Concern over flesh-eating bacteria and carbon monoxide in Hurricane Idalia’s aftermath - live

After Hurricane Idalia, there are now concerns over flesh-eating bacteria, carbon monoxide, and other health risks in the state, local officials said.

Lieutenant governor Jeanette Nunez, state surgeon general Joseph Ladapo and others said Floridians need to take precautions to avoid illness or death after the storm, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

One of the big dangers post-Idalia is vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria found in warm, brackish water.

The storm left three people dead across Florida and Georgia as it headed into the North Atlantic having battered North Carolina.

Idalia ploughed into Florida as a Category 3 Hurricane on Wednesday morning before losing power as it moved inland through Georgia and the Carolinas.

The National Hurricane Center reported that Tropical Storm Idalia continued to lose power as it moved offshore, however areas of flash, urban, and moderate river flooding, with considerable impacts, are expected from eastern South Carolina through eastern North Carolina.

President Joe Biden will visit Florida to see the aftermath and recovery efforts on Saturday morning, he said on a surprise visit to FEMA’s offices in Washington, DC.

Key points

• Biden heading to Florida to see aftermath and recovery efforts

• Hurricane Idalia could be US’s costliest climate disaster this year

• Life-threatening flash flooding continues to hit North Carolina

• WATCH: Terrifying moment tornado flips car with two inside

• Tree falls on DeSantis mansion with his family inside as Hurricane Idalia rocks Florida

• Satellite images show before and after Hurricane Idalia wrought damage in Florida

Once again Tampa Bay area dodges direct hit by hurricane

06:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Last year it was Hurricane Ian that drew a bead on Tampa Bay before abruptly shifting east to strike southwest Florida more than 130 miles (210 kilometers) away. This time it was Hurricane Idalia, which caused some serious flooding as it sideswiped the area but packed much more punch at landfall Wednesday, miles to the north.

In fact, the Tampa Bay area hasn’t been hit directly by a major hurricane for more than a century. The last time it happened, there were just a few hundred thousand people living in the region, compared with more than 3 million today.

Read on...

Tampa Bay area gets serious flooding but again dodges a direct hit from a major hurricane.

Where is Hurricane Idalia now? Tropical storm system mapped

06:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Hurricane Idalia was downgraded back to tropical storm status on Wednesday after making landfall in Keaton Beach in northeastern Florida’s Big Bend and crossing into Georgia, losing some of its power but still leaving behind a trail of flooding and destruction in its wake.

The storm is now headed for the Carolinas before dropping out into the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend but has so far proved far less destructive than initially feared, providing only glancing blows to Tampa Bay.

Even so, the 125mph winds with which it arrived from the Gulf of Mexico did plenty of damage, as captured by drones flying overhead, and left as many as half a million Floridians without power after ripping down electricity poles and cables across the north of the state.

Where is Hurricane Idalia now? Tropical storm system mapped

05:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Journalist battles 100mph winds as he reports from Florida during Idalia landfall

Forecast shows Hurricane Idalia could hit Florida twice

05:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Hurricane Idalia made landfall in northwestern Florida on Wednesday morning – bringing heavy winds, torrential rains and sending thousands of people fleeing for safety – and has since cut a path of destruction across southern Georgia en route to the Carolinas.

It was downgraded to tropical storm status by the National Hurricane Center after arriving in Keaton Beach in Florida’s Big Bend and has since lost seen its wind speeds drop from 125mph to 60mph but has still caused plenty of chaos.

While the storm is expected to drift out into the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend, the Global Forecasting System, a US federal hurricane projection model, has caused alarm by indicating that it could then circle back and strike the Sunshine State for a second time early next week.

According to The Daily Beast, other models, including that of the trusted European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, do not support that conclusion and such looping is considered highly unusual for tropical storms but is not unprecedented.

Forecast shows Hurricane Idalia could hit Florida twice

Florida residents share heartbreaking photos of Hurricane Idalia’s wrath

04:50 , Louise Boyle

Florida residents shared heartbreaking photos of the destruction caused by Hurricane Idalia after the powerful storm swept into the state on Wednesday.

Idalia made landfall around 8am as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm with 120mph winds and warnings of “catastrophic” coastal surge up to 15 feet in places. More than 250,000 customers were left without power on Wednesday.

The hurricane came ashore near Keaton Beach in Big Bend, southeast of Tallahassee, an area known as “Florida’s nature coast” and less densely-populated than other parts of the state.

But that was cold comfort for the small, tranquil communities dotting the coastline with Idalia forecast to be the strongest storm to hit the region in more than 100 years.

Florida residents share heartbreaking photos of Hurricane Idalia’s wrath

Why destructive hurricanes like Idalia often start with the letter ‘I’

04:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Hurricane Idalia caused widespread damage after making landfall as an “extremely dangerous”, Category 3 storm in Florida on Wednesday.

Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, and residents shared heartbreaking images of the destruction Idalia caused.

Idalia, which is pronounced Ee-DAL-ya and has Greek or Spanish origins, joined a long list of notoriously destructive hurricanes, whose names start with the letter “I”.

Read the full piece here:

Why destructive hurricanes like Idalia often start with the letter ‘I’

Hurricane Idalia could be US’s costliest climate disaster this year

04:25 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Analysts are estimating that Hurricane Idalia may become the most costly climate disaster in the US this year, according to a report.

The storm — which made landfall near Big Bend, Florida, on Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane — caused an estimated $9.36bn based on early estimates from UBS, a risk analysis firm. However, those are only early estimates; Accuweather predicted the total damage could be somewhere between $18bn and $20bn.

The costs of climate disasters like Hurricane Idalia and the 15 other incidents recorded this year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are becoming especially costly for insurers and risk management companies, according to The Guardian.

Hurricane Idalia could be US’s costliest climate disaster this year

Satellite images capture Florida before and after Hurricane Idalia made landfall

04:20 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Satellite images have captured the life-threatening flooding in Florida after Hurricane Idalia battered the peninsula this week.

Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 3 storm early Wednesday morning with wind speeds topping 125 mph.

The storm flooded streets, destroyed homes and downed power lines. Terrifying videos have shown a car being flipped into the air by a gust of wind and a gas station roof being blown off.

Water levels in the Steinhatchee River surged from 1 foot to 8 feet in just an hour, the National Weather Service said.

The storm was declared “an unprecedented event” by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, because no major hurricanes on record have ever passed through the bay abutting the Big Bend.

Satellite images capture Florida before and after Hurricane Idalia made landfall

03:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Voices: Why Hurricane Idalia could derail the 2024 campaign

02:50 , Oliver O'Connell

This could be a make or break week for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Why Hurricane Idalia could derail the 2024 campaign

01:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida highway partially submerged as Hurricane Idalia makes landfall

In pictures: Satellite photos show before and after of Hurrican Idalia in Florida

Friday 1 September 2023 00:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Satellite images capture Florida before and after Hurricane Idalia made landfall

Voices: The hidden crisis looming behind Hurricane Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 23:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Skylar Baker-Jordan writes:

Working in the mortgage industry in the 2010s, I knew three things to be true about Florida real estate transactions: closings do not require an attorney, it has a decent homebuyer assistance program, and homeowners’ insurance was becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. This is bad news for a state that already has homeowners’ insurance rates four times higher than the national average, making it the most expensive state for homeowner’s insurance.

Read on...

The hidden crisis looming behind Hurricane Idalia

Why destructive hurricanes often start with the letter ‘I’

Thursday 31 August 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The process of naming hurricanes comes under scrutiny every year. Here are your questions answered...

Why destructive hurricanes like Idalia often start with the letter ‘I’

Thursday 31 August 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Rare lightning phenomenon captured in the sky during Hurricane Idalia evacuations

ICYMI: DeSantis hit by power outage in middle of Hurricane Idalia briefing

Thursday 31 August 2023 21:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis was hit by a power outage in the middle of his press conference about Hurricane Idalia on Wednesday morning, as the storm barreled into Florida’s Big Bend region.

Ron DeSantis hit by power outage in middle of Hurricane Idalia briefing

Thursday 31 August 2023 20:58 , Oliver O'Connell

Floridians surf in Hurricane Idalia waves as evacuations ordered from county

ICYMI: Idalia pummels Cedar Key, Florida as it comes ashore

Thursday 31 August 2023 20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Hurricane Idalia pummels Cedar Key, Florida as it comes ashore

Watch: Biden says he will head to Florida on Saturday morning

Thursday 31 August 2023 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Did a rare blue supermoon make Hurricane Idalia worse for Florida?

Thursday 31 August 2023 19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Weather experts believe gravitational pull from the moon made for higher tides than usual...

Rare blue supermoon could make Hurricane Idalia hit Florida even harder

Florida residents share heartbreaking photos of aftermath of Hurricane Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 19:20 , Louise Boyle

Florida residents shared heartbreaking photos of the destruction caused by Hurricane Idalia after the powerful storm swept into the state on Wednesday.

Idalia made landfall around 8am as an “extremely dangerous” Category 3 storm with 120mph winds and warnings of “catastrophic” coastal surge up to 15 feet in places. More than 250,000 customers were left without power on Wednesday.

The hurricane came ashore near Keaton Beach in Big Bend, southeast of Tallahassee, an area known as “Florida’s nature coast” and less densely-populated than other parts of the state.

But that was cold comfort for the small, tranquil communities dotting the coastline with Idalia forecast to be the strongest storm to hit the region in more than 100 years.

Read more...

Florida residents share heartbreaking photos of Hurricane Idalia’s wrath

Watch: Biden making remarks at FEMA headquarters

Thursday 31 August 2023 19:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Earlier: DeSantis gives Hurricane Idalia update as recovery efforts begin

Thursday 31 August 2023 18:50 , Oliver O'Connell

As the tropical storm remnants of Hurricane Idalia move out into the Atlantic, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis gave an update this morning on the state’s recovery efforts.

Watch: Ron DeSantis gives Hurricane Idalia update as recovery efforts begin

Why stormy weather this week could make or break Ron DeSantis

Thursday 31 August 2023 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s no secret at this point that Ron DeSantis’s image has taken a hit since he hit his peak in November 2022 after he cruised to a nearly 20-point re-election as Florida governor in an otherwise dim year from Republicans. His lacklustre performance on the presidential campaign trail has led to many people questioning whether he can go the distance against Donald Trump in the GOP presidential primary.

And it looks like he might literally be facing even rougher waters than he already has weathered. This last week, a white gunman killed shot and killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. In response, Mr DeSantis said that “the shooting, based on the manifesto that they discovered from the scumbag who did this, was racially motivated. He was targeting people based on their race.”

But when he attended a vigil in Jacksonville, a historically Republican city that recently elected a Democratic mayor, the residents of the city were not having it and they heckled the governor.

Mr DeSantis has staked his claim on making Florida a place where “wokeness” comes to die and has passed laws restricting how race is taught in classrooms in the state. Others Black leaders, including some Black Republican members of Congress, have also criticised the state’s middle school history curriculum, which says that enslaved people “developed skills” that could be “applied for personal benefit.”

Read more from Eric Garcia on how Hurricane Idalia will impact Ron DeSantis’s precarious political position.

Why Hurricane Idalia could derail the 2024 campaign

Where is Tropical Storm Idalia now?

Thursday 31 August 2023 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Now downgraded to a tropical storm, Idalia is moving off into the North Atlantic. Tropical storm warnings are still in place along the coast of North Carolina, but much of the danger has now passed and clean-up and recovery efforts are well-underway.

Satellite images capture Florida before and after Hurricane Idalia made landfall

Thursday 31 August 2023 17:50 , Louise Boyle

Satellite images have captured the life-threatening flooding in Florida after Hurricane Idalia battered the state.

Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 3 storm early on Wednesday morning with wind speeds topping 125 mph.

The storm flooded streets, destroyed homes and downed power lines. Terrifying videos have shown a car being flipped into the air by a gust of wind and a gas station roof being blown off.

Andrea Cavallier reports

Satellite images capture Florida before and after Hurricane Idalia made landfall

Tree falls on Florida home during Hurricane Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 17:29 , Louise Boyle

A tree fell on a house in Perry, Florida, as Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Wednesday.

In a video shared on Facebook by resident Olivia Gregg, one downed tree can already be seen out of the window, before two more fall in the wind, with the second crashing into the home.

“Tree hit the house a little while ago. My immediate neighbours have massive trees on their houses as well,” Gregg wrote. “We are ok.”

Idalia made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area as a Category 3 storm with wind speeds topping 125 mph.

Tree falls on Florida home as Hurricane Idalia devastates state

President Biden calls Governor DeSantis

Thursday 31 August 2023 16:50 , Louise Boyle

President Joe Biden called Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday morning, according to the White House pool report.

The president told Mr DeSantis that he had signed a Major Disaster Declaration and ordered all available federal resources to help with the continued response to Tropical Storm Idalia.

“The President reiterated that the people of Florida have his full support as they recover from the storm,” the report added.

Separately, Mr Biden declared that an emergency exists in the State of South Carolina and ordered federal assistance to support local response efforts to Hurricane Idalia.

Terrifying moment car carrying two people is flipped into air by Hurricane Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 16:36 , Louise Boyle

A car carrying two people was flipped into the air by a tornado in South Carolina, as Hurricane Idalia tore through the state.

The black sedan was travelling through severe rainfall near Goose Creek, north of Charleston, on Wednesday afternoon when severe gusts of wind threw it up in the air at an intersection.

Footage shows the car being flipped upwards by the strong winds, causing it to spin on its rear wheels before flipping upside down and landing on the roof of another oncoming car.

The Goose Creek Police Department said that the two people inside the car suffered minor injuries and were taken for treatment at a local hospital.

Rachel Sharp reports

Terrifying moment car carrying two people is flipped into air by Hurricane Idalia

Watch: Floridians surf in Hurricane Idalia waves amid coastal warnings

Thursday 31 August 2023 16:10 , Louise Boyle

Pictured: Hurricane Idalia spawns tornadoes in South Carolina

Thursday 31 August 2023 15:42 , Louise Boyle

Flood warning: There may be snakes

Thursday 31 August 2023 15:25 , Louise Boyle

The risks of wading in flooded streets were clear on Wednesday after a law enforcement agency posted pictures of snakes slithering out of the water.

“If there is flooding in your area, please shelter in place and do not wade in the water. You never know what could have washed in with the flooding,” Hernando County Sheriff’s Office posted on Facebook.

Other potential dangers include downed power lines, hazardous chemicals and deadly diseases.

Tree falls on Ron DeSantis’s mansion with his family inside as Hurricane Idalia rocks Florida

Thursday 31 August 2023 15:03 , Louise Boyle

A 100-year-old oak tree toppled onto Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ mansion in Tallahassee as Hurricane Idalia slammed into Florida.

The governor’s wife, Casey DeSantis, revealed the incident on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying she and her children were home at the time but no one was injured.

“Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured,” she said. “Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm.”

Graig Graziosi reports

Tree falls on Ron DeSantis’ mansion as Hurricane Idalia rocks Florida

Tropical Storm Idalia - the latest

Thursday 31 August 2023 14:35 , Louise Boyle

Tropical Storm Idalia is continuing to lose power as it moves into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, the National Weather Service reported.

However areas of flash, urban and moderate river flooding, with considerable impacts, are expected from eastern South Carolina through eastern North Carolina today.

Heavy rainfall is expected across the North Carolina coast through this afternoon but then conditions will begin to improve. There will be two to four inches of rain and up to five inches in some spots.

Coastal flooding is also expected in North Carolina today along with tropical storm force winds in parts of the US southeast coast.

In pictures: Florida residents inspect aftermath of, and damage from, Hurricane Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 14:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Why stormy weather this week could make or break Ron DeSantis

Thursday 31 August 2023 13:45 , Oliver O'Connell

It’s no secret at this point that Ron DeSantis’s image has taken a hit since he hit his peak in November 2022 after he cruised to a nearly 20-point re-election as Florida governor in an otherwise dim year from Republicans. His lacklustre performance on the presidential campaign trail has led to many people questioning whether he can go the distance against Donald Trump in the GOP presidential primary.

And it looks like he might literally be facing even rougher waters than he already has weathered. This last week, a white gunman killed shot and killed three Black people at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. In response, Mr DeSantis said that “the shooting, based on the manifesto that they discovered from the scumbag who did this, was racially motivated. He was targeting people based on their race.”

But when he attended a vigil in Jacksonville, a historically Republican city that recently elected a Democratic mayor, the residents of the city were not having it and they heckled the governor.

Mr DeSantis has staked his claim on making Florida a place where “wokeness” comes to die and has passed laws restricting how race is taught in classrooms in the state. Others Black leaders, including some Black Republican members of Congress, have also criticised the state’s middle school history curriculum, which says that enslaved people “developed skills” that could be “applied for personal benefit.”

Read more from Eric Garcia on how Hurricane Idalia will impact Ron DeSantis’s precarious political position.

Why Hurricane Idalia could derail the 2024 campaign

Map shows path of Hurricane Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 13:27 , Rachel Sharp

Where is Hurricane Idalia now? Tropical storm system mapped

Biden declares state of emergency in South Carolina over Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 13:25 , Rachel Sharp

On Thursday morning, President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in South Carolina over storm Idalia.

“Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that an emergency exists in the State of South Carolina and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Idalia beginning on August 29, 2023, and continuing,” he said in a declaration released by the White House. “The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe. “Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program will be provided in 23 counties and emergency protective measures (Category B), limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program will be provided in the remaining 23 counties. “Mr. Brian F. Schiller of FEMA has been appointed to coordinate Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.”

National Hurricane Center gives update on Idalia

Thursday 31 August 2023 13:05 , Rachel Sharp

“Tropical Storm #Idalia Advisory 19A: Heavy Rainfall and Life-Threatening Flash Flooding Continues In Portions of Eastern North Carolina. Winds Increasing Over the Outer Banks and Pamlico Sound,” the agency tweeted.

Hurricanes are getting stronger. Here’s why

Thursday 31 August 2023 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As the global average temperature increases, largely due to the carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, the ocean is taking a major hit.

The ocean has absorbed 90 per cent of warming in recent decades and all that extra heat is driving historically high water temperatures.

Warmer waters supercharge tropical cyclones with more heavy rainfall and storm surge as they come ashore.

While the frequency of hurricanes of tropical storms is not increasing, the chance that they become stronger, more destructive systems has increased by about 8 per cent per decade in the past 40 years, according to climate scientists.

The proportion of Category 4 and 5 tropical cyclones is projected to increase around the world in the coming decades due to human-caused warming, according to the latest report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from 1 June to 30 November, is forecast to be above average this year.