Hurricane Idalia brought “catastrophic storm surge” to a swath of the Gulf coast, according to the National Hurricane Center, leaving a wake of destruction in Florida, including two deaths.
The storm, which rapidly intensified into a major Category 4 storm before dropping back to a Category 3 early Wednesday, made landfall at the crux of Florida’s Big Bend region. Idalia will move near or along the coasts of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina late Wednesday or Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said.
More than 330,000 customers in Florida and Georgia were without electricity, according to the Associated Press.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported two deaths related to the storm. A man died about 6 a.m. in Gainesville while driving in “extremely rainy conditions,” according to FHP. His pickup veered into a ditch and hit a tree. He was declared dead at the scene by Alachua County Fire Rescue responders. The second man died in Paco County when he lost control of his vehicle 6:15 a.m. while traveling too fast for the conditions, according to the Highway Patrol. He collided with a tree.
Steve Odom stands on the porch of his home that is surrounded by flood waters caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Reporters wade through flood waters as it inundates the downtown area after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) People look out at the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia surrounding their apartment complex on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area on the Gulf Coast of Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) People ride an ATV through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Cars sit in flood waters from Hurricane Idalia after it passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) A person canoes through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) In an aerial view, a fire is seen as flood waters inundate the downtown area after Hurricane Idalia passed offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Police man a roadblock to keep cars from driving through flood waters from Hurricane Idalia on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) People work to free a vehicle stuck on the shoulder amid storm debris as Hurricane Idalia crosses the state on August 30, 2023 near Mayo, Florida. The storm made landfall at Keaton Beach, Florida as Category 3 hurricane. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) A person rides a kayak through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Makatla Ritchter (L) and her mother, Keiphra Line wade through flood waters after having to evacuate their home when the flood waters from Hurricane Idalia inundated it on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) A boardwalk at the Clearwater Harbor Marina in Clearwater, Florida, is flooded by the rising tide on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) Residents use kayaks to travel on a flooded road in Tampa, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) In this aerial view, a vehicle attempts to travel on a flooded road in Tampa, Florida, on August 30, 2023, after Hurricane Idalia made landfall. (MIGUEL J. RODRIGUEZ CARRILLO/AFP via Getty Images) People ride an ATV through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area of Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) David Rudd helps Steve Odom (L) carry a kayak onto his porch through the flooded streets caused by Hurricane Idalia passing offshore on August 30, 2023 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is hitting the Big Bend area on the Gulf Coast of Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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