Hurricane Idalia live updates: Tornado watch issued for Central Florida

The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for most of Central Florida early Wednesday as people in the path of Hurricane Idalia begin to feel the impacts of the storm.

The NWS said a few tornados are likely to form in counties closest to Idalia and its feeder bands.

Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Polk, Lake and Sumter are included in the watch, which goes until 6 a.m.

Threats include isolated hail, up to half an inch in size, and wind up to 75 mph.

Read more here.

— Amanda Rabines and Roger Simmons

Gov. DeSantis to give press conference at 6:30 a.m.

Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a press conference at 6:30 a.m. from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. It will be streamed on thefloridachannel.org and the governor’s Facebook page.

— Richard Tribou

Hotels and other lodging providers in Florida are temporarily relaxing restrictions on their no-pet policies in preparation for Hurricane Idalia as it approaches Florida’s Big Bend, bringing dangerous storm surge and high winds to the area.

State health employee Sonia Lewis wipes down beds as staff ready the hurricane shelter set up inside the Orange County/Orlando Magic Recreation Center on Goldenrod Road in Winter Park, Fla., Tuesday, August 29, 2023. There are four shelters open in Orange County in response to the state of emergency declared due to Hurricane Idalia. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Signage indicates the closure of the Orange County/Orlando Magic Recreation Center on Goldenrod Road in Winter Park, Fla., as it is serving as a hurricane shelter, Tuesday, August 29, 2023. There are four shelters open in Orange County in response to the state of emergency declared due to Hurricane Idalia. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

An electrical line technician walks among hundreds of electrical line trucks at Duke Energy's staging location in Sumterville, Florida, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Duke Energy is staging thousands of workers and trucks in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Electrical line technicians walk among hundreds of electrical line trucks at Duke Energy's staging location in Sumterville, Florida, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Duke Energy is staging thousands of workers and trucks in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis greets Duke Energy electrical line technicians during a press conference at Duke Energy’s Operations Center in Wildwood on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Duke Energy is staging thousands of workers and trucks nearby in Summerville in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Water on the shelves is running low at a Target in Winter Garden as Hurricane Idalia makes its way north in the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

The water aisle at the Publix in Leesburg has been hit hard on Monday evening, August 28, 2023. Many are scrambling to garner supplies in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, set to hit Florida’s west coast this week as a major hurricane. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Plywood and supplies are readily available at the Lowes in Clermont as Hurricane Idalia makes its way north in the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The current projected path has the center making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend part of the Gulf Coast and heading inland between Gainesville and Tallahassee. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Left to Right, City of Oviedo Public Works employees Alex Gonzalez stacks sandbags, as Andrew Shuttloefel, Craig Stauffeldt, and Fidel Canot, operate a sandbag-filling machine, in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, on Monday, August 28, 2023. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda)

Amy Ertel, fills up sandbags as the City of Oviedo opens a sandbag-filling location in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, on Monday, August 28, 2023. The city also has a sandbag-filling machine, that fills and sews the bags, helping save time and effort. Tropical storm Idalia intensified, and the National Hurricane Center predicted it would be a Category 3 before it reaches Florida. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Teresa Mercedes, 66, gets a hug from Meals on Wheels Senior V.P. Wilda Belisle during a wellness visit to make sure she has all her essential needs in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia at her Kissimmee apartment on August 28, 2023. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Rafaela Cruz gets a wellness visit at her Kissimmee apartment from Meals on Wheels Senior V.P. Wilda Belisle, center, and Debora Foscolo from Instead Senior Care on Monday, August 28, 2023, to make sure she has all her essential needs in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Orange County Mayor Jerry Deming gives an update on Orange County's storm readiness and preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia on Monday, August 28, 2023. (Rich Pope/Orlando Sentinel)

Brian Adams removes umbrellas from the playground at St. Paul’s Catholic School in Leesburg on Monday, August 28, 2023, in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia which is set to hit Florida’s west coast this week as a major hurricane. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Customers wait in line to pump gas at Sam’s Club in The Villages on Monday, August 28, 2023. Many are scrambling to garner supplies in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, set to hit Florida’s west coast this week as a major hurricane. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Customers pump gas at Sam’s Club in The Villages on Monday, August 28, 2023. Many are scrambling to garner supplies in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, set to hit Florida’s west coast this week as a major hurricane. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

The City of Oviedo opens up a a sandbag-filling location in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, on Monday, August 28, 2023. The city also has a sandbag-filling machine, that fills and sews the bags, helping save time and effort. Tropical storm Idalia intensified, and the National Hurricane Center predicted it would be a Category 3 before it reaches Florida. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

With plenty of plywood in stock, a child runs through the lumber aisle at Home Depot in Leesburg on Monday evening, August 28, 2023. Many are scrambling to garner supplies in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, set to hit Florida’s west coast this week as a major hurricane. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

Shoppers walk past generators and gas cans on display at Lowe's in Leesburg on Monday, August 28, 2023. Many are scrambling to garner supplies in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, set to hit Florida’s west coast this week as a major hurricane. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)

The City of Oviedo opens up a a sandbag-filling location in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, on Monday, August 28, 2023. The city also has a sandbag-filling machine, that fills and sews the bags, helping save time and effort. Tropical storm Idalia intensified, and the National Hurricane Center predicted it would be a Category 3 before it reaches Florida. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Left to Right, City of Oviedo Public Works employees Andrew Shuttloefel, Craig Stauffeldt, and Fidel Canot, operate a sandbag-filling machine, in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, on Monday, August 28, 2023. Tropical storm Idalia intensified, and the National Hurricane Center predicted it would be a Category 3 before it reaches Florida. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

The City of Oviedo opens up a a sandbag-filling location in preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, on Monday, August 28, 2023. The city also has a sandbag-filling machine, that fills and sews the bags, helping save time and effort. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/ Orlando Sentinel)

Hotels waive no-pet policies to help families seek shelter

Hotels and other lodging providers in Florida are temporarily relaxing restrictions on their no-pet policies in preparation for Hurricane Idalia as it approaches Florida’s Big Bend, bringing dangerous storm surge and high winds to the area.

On Tuesday, the governor’s office announced that it has partnered with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to help Floridians in evacuation zones find safe place for themselves and their pets.

Visit Florida, the state’s tourism-marketing agency, activated an emergency module with Expedia to provide availability of hotel rooms throughout the state, according to a press update.

“Too often families are forced to make the difficult decision between evacuating safely and ensuring the safety of their four-legged family members,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. “I encourage all hotels to make exceptions as Floridians around the state evacuate due to Hurricane Idalia and allow these families to bring their pets to the hotel without additional financial burdens.”

— Amanda Rabines

Governor and first lady activate hurricane relief fund

Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis have activated the Florida Disaster Fund to support communities impacted by Hurricane Idalia.

The fund is a component of the state’s nonprofit Volunteer Florida Foundation, which supports volunteerism, community service and disaster recovery.

Last year, Casey DeSantis’s campaign raised more than $63 million, though a little more than 10% of the funds sat untouched for roughly 10 months following the storm’s devastation.

Earlier this month, state officials announced the last chunk of the money raised was given to aid Lee County’s recovery efforts.

In Central Florida, money from the fund went toward building affordable housing for seniors and cleaning and fixing up hurricane damage not covered by insurance or FEMA.

— Amanda Rabines

Volusia County closes emergency shelters

Due to a limited number of residents seeking shelter amid the upcoming arrival of Hurricane Idalia, Volusia County said it will be closing its previously announced emergency shelters.

Those include the Volusia County Fairgrounds in DeLand, the Hester Building at the Fairgrounds and the Florida Department of Health on Holsonback Drive in Daytona Beach.

County spokesperson Clayton Jackson said officials are coordinating efforts to provide alternatives to accommodate those who chose to seek refuge.

— Amanda Rabines

Uber to provide free round trips to Florida shelters

The app company Uber announced Wednesday it is offering free trips to state-approved evacuation shelters as Hurricane Idalia comes closer ashore to Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Counties eligible for the round-trips include Alachua, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Lake, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter, Union and Volusia counties.

The round-trips are free up to $35 each way, the company said in its release. Use code IdaliaRelief to claim the free trip.

To see a list of state-approved evacuation shelters visit: floridadisaster.org/planprepare/shelters.

— Amanda Rabines

Kennedy Space Center shuts down bus tour and attraction

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will be open Wednesday, but its bus tours and Apollo-Saturn V Center, reached via bus, will not be available to guests.

The Brevard County attraction’s other features, including Space Shuttle Atlantis and Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, will be accessible from 9 a.m.-5 pm.

– Dewayne Bevil

City of Kissimmee declares local state of emergency

The city of Kissimmee declared a local state of emergency out of an abundance of caution Tuesday, according to a press release.

City Manager Mike Steigerwald enacted the local state of emergency to ensure response officials have access to the tools and resources needed for an unforeseen change in the track of Hurricane Idalia, according to a press release.

“This decision was not made due to any major changes in the forecast,” the release said.

The emergency declaration cited the possibility of locally inclement weather from Idalia including heavy rainfall, flash flooding, strong winds and the potential for isolated tornadic activity.

The city also suspended all non-essential services starting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Wednesday, according to the release.

– Natalia Jaramillo

Theme parks close, adjust time in response to Idalia

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park will close at 3 p.m. Tuesday — and not reopen at all Wednesday — in response to the possible path of Idalia.

Representatives for Central Florida attractions — including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and Legoland Florida — said they were monitoring the conditions created by Idaila.

Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay water park will open at 9 a.m., their usual times, on Wednesday, Universal Orlando said Tuesday afternoon. But the hour-early entry for hotel guests, select annual passholders and travel-trade clients will be suspended for the day. Universal Studios is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. Wednesday, with IOA and Volcano Bay shutting down at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday, Discovery Cove, SeaWorld’s day resort, announced it would be closed Wednesday due to Idalia’s path.

“We are taking all necessary precautions to protect the safety of animals, employees and guests,” read an announcement on Discovery Cove’s social media accounts.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, also owned by Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment, plans to reopen Thursday, according to the park’s official website.

– Dewayne Bevil

Some damage in Orange expected, Demings says

Tropical Storm-force winds will likely deal some damage in Orange County overnight through about midday Wednesday, as Hurricane Idalia approaches landfall in northwest Florida, Mayor Jerry Demings said Tuesday.

The county, now included in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ emergency declaration, is also under a local state of emergency, the mayor said.

“That means here within Orange County, we’ll likely experience tropical force winds for 12 hours or so, beginning about midnight tonight until about midday tomorrow,” he said.

Parts of the county could receive about five inches of rain, but it’s the wind that could be most problematic here, Demings said.

The National Weather Service advised county officials Tuesday to expect sustained winds of about 40 mph, with gusts up to about 55 mph, Demings said.

“This is a storm, and sometimes they’re unpredictable,” he said. “So we want people to pay attention.”

Trash pickup is suspended on Wednesday, and non-essential county services will be closed then as well. Garbage carts and other debris should be removed from the curb tonight.

Shelters opened at 1 p.m. ahead of worsening conditions at:

The Silver Star Recreation Center, 2801 N. Apopka Vineland Road, and the Goldenrod Recreation Center, 4863 N. Goldenrod Road, are open for residents with special needs.

The Barnett Park Recreation Center, 4801 West Colonial Drive, and the South Econ Recreation Center, 3850 South Econlockhatchee Trail, are open for all residents.

All four shelters are pet-friendly.

– Ryan Gillespie

LYNX to shut down

The region’s main public bus system, LYNX, will shut down by late Tuesday night and through Wednesday except for “life sustaining” trips by ACCESS LYNX, the agency’s door-to-door service for passengers unable to use regular buses because of disabilities.

LYNX runs nearly 70 bus routes in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties and provides nearly 53,000 rides each weekday. The system also serves small portions of Lake and Polk counties.

– Kevin Spear

Orange County special needs shelters open

About one hour after the Goldenrod Recreation Center opened 1 p.m. on Tuesday, a gymnasium of about 100 cots sat empty, ready to accommodate people who need them.

Staff are planning to stay overnight and clients will stay at the shelter until they can safely return to their homes, said state health department employee Susannah Bowersox.

This shelter at 4863 N. Goldenrod Road is one of two in Orange County that has staff and resources to help people whose needs go beyond the basic first aid provided at general population shelters. This includes people who need help with basic tasks or rely on medical devices that require electricity. The other special needs shelter is at 2801 N. Apopka Vineland Road.

Caretakers are welcome at the two special needs shelters, as are pets. Those planning to bring pets must also bring a carrier, a copy of medical records showing pets are current on vaccines, food, water and any necessary medications.

These shelters are equipped with generators, medical staff and limited medical supplies. Shelter staff will provide only basic medical assistance and monitoring, however — complex medical care is not available.

Special needs residents should dial 407-836-3111 or 3-1-1 ahead of time, the county’s website advises, to ensure shelters have the right resources for them. Residents who are deaf or hard of hearing can chat online, download the OCFL 311 app, or register at www.ocfl.net/psn.

– Caroline Catherman

Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia and Lake to close public schools

Public schools in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia and Lake counties have canceled classes on Wednesday in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia, which is expected to pass west of the Orlando area but still bring strong winds and rain to Central Florida.

Orange and Volusia plan to end all afterschool activities by 8 p.m. today, while Lake and Osceola have canceled them. Orange, Osceola and Volusia said they plan to resume classes on Thursday. The other districts did not indicate when they plan to reopen.

Read the full story here.

Altamonte Springs closures

Government offices for the city of Altamonte Springs will be closed on Wednesday because of Hurricane Idalia.

The city also will close its parks and recreational facilities, including Westmonte, Eastmonte, Cranes Roost, Merrill and Lotus. This includes the parks’ tennis courts, pools, playgrounds, athletic fields and exercise trails.

Also on Wednesday, the city will not collect recycling, yard waste or garbage. Residents are urged to keep these items inside until after the storm has passed.

– Martin Comas

UCF to cancel classes

The University of Central Florida has suspended most academic and campus operations on Wednesday, including the cancelation of all classes.

Standard operations will continue on Tuesday until midnight.

Students, faculty, and staff should remain indoors Wednesday, according to a statement.

Some campus dining facilities and student services will be open on Wednesday to support students who live on campus.

Classes and activities are set to resume on Thursday, including UCF Football’s first game of the season against Kent State, which remains scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff at FBC Mortgage Stadium.

– Steven Lemongello

Hurricane winds up to 90 mph

Hurricane Idalia gained steam into the afternoon as it continues into the Gulf of Mexico where the forecast predicts it will grow into a major Category 3 hurricane before striking Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In its 2 p.m. advisory, the NHC said the center of Hurricane Idalia had maximum sustained winds of 90 mph and higher gusts located about 240 miles southwest of Tampa moving north at 15 mph. Its hurricane-force winds extend out 15 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 160 miles.

Squalls have already begun to spread out over portions of the Florida Keys and southwest Florida and will spread out and up across the Florida peninsula overnight as the system drives up along the Gulf Coast.

“Rapid intensification is likely through landfall, and Idalia is forecast to become an extremely dangerous major hurricane before landfall on Wednesday,” said NHC senior hurricane specialist Eric Blake.

Read the full story here.

– Richard Tribou

Steve Leitgeb, from left, Michelle Fedeles, and Brandon Hadley place protective shutters over the openings at Coco's Crush Bar & Grill before the possible arrival of Hurricane Idalia on August 29, 2023 in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Adam Henderson, owner of Harbour Master Suites, prepares his business ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. The hurricane is now forecast to become an extremely dangerous Category 3 storm, pushing a storm surge of up to 12 feet. (Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press)

Visitors to the Southernmost Point buoy brave the waves for a few cell phone photos as Hurricane Idalia passes the Florida Keys some 175 miles to the west, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023 in Key West, Fla. Much of Florida was in disaster mode on Tuesday with only hours to go before an onslaught from Idalia, forecast to strengthen rapidly into “an extremely dangerous major hurricane” before hitting the Gulf Coast on Wednesday. (Rob O'Neal /The Key West Citizen via AP)

Family friend Ethan Campbell helps move merchandise out of the waterfront Steamers Island Trading Post, ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia, in Cedar Key, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. The hurricane is now forecast to become an extremely dangerous Category 3 storm, pushing a storm surge of up to 12 feet. (Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press)

United Airlines workers walk past covered kiosks at the Tampa International Airport Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. The airport closed to all travel early this morning. Residents along Florida's gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Hurricane Idalia. (Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press)

Airport workers walk past the "Phoebe the Flamingo" display at a deserted Tampa International Airport Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. The airport closed to all air travel early this morning. Residents along Florida's gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Hurricane Idalia. (Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press)

A man rolls an arcade game toward a moving truck as waterfront businesses empty out furniture and valuables ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press)

Men work to reinforce a law firm's office on 2nd Street, where businesses and residents were preparing for potential flooding ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. (Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press)

A home’s garage is sandbagged and a “no wake zone” sign stands in the yard ahead of Hurricane Idalia in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Fla., Aug. 29, 2023. Nearly two dozen counties in Florida issued evacuation orders ahead of the Hurricane Idalia, which reached hurricane strength early Tuesday. (Zack Wittman/The New York Times)

Storm clouds hang over people as they enjoy the beach before the possible arrival of Hurricane Idalia on August 29, 2023 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is forecast to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida Wednesday morning. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

An electrical line technician walks among hundreds of electrical line trucks at Duke Energy's staging location in Sumterville, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Idalia strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday and barreled toward Florida's Gulf Coast as authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding.(Stephen M. Dowell /Orlando Sentinel)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks among Duke Energy electrical line technicians during a news conference at Duke Energy's Operations Center in Wildwood, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Idalia strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday and barreled toward Florida's Gulf Coast as authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding.(Stephen M. Dowell /Orlando Sentinel)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis waves as he walks in front of an electrical line truck during a news conference at Duke Energy's Operations Center in Wildwood, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Idalia strengthened into a hurricane Tuesday and barreled toward Florida's Gulf Coast as authorities warned residents of vulnerable areas to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding.(Stephen M. Dowell /Orlando Sentinel)

A young girl plays in the surf with waves associated with Hurricane Idalia on Clearwater Beach Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Clearwater, Fla. Residents along Florida's gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Idalia. (Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press)

Nazih Tageddine wraps cellophane around his gas pump to prevent it from being damaged by the rain from Hurricane Idalia as it passes offshore on August 29, 2023 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is forecast to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida Wednesday morning. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Workers at Toucans Bar and Grill board up the restaurant windows ahead of Hurricane Idalia near Clearwater Beach Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Clearwater, Fla. Residents along Florida's gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Idalia. (Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press)

Vinell Chambers, left, and Antonio Floyd fill sandbags at the Helen S. Howarth Community Park ahead of the possible arrival of Hurricane Idalia on August 29, 2023 in Pinellas Park, Florida. Hurricane Idalia is forecast to make landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida on Wednesday morning. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Workers at Toucans Bar and Grill board up the restaurant windows ahead of Hurricane Idalia near Clearwater Beach Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Clearwater, Fla. Residents along Florida's gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Idalia. (Chris O'Meara/The Associated Press)

1-year-old Reagan Ortagus sits in her car seat as her father, Tyler Ortagus, fills sandbags at the Mills Field location in Saint Johns County, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, as residents prepared for approaching Hurricane Idalia. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP)

This Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, 1:31 p.m. EDT satellite image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Idalia, center, approaching Florida's Gulf Coast, and Hurricane Franklin, right, as it moves along the East coast of the United States, southwest of Bermuda. (NOAA via AP)

DeSantis warns of storm surges

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon in Lake City, currently in the direct path of the storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis warned coastal residents in the low-lying areas of Florida’s Big Bend of potentially “life-threatening” storm surges due to Hurricane Idalia.

“In some of these areas, like a Cedar Key, some of these others along the Big Bend, you’re talking about really, really significant storm surge potential,” DeSantis said.

“Ten to 12-plus feet of storm surge could happen in some of those areas, … [and] you’re not going to win that battle if you decide to stay stay behind for that,” he said. “You run away from the water and then you hide from the wind.”

DeSantis advised residents in that area of the coast to head to shelters or hotels.

“You still have time to do that if you’re in this Big Bend area, but time is running out very, very rapidly,” he said.

– Steven Lemongello

Orlando City Hall to close

Orlando City Hall and non-essential city buildings will be closed Wednesday, in preparation for at least some weather impacts from Hurricane Idalia.

That includes residential and commercial garbage and recycling collection, which will be rescheduled for Saturday, according to a news release. If yard waste wasn’t picked up Tuesday, city officials ask that it be moved up by homes to prevent blocking of storm drains and localized flooding.

City recreation centers, community centers and the Lake Eola Swan Boats will close at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The emergency operation will be activated as well at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Downed trees, power lines, damaged traffic lights and other damage can be reported to the Citizen Information Line, which goes live at 9 p.m., at 407-246-4357.

– Ryan Gillespie

Seminole County prepares

Although Hurricane Idalia is not forecasted to make a direct hit in Seminole County, residents should be prepared for strong tropical force winds to move through the area late Tuesday and throughout the day Wednesday, county emergency officials said.

“There is the potential for possible tornadoes, so we’re monitoring that very closely,” said Alan Harris, Seminole’s director of emergency management.

All Seminole County public schools, extracurricular activities and sporting events will be suspended beginning Wednesday, Superintendent Serita Beamon said.

“We will provide a morning and an afternoon update [Wednesday] to share information with our families, staff and students about when we can expect to resume school and extracurricular activities,” Beamon said. “Once the storm has passed, we will assess our facilities and make sure that they are clear and safe for students to return.”

Seminole does not anticipate opening any emergency shelters. However, Harris noted that the county does have three school sites on standby that officials can quickly open if the storm becomes much worse in the area.

“In the unlikely event that we experience a major power outage in our community,” he said. “Or we experience some type of tornadoes.”

Seminole government office operations that handle transactions with the public — such as tag renewals, building permits, or applications — will also be closed on Wednesday.

Seminole Commission Chair Amy Lockhart said that residents should prepare for the worst, even though the anticipated impacts from Idalia may end up being not much different than a strong afternoon thunderstorm.

“A little wobble [in the storm’s forecasted path] can make a big difference,” she said. “A hurricane of this magnitude cannot be taken lightly.”

– Martin Comas

Orlando shoppers stock up on water ahead of Hurricane Idalia

CASSELBERRY — Susana Carcasona-Lacore likes to prepare for hurricanes ahead of time by keeping eight large jugs of water at her Casselberry home during the season.

On Tuesday, she already had batteries at her house but she filled up three five-gallon water jugs at the Casselberry Publix. The 53-year-old has been in Florida since 1973, so she’s endured plenty of storms.

“I filled the three up because they were down, and I don’t want to have to come back out in the middle of the storm and look for it,” Carcasona-Lacore said. “We’ve been lucky [with past storms], but luck runs out. I like to be prepared because I don’t like the panic mode that happens in the stores. … It wasn’t too bad [in Publix Tuesday].”

Shelves of water at some Orlando stores were thinned ahead of Hurricane Idalia, but supplies remained available in Central Florida as panic buying and storm preparation remained far from the fever that has led up to past storms.

Read the full story here.

– Austin Fuller

Osceola County urges residents to finalize preparations

Commission Chairwoman Viviana Janer and other Osceola County officials urged residents to finalize preparations ahead of the hurricane at a press conference Tuesday, but said they believed the county will not suffer severe impacts from Idalia.

“Osceola is not in the direct path of the storm,” Janer said. “Now is the time for everybody to go ahead and finalize their plans so that we’re all in a safe location this evening.”

Locally, Janer said residents can expect 2 to 4 inches of rain and sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph starting Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

“There’s an increasing confidence that the storm will not have a great impact on our county,” Janer said. “It’s important to remember, though, that we should weather the storm safely.”

The joint effort between the county and the city of Kissimmee and St.Cloud to distribute sandbags at Osceola Heritage Park will end Tuesday at 4 p.m.

So far, 35,000 sandbags have been distributed at the site, Janer said.

No shelters are planned to open but are on standby if needed, Janer said.

St.Cloud Mayor Nathan Blackwell said the city is ready and able to handle the rain.

“For those of you who may live in areas that experienced flooding in the past, we have pumps that are ready to be deployed if needed,” Blackwell said. “We hope that that will not be necessary but we are ready.”

Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez said the department has learned from last year and acquired two high-water rescue vehicles.

“They are 5-ton type vehicles that the national guard uses and we have two of them,” Lopez said. “They’re ready to go just in case we do have any flooding type of issues in the area.”

– Natalia Jaramillo

Goodyear Blimp flight over Orlando scrapped

A scheduled flight over Orlando Tuesday by the Goodyear Blimp wasn’t happening because of the storm.

The blimp had planned to cruise over the city at 1 p.m. to celebrate the tire company’s 125th anniversary Tuesday.

But Goodyear said in a statement that the blimp will be delayed in its trip from Lake City to Pompano Beach due to the impending landfall of Hurricane Idalia.

Orange, Osceola added to emergency order

Gov. Ron DeSantis added Orange and Osceola counties to his order declaring a state of emergency in advance of Hurricane Idalia hitting the state.

The counties were among three added Tuesday to what was now a list of 49 of the state’s 67 counties included under the executive order. Seminole and Lake counties had already been named.

– Steven Lemongello

Orange closes public schools

Public schools in Orange County are to be closed Wednesday and extracurricular activities are canceled, the district said, citing expected winds of exceeding 35 miles per hour on the west side of the county.

On Tuesday, all afterschool activities are to end by 8 p.m.

The district plans to resume classes on Thursday and provide information about make-up days at a later time.

“We are strongly encouraging families and employees to continue to prepare for possible impacts from the storm,” the district said Tuesday in a press release.

Some other area districts, including Seminole, Lake and Volusia have also decided to cancel classes on Wednesday.

The Osceola County school district plans to remain open on Wednesday, though it canceled after school activities on Tuesday.

“While we do not expect extreme weather conditions as the track of the storm has continued to shift more to the west, we encourage parents and students to be especially cautious, patient, and vigilant tomorrow morning,” the district said Tuesday morning in a press release.

– Annie Martin

DeSantis says thousands of linemen to assist in restoring power

In his second official update of the day on Hurricane Idalia, DeSantis was in Wildwood near The Villages to highlight the work that electrical linemen will be doing to restore power following the storm.

Duke Energy, DeSantis said, has been “staging thousands of their own linemen, along with trucks and other assets, in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Idalia.”

Florida Power & Light, co-ops and municipal utilities are also staging assets, DeSantis said.

“These companies have called in linemen from throughout the Southeast as well as far away as places like Nebraska, who will be ready to roll as soon as the storm passes,” he said. “There are over 25,000 linemen already in Florida as of this morning, and by the end of the day, we anticipate that to be between 30,000 to 40,000 linemen that will be here prior to the arrival of the storm.”

The wooded Big Bend area, where the hurricane was forecast to hit, would result in lots of fallen trees and lots of downed lines, DeSantis said.

“The people of Florida really appreciate these linemen being out there,” he said. “I can tell you after Hurricane Ian, they see the folks racing into Fort Myers in these other areas. … This is not easy work, especially in late August in Florida. It’s going to be nasty, it’s going to be hot, there’s going to be a lot of moving parts.”

Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said if residents find themselves without power for likely several days, “then you’re going to need to seek a new evacuation and seek shelter somewhere else, whether that’s a friend, a family, a hotel, or one of the many, many shelters that are going to be opening up across this entire impacted area.”

“Please do so,” Guthrie said. “The time is now to enact your plan. Start if you haven’t made those preparations, start moving into action. Find out where you’re going to go do that today.”

DeSantis’ next press conference will be in Lake City, in the projected path of the storm, at 1:45 p.m. EST.

– Steven Lemongello

Hospitals evacuate patients ahead of storm

Some Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough County hospitals have suspended services and relocated patients to other facilities further inland in anticipation of the predicted storm surge.

Evacuated hospitals include HCA Florida West Tampa Hospital, HCA Florida Trinity West Hospital, HCA Florida Pasadena Hospital and AdventHealth North Pinellas, according to the health care chains’ websites.

Central Florida hospitals and health care facilities are operating as normal with no plans to suspend services as of Tuesday morning, their websites report.

Orlando Health has “no operational changes, especially with the storm now taking a more northern track,” said spokesperson Kena Lewis in an email.

AdventHealth Medical Group – West Florida reminded residents on social media not to use hospitals or emergency rooms as storm shelters.

“AdventHealth facilities are not equipped or designed to serve as a storm shelter for the community,” a Tuesday Facebook post read.

– Caroline Catherman

Storm gets stronger

Hurricane Idalia formed Tuesday morning and intensified as it continues into the Gulf of Mexico where the forecast predicts it will grow into a major Category 3 hurricane before striking Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, the NHC said the center of Hurricane Idalia had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and higher gusts located about 275 miles south-southwest of Tampa moving north at 14 mph. Its hurricane-force winds extend out 15 miles and tropical-storm-force winds extend out 160 miles.

“Rapid intensification is likely through landfall, and Idalia is forecast to become an extremely dangerous major hurricane before landfall on Wednesday,” said NHC senior hurricane specialist Eric Blake.

Read the full story here.

– Richard Tribou

DeSantis tells Florida to prepare now

TALLAHASSEE — Idalia officially became a hurricane overnight with 80 mph winds and could strengthen into a category 3 storm by the time it hits the Gulf coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis told a group of reporters Tuesday morning.

“It is scheduled to make landfall tomorrow morning in the Big Bend as a major hurricane,” DeSantis said during an update at the Emergency Operations Center.

The National Hurricane Center said Idalia is expected to strengthen into a Category 3 hurricane by 1 a.m. Wednesday. If it makes landfall at high tide as forecasters are saying it could bring an 8-12 foot high storm surge to the area, DeSantis said.

“We’ve not really had a hurricane of this size strike the Big Bend in a long, long time,” DeSantis said. “not since the 1800s.”

He said forecasters are now looking at Taylor County as possible landfall.

Those areas are already under mandatory evacuation orders, he said.

The Big Bend is a rural, sparsely populated low-lying region with several small coastal communities, limited access and lots of trees. A hurricane warning and storm surge warning extend from Franklin County to Sarasota County.

The rule of thumb is “run from the water and hide from the wind by finding safe shelter,” DeSantis said. “There is still time to prepare but you’ve got to do that now.”

Counties are urged to file their requests for needs and aid as soon as possible, Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said.

The state has filled 72 county requests and in the midst of acting on 450 action requests from the affected counties, and are encouraged to continue filing their requests while there is still time, Guthrie said.

“The storm is going to be on us very soon,” Guthrie said.

The state has 450,00 gallons of fuel prioritized along evacuation routes, Guthrie said.

More than 20 shelters have been activated. Forty-two school districts have closed for the next two days, along with 16 state colleges and 7 public universities.

Guthrie said people should finalize their disaster prep actions now.

The thousands of linemen and other electric utility repair crews lined up and waiting to respond won’t be able to mobilize until Hurricane Idalia passes through, Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said.

Idalia is expected to make landfall along the sparsely populated Big Bend coast, possibly Taylor or Dixie County, and plow through a sparsely populated region of North Central Florida before heading into Georgia.

By the time it is safe to venture out to the areas without power it will be close to sunset, Guthrie said.

“That is not something we like to do, operate in the dark with power lines tangled in the trees,” he said.

Nonetheless, restoration of power is a priority so people can get back into their homes and begin the long process of recovery, he said.

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said 671 FDOT crew members and 224 cut and toss workers are standing by to begin the arduous task of debris removal after the hurricane.

Many forecasters concur that Idalia will likely make landfall in the Big Bend region, but just a small shift westward would bring it closer to Tallahassee, the state capitol.

“Tallahassee, you’re not out of the woods,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.

Should it threaten the state capitol, DeSantis said most state workers would be told to stay home while only essential workers would be hunkered down at the emergency operations center.

– Jeffrey Schweers

Orlando Creative Village shuttle shuts down

The SWAN Shuttle, the autonomous vehicle being tested in Orlando’s Creative Village, will not operate until Friday due to the storm.

As part of the pilot plan, LYMMO buses will operate along the Orange Line, according to LYNX. There were no other changes to service levels announced. LYNX stated it will continue to coordinate with local, state and federal partners.

– Stephen Hudak

DeSantis asked about campaigning

Asked today how long he would remain in Florida dealing with Hurricane Idalia before he returns to the campaign trail, DeSantis said this is no different than when Hurricane Ian struck in the middle of a governor’s race in 2022

“I had all kinds of stuff scheduled, not just in Florida but all around the country, we were doing different things,” DeSantis said.

“You do what you need to do and that’s what we need to be doing and it’s going to be no different than with Hurricane Ian.”

Meanwhile, First Lady Casey DeSantis continues to campaign on her husband’s behalf. Monday, she gave a speech at the 12th Annual Faith and Freedom BBQ hosted by State Rep. Jeff Duncan in Anderson, S.C.

– Jeffrey Schweers

FSU to close campuses

Florida State University’s Tallahassee campuses will close due to the impending storm, the school announced in an alert on its website.

Classes will be cancelled beginning at noon on Tuesday, the university stated.

Students and faculty can visit alerts.fsu.edu for official FSU operational and emergency updates, resources and information.

– Steven Lemongello

Orlando International Airport stays open

Orlando International Airport is open and operational, according to its post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“We continue to monitor the status of Hurricane Idalia,” the airport’s account stated.

Operators do not foresee any significant impact to the airport’s operations at this time. They advise travelers to check with their airlines about flight status.

– Carolyn Guniss

Central Florida homeless shelters extend capacity ahead of storm

Homeless shelters in Central Florida are extending capacity to take in unsheltered people ahead of the arrival of impacts from Hurricane Idalia, according to the Homeless Services Network.

Shelter space is available at:

Coalition for the Homeless, 18 N. Terry Ave., OrlandoOrlando Union Rescue Mission family home, 1521 W. Washington St., Orlando (for women, families and couples)Orlando Union Rescue Mission men’s center, 3300 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando (for men only)The Salvation Army Orlando, 624 Lexington Ave., OrlandoRescue Outreach Mission, 1701 W. 13th St., Sanford

Shelters will open between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. today, and alcohol, drugs and weapons aren’t allowed.

Lynx, the region’s bus service, will provide free service on its normal routes once shelters open, and you should tell the driver you want to go to the nearest emergency weather shelter, the network said.

– Ryan Gillespie

Gov. DeSantis gives hurricane preparation update

Gov. Ron DeSantis gave his first Hurricane Idalia update of the day from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee at 9 a.m.

Also attending were Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, Major General John Haas with the Florida National Guard and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue.

“The National Hurricane Center Advisory includes that if this storm hits at high tide, storm surge could reach 8 to 12 feet in some areas, and so that would be life threatening storm surge,” DeSantis said of the Big Bend area of Florida.

“I know all those areas are under evacuation notices in the low-lying and coastal areas. You run from the water and you hide from the wind. If you’re there and that storm surge [comes], you’re putting your life in jeopardy when it gets to be that that high. So if you are given those orders, please heed those orders.”

The video is available on thefloridachannel.org.

DeSantis is set to give another press conference in Wildwood in Sumter County at 11:30 a.m. EST.

– Richard Tribou and Steven Lemongello

Lake County set to Open two shelters

Two emergency shelters will open for Lake County residents Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Both locations are special needs shelters and pet friendly.•Villages Elementary at 695 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake.

•Lost Lake Elementary at 1901 Johns Lake Road, Clermont.

Officials are asking residents to sign up for emergency alerts at www.alertlake.com or text “ALERTLAKE” to 888777

– Natalia Jaramillo

Lake County buses will be running

LakeXpress service will operate as normal through 8:00 p.m. All services end at 8:00 p.m.

Lake County Connection, the county’s paratransit service, will provide Dialysis, Life Sustaining, and Evacuation services only.

– Carolyn Guniss

Rocket launch delayed on Space Coast

Tuesday morning was supposed to have seen the second launch of the year for United Launch Alliance, which had an 8:34 a.m. planned liftoff of its Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. But late Monday ULA decided to put launch plans on hold.

“Out of an abundance of caution for personnel safety, a critical national security payload and the approaching [Hurricane] Idalia, the team made the decision to return the rocket and payload to the vertical integration facility,” ULA stated.

A new launch date will be determined “once it is safe to launch.”

– Richard Tribou

Florida public schools shut down

Public schools in the following counties will be closed Tuesday because of what is expected to become powerful Hurricane Idalia: Alachua, Citrus, Charlotte, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Franklin, Gilchrist, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla.

– News Service of Florida

Idalia closes state universities

The following state universities will be closed Tuesday because of what is expected to become powerful Hurricane Idalia: New College of Florida, the University of North Florida and the University of South Florida.

– News Service of Florida

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