Idalia updates: Damaging tornadoes, severe flooding from Florida to Carolinas

Idalia, now a tropical storm, touched down in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.

ByEmily Shapiro, Morgan Winsor, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: August 31, 2023, 4:37 PM EDT

Idalia touched down in Florida's Big Bend region on Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 3 hurricane -- the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in the Apalachee Bay.

Idalia has since weakened into a tropical storm and moved inland over Georgia and the Carolinas.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Aug 28, 2023, 11:27 AM EDT

Idalia could be strongest hurricane for Big Bend since 1950

Idalia is currently forecast to make landfall along Florida's Big Bend region between Apalachicola and Tampa as a Category 3 hurricane. If this happens, it will mark the strongest landfall for the Big Bend region since 1950, when Category 3 Hurricane Easy made landfall in Cedar Key.

Idalia's potential landfall in Florida.
ABC News

No hurricanes have ever made landfall in the Big Bend region stronger than Category 3.

It has been more than half a century since a hurricane of category 2 strength or stronger has hit the Big Bend region of Florida, specifically an area from Apalachicola to Tampa.
ABC News

If Idalia makes landfall as a Category 2, it will be the first in the region since Gladys in 1968.

-ABC News' Kenton Gewecke

Aug 28, 2023, 10:58 AM EDT

Pasco County, Hillsborough County schools to close

As Idalia approaches, the Pasco County School District, north of Tampa, said its schools will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Schools in Hillsborough County, which encompasses Tampa, will also be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Aug 28, 2023, 10:29 AM EDT

Biden approves emergency declaration for Florida

President Joe Biden spoke with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday morning and told the governor he's approving an emergency declaration for the state, according to the White House.

"President Biden said Florida will have his full support as they prepare for Idalia and its aftermath," the White House said.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency "has pre-deployed personnel and assets, including multiple Incident Management Assistance Teams," according to the White House. "FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center has also been fully activated to support any requests for federal assistance."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Aug 28, 2023, 10:20 AM EDT

Floridians should prepare for at least Category 3 hurricane: DeSantis

Floridians should be prepared for at least a Category 3 hurricane, Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Monday.

"This is going to be a major impact," DeSantis said at a press briefing.

DeSantis said evacuation orders will be issued for low areas along the coast.

If "you're told to evacuate, you do not need to drive hundreds of miles. You do not need to leave the state of Florida," the governor noted. "You basically need to go to higher ground in almost every instance. You can go tens of miles to a shelter, to a hotel, to a friend's house, whatever works for you, and you'll be able to ride out the storm."

-ABC News' Hannah Demissie and Will McDuffie

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