by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Aug. 31, 2023
This week, various parts of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas in the United States are recovering after experiencing a devastating hurricane named Idalia that has swept across communities and left destruction behind.
Making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane, Idalia struck western Florida early Wednesday morning, unleashing heavy rains and wind gusts exceeding 120 miles per hour.
Residents awoke to scenes of devastation, with floodwaters in many areas reaching levels of 6.8 feet, submerging entire communities.
Weather authorities in the US reported that by the afternoon, the ferocious hurricane had traveled towards Georgia, leaving in its wake uprooted trees, damaged properties, and approximately 300,000 customers without power across the two states. Roads were transformed into rivers, and many homes found themselves without a roof, or worse, completely destroyed.
However, by Wednesday night, the hurricane had lost some of its initial intensity, downgrading to a tropical storm status.
As it set its sights on North and South Carolina, authorities remained on high alert. CBS News relayed the National Hurricane Center’s warnings of “life-threatening flash flooding” anticipated for parts of eastern North Carolina by early Thursday. Additionally, forecasters projected rainfall amounts ranging between 2 to 4 inches, with isolated areas potentially receiving up to 6 inches, and the National Hurricane Center has flagged potential tornado threats for these areas, given Idalia’s sustained winds of 60 mph.
Tragically, the storm has not just left infrastructural damage. Reports have emerged of at least three fatalities due to traffic accidents, fallen trees, and related incidents. House fires ignited, buildings collapsed, and many roofs were ripped away, highlighting the storm’s force.
Idalia is expected to move eastward, making its way to the Atlantic by Thursday and gradually losing its strength.