Idalia's Glow

I took these eight uploaded photos from outside and from the front of our house here in Central Florida and thankfully we are safe and sound after the Hurricane Idalia visit.

Photos taken with my iPhone 14.

It felt like an ordinary very rainy day in here, so there was nothing that affected us; but our prayers always go out to all impacted negatively by these type of weather impacts.

I was on my workout rest day already, but also was offered by my employer to take PTO so I took the day to rest completely especially since I had been dealing with a cold lately.

I wrote the following article regarding the hurricane if you were not aware of it:

Hurricane Idalia Batters Central Florida

Hurricane Idalia made landfall early this morning near Cape Canaveral as a strong Category 3 storm, bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, and storm surge flooding to much of Central Florida. The powerful hurricane had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph at landfall according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Catastrophic Damage Expected

The NHC is warning that Idalia could cause "catastrophic damage" with extreme winds tearing roofs off homes, downing trees and power lines, and causing widespread power outages across the region. An estimated 4 to 6 inches of rain is forecast, with some areas seeing up to 10 inches, leading to potentially life-threatening flash flooding.

A storm surge of up to 9 feet is expected along much of the coast from Cape Canaveral to Daytona Beach. The combination of high winds and storm surge will cause significant damage. "Locations may be uninhabitable for an extended period," the NHC said.

**Hundreds of Thousands Without Power **

As of 10 AM, over 300,000 customers had lost power across Central Florida, according to utility companies. With the worst winds still ahead, these outages could increase to over 1 million before the storm passes later today.

Extensive flooding is also being reported, with some coastal communities already under 2 to 3 feet of water. Several tornado warnings have been issued across the region as rain bands from Idalia move onshore.

Shelters Fill Up Fast

Evacuation shelters quickly filled to capacity overnight across the region. Additional shelters are being opened to accommodate more evacuees seeking safety from the dangerous hurricane.

Residents who chose to ride out the storm have been advised by local officials to stay indoors and not venture out into the eye, as intense winds will quickly return.

Airports, Theme Parks Shut Down

Orlando International Airport suspended all flights yesterday afternoon. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and other theme parks also closed ahead of Hurricane Idalia's arrival. They will likely remain closed for at least 2 to 3 days to assess storm damage.

Idalia will continue battering the region into the late afternoon before slowly winding down this evening. Residents should continue to follow evacuation orders and avoid going outside as this dangerous hurricane passes through Central Florida.

References:

1. National Hurricane Center Public Advisory for Hurricane Idalia, August 30, 2023

2. Florida Division of Emergency Management Storm Update, August 30, 2023

3. Local Utility Company Storm Center Outage Map, August 30, 2023

4. National Weather Service Local Storm Report, August 30, 2023

5. Orlando International Airport Flight Updates Page, August 30, 2023

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