Alachua County officials warn residents to plan for worst-case scenario ahead of Idalia

Alachua County officials have issued a warning to residents who were here when Tropical Storm Irma ripped through the area in 2017: Hurricane Idalia could be worse.

Idalia is expected to strike Florida somewhere around the Big Bend area as a deadly Category 3 storm and, depending on its track, could pass over Gainesville still packing hurricane-force winds.

"At the very least, expect tropical storm-to-strong tropical storm-type conditions, in terms of winds," said Danny DuBois, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Jacksonville office.

As of 2 p.m. Monday, the storm was located off the southwest coast of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a State of Emergency for 46 counties, including Alachua.

What to expect

State Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, said winds and power outages are the most concerning for inland regions like Alachua County.

"Power outages are probably the biggest thing we're going to see," he said, urging residents to make sure they have enough water and food to last a few days.

The state also has a tax exemption for hurricane prep items.

The storm is expected to to move quickly across the state, leaving it little time to weaken as it begins to interact with land. DuBois said the highest amounts of rainfall — 4 to 8 inches —will likely be to the north and west of the storm, and that Gainesville can expect between 2 and 4 inches of rain. If the storm continues on hits northwesterly track, Gainesville could see as little as 1 to 3 inches of rain.

"Hurricane-force conditions are going to be a pretty tight, narrow spot that we'll see, but depending on the exact track, Gainesville is very close to that, so 70-plus mph winds are not out of the question as of right now," DuBois said.

The storm's biggest impacts are expected to be felt late Tuesday through early Wednesday.

Alachua County was kicking its hurricane preparations into high gear Monday morning with plans for debris management, search and rescue, damage assessment and more.

"There's a whole lot of planning and a whole lot of folks sitting down right now talking to each and making sure that we're ready both pre- and post-storm," said county spokesman Mark Sexton

Sexton said Alachua County has not experienced a hurricane-strength event in its recorded history, and that officials have been working to make sure they have residents' attention in case of a worst-case scenario.

"We want people right now to be focused on getting ready for this thing," he said.

When Irma passed over Alachua County in September 2017, it left widespread power outages, flooding and enough debris that it took crews more than three months to clean up the mess.

Ahead of Hurricane Idalia, sandbags are being distributed Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wayside Park, 11855 NW US 441, and again on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon. Shovels, bags and sand will be available to residents who stop after-hours.

Sandbags

The city of Gainesville also is offering pre-made sandbags from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Public Works, 405 NW 39th Ave. A self-serve sandbag station is also open those same hours at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Road.

Mayor Harvey Ward said in a Monday afternoon emergency meeting that all divisions of local government are ready to respond before and after the storm.

"City and county staff, including utility staff, have been working very, very closely. They already know how to do this. Our staff is amazing," he said. "... I hope everyone watching at home is aware that our utility staff, our general government staff, the county staff, sheriff staff, they all know what to do and they're all doing it."

Alachua County will open general population, pet-friendly shelters, and a special medical needs shelter beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Already announced locations include a general population (pet-friendly) shelter at the Easton Newberry Archer Center, 24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry, and a special needs shelter (service animals only) at the Alachua County Senior Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville.

For more information about the special needs shelter, call 352-955-2575.

All Alachua County Public Schools and Santa Fe College will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The University of Florida will be closed beginning Tuesday at noon through Wednesday.

The county also has activated its 311 emergency line, which Sexton said is the best source for residents seeking information and rumor control.

Residents also can sign up for emergency alerts by texting "ALACHUA" to 888-777.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Hurricane Idalia impacts on Alachua and Gainesville