Beach with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, a high-end Category 3 hurricane. It is the eighth major hurricane to make landfall along the Gulf Coast since 2017.

(7:40 a.m. ET) Resetting The Scene Across Florida

Things are moving quickly now, so here is the latest as the situation worsens in several areas:

-Wakulla County has suspended emergency operations and won’t respond to calls until conditions allow them to do so safely.

-Several boats were damaged or sank in the Marina Jack Yacht Basin in Sarasota, according to the Sarasota Police Department. “DO NOT travel to the barrier islands. Conditions expected to worsen,” the department also said.

-​Outages have soared to more than 130,000 customers statewide, according to PowerOutage.us.

-​Idalia has dropped back to a Category 3 hurricane as it undergoes an eyewall replacement cycle near landfall, but expected impacts have not changed.

(7:15 a.m. ET) Cantore Documents Major Storm Surge Flooding In Cedar Key

The Weather Channel storm tracker Jim Cantore is seeing feet of storm surge pushing through the street in Cedar Key, Florida.

“We’re almost at the level that we were with Hermine in 2016,” he said, referring to the record 6 feet of storm surge that was recorded with Hurricane Hermine. Storm surge is expected to push water levels even higher in the coming hours.

See more from Cantore’s live report that shows the floodwaters rising.

(6:55 a.m. ET) 'TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER'

As the extreme wind warning was issued, the National Weather Service in Tallahassee did not mince words in any way whatsoever:

"TAKE IMMEDIATE SHELTER along the coast of Taylor and Dixie County. Eyewall of Hurricane Idalia will be coming onshore in the next 1-2 hours. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION!"

(6:30 a.m. ET) What Our Experts Want You To Know

Weather.com senior meteorologist Chris Dolce shared these thoughts as we get closer to Idalia’s landfall:

-Idalia intensifying into a Category 4 means wind damage could be devastating to catastrophic near a small area where the center makes landfall on the coast and for tens of miles inland.

-Landfall of that center should happen in the next couple of hours.

-Storm surge is rising along the coast with Cedar Key seeing 5 to 6 feet of surge as of 6 a.m. EDT. Surge will only continue to rise as landfill happens.

(6:10 a.m. ET) Extreme Wind Warning Issued

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee has issued an extreme wind warning for Steinhatchee, Horseshoe Beach and Dekle Beach along the Gulf Coast. This type of warning indicates the eyewall of a hurricane is coming ashore and is typically reserved for wind speeds of at least 115 mph.

(5:45 a.m. ET) Notable Wind Gusts In Florida So Far

-70 mph: Sarasota

-58 mph: Tampa

-58 mph: St. Petersburg

(5:30 a.m. ET) Here’s Where Cantore Is Riding Out The Storm

The Weather Channel storm tracker Jim Cantore resumed his live updates from Cedar Key, Florida, at 5 a.m. As the water rose, Cantore retreated from the road to safe shelter to continue his reports.

You can see his first live report of the morning here.

(5:20 a.m. ET) Outages Top 50,000 In Florida

According to PowerOutage.us, more than 50,000 Florida homes and businesses are now without power due to the storm. Nearly half of those outages are in Pinellas County, but the largest percentage of customers in the dark are in counties along the Big Bend.

Outages are expected to climb rapidly as the day goes on, and in some areas, it could be days before power crews are able to get up in the air to make repairs.

(5 a.m. ET) Idalia Now A Category 4 Hurricane; New Advisories Issued For East Coast

Hurricane Idalia has rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph just hours before landfall along Florida’s Big Bend, the National Hurricane Center said in its latest advisory.

Additionally, hurricane warnings have been issued for parts of the East Coast. Here’s what has changed:

-Hurricane warning issued for the East Coast of the United States from Altamaha Sound, Georgia, to Edisto Beach, South Carolina.

-Storm surge warning issued from St. Catherine's Sound, Georgia, to the South Santee River, South Carolina.

-Tropical storm warning issued from north of Surf City, North Carolina, to the North Carolina/Virginia border, and Pamlico and Albemarle sounds.

-The tropical storm warning for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach southward is discontinued.

(​4:45 a.m. ET) Water Overtakes Roads In Madeira Beach

West of St. Petersburg, the barrier island community of Madeira Beach was reporting serious flooding with water over many roads as Idalia piled up water along the coastline. Local reporter Chad K. Mills was documenting the impacts.

Mills also reported that there was a condominium fire in the area, but emergency managers said nobody was hurt.

(​4:30 a.m. ET) Serious Flooding Ongoing In Tampa-St. Petersburg Area

S​torm chaser Brandon Clement documented serious flooding near Tampa and St. Petersburg as Idalia pushed huge amounts of water onshore this morning.

(​4:15 a.m. ET) How Idalia Looks On Satellite

T​his image provided by NOAA shows the powerful Category 3 Hurricane Idalia in the Gulf of Mexico a few hours before sunrise this morning. In the picture, an eye can clearly be seen in the middle of the still-strengthening storm.

(​4 a.m. ET) Key Bridges Close In Tampa Area

B​oth the Sunshine Skyway and Howard Frankland bridges were closed early this morning as Idalia's winds intensified in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announced.

F​or Tuesday's live updates page, click here.

(​Nicole Bonaccorso contributed to this report.)

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