Hurricane Idalia Strikes Florida's Gulf Coast As Category 3 Storm

Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm, made its presence felt as it touched down near Keaton Beach along Florida's Big Bend coastline at approximately 7:45 a.m. ET on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center confirmed. The storm's arrival prompted urgent evacuation orders for residents in susceptible coastal regions, while others were advised to seek secure shelter.

'This Thing's Powerful'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis cautioned residents during a Wednesday morning press conference, stating, "Don't put your life at risk by doing anything dumb at this point. This thing's powerful. If you're inside, just hunker down until it gets past you." CNBC reports that the storm is expected to produce sustained winds of at least 130 mph and a storm surge that could reach up to 15 feet in certain areas.

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An Unprecedented Event

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee labeled Hurricane Idalia as an "unprecedented event," especially for the Big Bend region, which has never before been hit by a major hurricane. This comes as Florida is still grappling with the aftermath of last year's devastating Hurricane Ian.

Despite the dire warnings, some residents chose to stay put. Andy Bair, who owns the Island Hotel on Cedar Key, plans to "babysit" his property, which has withstood previous storms. "Being a caretaker of the oldest building in Cedar Key, I just feel kind of like I need to be here," Bair commented.

Preparations And Next Steps

As of Wednesday morning, the hurricane was located about 55 miles west of Cedar Key and 65 miles south of Tallahassee, moving northward at 18 mph. Evacuation orders were mandatory for nearly 900 residents of Cedar Key, where Commissioner Sue Colson had a straightforward message: "One word: Leave."

Preparations and emergency responses are in full swing. Over 30,000 utility workers are ready for rapid repairs, and approximately 5,500 National Guard troops have been activated. In Tarpon Springs, a hospital evacuated 60 patients due to the risk of a 7-foot storm surge.

After its Florida landfall, Idalia is predicted to traverse the Florida peninsula before soaking southern Georgia and the Carolinas. Both Georgia and South Carolina have declared states of emergency, mobilizing additional resources and National Guard personnel.

Sectors in the Eye of the Storm
The storm surge could reach up to 15 feet in some areas, posing a significant threat to the utility and insurance sectors. Companies like NextEra Energy Inc. NEE and Allstate Corp ALL could see stock volatility in the aftermath. The agriculture sector is also at risk, especially given Florida's role as a major citrus producer. 

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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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