Idalia expected to drench the Carolinas on Thursday
After landing in the Big Bend region, Idalia was forecast to cross the Florida peninsula and then drench southern Georgia and the Carolinas on Thursday.
Both Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced states of emergency, freeing up state resources and personnel, including hundreds of National Guard troops.
‘We’ll be prepared to the best of our abilities,’ said Russell Guess, who was topping off the gas tank on his truck in Valdosta, Georgia. His co-workers at Cunningham Tree Service were doing the same. ‘There will be trees on people’s houses, trees across power lines.’
Hurricane Idalia had such strong winds at the peak of battering Florida with 125mph winds that it managed to reverse a river.
The Steinhatchee River had its flow turned on its head as the then-Category 2 storm careered through the county.
Sailboats were torn from their moorings and their masts were flung into …