PERRY, Fla. − Idalia, a raging monster of a hurricane when it slammed across Florida, had retreated to tropical storm status Thursday but continued to pound parts of the Southeast with drenching downpours and profuse flooding.
The storm's center was about 65 miles southeast of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, according to an 11 a.m. advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center. Idalia was still driving sustained winds of 60 mph and was expected to head into the Atlantic.
"Center of Idalia moving eastward off the North Carolina Coast," the advisory said. "Strong winds and storm surge occurring in eastern North Carolina."
Cleanup was in full swing in Florida, where the fast-moving storm made landfall Wednesday in Taylor County along Florida's Big Bend. A Category 3 hurricane with 125-mph winds when it hit, Idalia's churn flowed like rivers through streets in the town of Perry and surrounding areas, leaving behind battered homes and flood-damaged vehicles.
"I've never seen anything like this in Perry," said Sheila Houston, 57. "And I hope we don't ever again."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a briefing Thursday that at least 40 successful rescues took place, most by the National Guard. Tens of thousands of linemen were at work restoring power where across the region. DeSantis said he expected to visit the area later in the day.
"There has been significant damage, particularly along Florida's Big Bend, but the community is resilient and we are going to work hard to make sure people get what they need," DeSantis said.
Gradual weakening of Idalia was expected, but the storm remained capable of destruction. Tropical storm warnings and storm surge watches were in effect along much of coastal North Carolina, where Gov. Roy Cooper had declared a statewide state of emergency before the storm rolled in.
“We expect winds, rain and flooding to continue to impact our state even into Saturday,” Cooper said.
Idalia downgraded to tropical storm:Georgia, Carolinas, Florida inundated
Developments:
∎ More than 250,000 homes and businesses were without power Thursday in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. About half the outages were in Florida.
∎ In South Carolina, the heavy rains, strong winds and high tide conspired to send water racing through the streets of Charleston.
∎ In Georgia, Valdosta and Lowndes County suffered "significant" damage, the city said in a statement. Many roads are impassable because of flooding, debris or power lines in the roadway. "The recovery efforts are underway, but the damage is vast."
Idalia text message updates:Sign up to receive updates on Hurricane Idalia and its aftermath from journalists across the USA TODAY network
DeSantis and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said they will tour Taylor and Levy counties Thursday to get a firsthand look at the damage left behind by Hurricane Idalia. Idalia came ashore Wednesday with 130-mph winds that tore roofs from homes, downed power lines and flooded roads with rain and surging storm water. DeSantis has requested a major federal disaster declaration for all 25 counties that fell under the hurricane warning. The federal assistance would provide money to begin debris removal and for individual assistance. Criswell pledged to process the requests as quickly as possible.
“We are going to make sure that we always have the resources here from the federal family to support the current efforts but also the ongoing recovery efforts that may be needed in these communities,” Criswell said. Read more here.
− James Call, Tallahassee Democrat
South Carolina was not spared from the wrath of Idalia. The storm spawned a tornado Wednesday that briefly touched down in the Charleston suburb of Goose Creek, injuring two people, the National Weather Service said. Along the coast, North Myrtle Beach, Garden City and Edisto Island all reported ocean water flowing over sand dunes and spilling onto beachfront streets late Wednesday.
The rain came down in sheets across the Lowcountry Wednesday afternoon, punctuated by rolling thunderstorms and occasional wind gusts. In Charleston, storm surge from Idalia topped the seawall that protects the downtown, sending ankle-deep ocean water into the streets and neighborhoods.
"Dangerous coastal inundation is going across much of the lower South Carolina coast," The National Weather Service warned on Twitter. "Do not go to the beach and stay out of flood waters." Read more here.
− Joyce Orlando, USA TODAY NETWORK
Citrus County officials have reopened a critical 7-mile stretch of U.S. 19 that leads through the city of Crystal River. Emergency officials closed the road before noon Wednesday amid rampant coastal flooding in the area, about 100 miles southeast of where Idalia made landfall. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office also enforced a mandatory curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. prohibiting all travel in low-lying evacuation zones. Still, not all traffic lights along U.S. 19 were yet operable Thursday afternoon.
“That’s huge,” Citrus County Fire Rescue spokesperson Cortney Marsh said of the highway reopening.
− Rick Neale, Florida Today
DeSantis was working in the state's Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee on Wednesday when he received word from wife Casey that the storm split a century oak tree in the front yard of the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee.
“100 year old oak tree falls on the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee," the first lady later tweeted on her X account. "Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured. Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm.”
Security would not permit access to the tree but viewed from a sidewalk behind a fence, and judging from a photo Casey tweeted, the split oak appears to have a circumference big enough to be classified as a “veteran” oak, at least 100 years old, by the Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Inventory. The governor shrugged off the news: “If they do cut down the whole tree that's just going to be more room for my kids to hit baseball," DeSantis said. Read more here.
− James Call, Tallahassee Democrat
Deborah Green's family returned to Perry after the storm and were overwhelmed by the destruction in many other parts of town. The storm shredded commercial buildings signs, tipped over powerlines, blew out windows and ripped a gas station canopy off its foundation. Main roads that connect the city of 7,000 to the rest of the state were lined with live oak trees and long leaf pines, uprooted and snapped at their trunks.
On Wednesday, the family cleared debris from their yard. Their back porch was smashed by a fallen tree, and there was light roof damage elsewhere. Still, Green was thankful.
"We were blessed that we had our home to come back to," Green said. Read more here.
This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm but does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts.
DeSantis said he has told the state's emergency responders and law enforcement personnel to protect private property damaged by the storm or left vacant by evacuees. He issued an ominous warning to prospective looters at a briefing late Wednesday, saying would be held accountable legally and that "it could even be worse than that."
"People have a right to defend their property," DeSantis said. "In this part of Florida, you've got a lot of advocates and proponents of the 2nd Amendment, and I've seen signs in different people's yards in the past after these disasters (that say)'You loot, we shoot.' You never know what's behind that door."
'Couldn't believe it':Floridians emerge from Idalia's destruction with hopes to recover
Tropical Depression Eleven intensified to Tropical Storm Jose early Thursday. The storm was located several hundred miles east of Bermuda with sustained winds near 40 mph. Little change in strength was forecast, and the system was expected to be absorbed by Hurricane Franklin by the weekend.
Contributing: Doyle Rice, Thao Nguyen
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