Lazaro Aleman
news@greenepublishing.com
At 7 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, according to the latest bulletin from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Madison County was under a hurricane warning and well within the cone of the probable path of Hurricane Idalia, which was projected to intensify rapidly into an extremely dangerous major hurricane before making landfall somewhere in Florida on Wednesday.
Idalia, which formed as a tropical storm off the Yucatan Peninsula on Sunday, was about 135 miles west-southwest of the Dry Tortugas and about 320 miles south-southwest of Tampa, with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph. It was moving north across the Gulf of Mexico at 14 mph, its probable landfall encompassing the area between the Big Bend and upper west coast of Florida.
On Saturday, Aug. 26, Governor Ron DeSantis issued an emergency declaration for 33 Florida counties, including Madison County.
“I signed an executive order issuing a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution to ensure that the Florida Division of Emergency Management can begin staging resources and Floridians have plenty of time to prepare their families for a storm next week,” DeSantis said in the statement. “I encourage Floridians to have a plan in place and ensure that their hurricane supply kit is stocked.”
Monday morning, Aug. 28, the Superintendent of Schools in Madison County, Shirley Joseph announced that Madison County Schools will release students at noon on Tuesday with no extra-curricular activities after five p.m. There will be no school on Wednesday or Thursday. Extra-curricular activities may resume Thursday afternoon depending on the weather. Friday will be a regular school day. North Florida College (NFC) will be closed Tuesday at noon, all through Wednesday, and then they will wait for an all-clear to determine whether or not to resume classes on Thursday.
Also, in conjunction with the governor’s declaration, the Florida Department of Health issued a reminder to local residents to have enough of their prescriptions on hand in the eventuality that local pharmacies are temporarily closed. It noted that under a state of emergency, individuals are permitted to receive early prescription refills regardless of the typical limits. This refill availability will remain in effect until the governor’s executive order is rescinded or expires.
Meanwhile, Duke Energy on Monday announced that it was mobilizing 4,500 employees, including power line technicians, vegetation workers, damage assessors and support personnel, to respond to any disruptions to the electric grid in potentially affected areas.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, the center of Idalia was near latitude 23.8 North and longitude 84.8 West, moving toward the north at 14 mph. A north-northeast motion was expected later in the day, followed by a faster north-northeast motion in the evening and into Wednesday.
On the forecast track, per the NHC, the center of Idalia was expected to move over the eastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and reach the Gulf coast of Florida within the hurricane warning area on Wednesday, with rapid intensification expected prior to landfall, making the storm an extremely dangerous major hurricane.
Per the NHC, hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 15 miles from the center and tropical-storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles. The storm is expected to cross the state after landfall into across Georgia onto the Carolina coastline on Thursday.
Per the NHC, a storm surge warning was in effect from Englewood in Charlotte and Sarasota counties, including Tampa Bay, to Indian Pass near Apalachicola in the Panhandle. A hurricane warning was in effect from the middle of Longboat Key in Manatee and Sarasota counties to Indian Pass in the Panhandle.
The NHC warns that the combination of storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. It indicated that at peak surge, the water in the Aucilla River could rise 8 to 12 feet in some areas.
A hurricane warning means that hurricane condition are expected somewhere within the designated area and is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of the tropical force winds. It means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 12 to 24 hours and preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion, per the NHC.
A storm surge watch means that there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline during the next 48 hours.
Idalia was expected to produce from four to eight inches of rain from Tuesday into Thursday in portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle and southeast Georgia. Isolated higher totals of 12 were also possible, primarily near landfall in northern Florida, according to the NHC.
Areas of flash and urban flooding, some of which could be locally significant were also expected across portions of the west coast of Florida, the Florida Panhandle, and southern Georgia on Tuesday and into Wednesday, according to the NHC.
The NHC cautioned the threat of tornadoes will spread into the Big Bend area by Tuesday night.
Madison County Central School (MCCS) opened at f5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, as an emergency shelter. The MCCS shelter is pet-friendly. If you are bringing your pets, make sure they are contained in a crate or carrier. There is a special area for pets, and make sure to bring any items to take care of your pets. Also, make sure to bring proof of vaccinations. Anyone on oxygen is encouraged to come to the shelter. This shelter will also have a separate area for any special medical needs. The MCCS shelter is also providing MREs (meals ready to eat) and water. Any special food needs or comfort items (mattresses, cots, etc.) need to be brought.
For any updates please monitor the district's website and their other social media platforms. The district's website is madison.k12.fl.us.