LATEST: Idalia became a Category 2 hurricane Tuesday afternoon, and is intensifying on a path toward landfall Wednesday on Florida’s Gulf coast. The National Hurricane Center is warning of an increasing risk of historic life-threatening storm surge along the Nature Coast and Big Bend area.
Emergency local info BELOW, with links and contacts
Latest data from Hurricane Hunters and the National Hurricane Center at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday has Hurricane Idalia's maximum sustained winds increasing to 105 miles per hour. The center was about 155 miles west southwest of Tampa, moving north at 16 mph. Hurricane force winds will arrive Wednesday morning in North Central Florida, as Idalia is forecast to strengthen into a dangerous major hurricane before landfall.
NHC-NOAA
Life-threatening storm surge could set records along the Levy County and Big Bend coast, with possible catastrophic 10-15 feet totals.
Important Info and Preparation links/numbers:
Alachua County
https://alachuacountyready.com/incidents/idalia
Alachua County info: call 311 from your phone, or 352-264-6557.
Marion County
https://www.marionfl.org/our-county/emergency-preparedness
Marion County info: call 352-369-7500.
Levy County
Contact at questions@levydisaster.com or at 352-486-5213.
Gilchrist County
https://gilchristemergency.com/
State of Florida
