Idalia, now a tropical storm, touched down in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.
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.
Charleston, which is vulnerable to flooding, recorded a storm surge of 3.47 feet -- its fifth highest on record.
But Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said the city "really dodged the bullet" of Hurricane Idalia.
"The wind and the rain impact were pretty minimal," he said Thursday.
Twenty-two water rescues were reported, which mostly were for people trapped in flooded cars, the mayor said.
-ABC News' Jason Volack
Idalia is bringing gusty winds, rain and storm surge to North Carolina's Outer Banks before the storm moves off the coast in about one hour.
Tropical storm and flash flood warnings are expected to be discontinued in North Carolina soon.
Idalia is forecast to move over Bermuda by Sunday, possibly as a tropical cyclone with winds near 50 mph.
One person died from the storm in Georgia when a tree fell on a car in Lowndes County, along the Florida border, according to James Stallings, director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
Gov. Brian Kemp plans to visit south Georgia on Friday.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday that he'll tour some of the hard-hit areas, like Cedar Key, to assess the damage.
Idalia has ripped down buildings, toppled trees and submerged entire neighborhoods.
DeSantis said there's a massive amount of debris left behind because Idalia struck a region with a lot of trees.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who joined DeSantis at his briefing in Florida, added, "We are committed to bringing the entire federal family in here to support."
President Joe Biden spoke with DeSantis Thursday morning and signed a Major Disaster Declaration, according to the White House.
While at least two fatalities have been reported in Florida, Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida's Division of Emergency Management, said there are no confirmed deaths.
