Alachua County Officials Warn Residents to Plan for Worst-Case Scenario Ahead of Idalia
Alachua County officials have issued a warning to residents who experienced Tropical Storm Irma in 2017: Hurricane Idalia could be worse.
Hurricane Idalia’s Path and Impact
Idalia is expected to strike Florida around the Big Bend area as a deadly Category 3 storm and, depending on its track, could pass over Gainesville still packing hurricane-force winds.
“At the very least, expect tropical storm-to-strong tropical storm-type conditions, in terms of winds,” said Danny DuBois, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Jacksonville office. As of 2 p.m. Monday, the storm was located off the southwest coast of Cuba with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued a State of Emergency for 46 counties, including Alachua.
Preparations in Gainesville
State Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, said winds and power outages are the most concerning for inland regions like Alachua County. “Power outages are probably the biggest thing we’re going to see,” he said, urging residents to ensure they have enough water and food to last a few days. The state also has a tax exemption for hurricane prep items.
The storm is expected to move quickly across the state, leaving it little time to weaken as it begins to interact with land. DuBois said the highest amounts of rainfall — 4 to 8 inches — will likely be to the north and west of the storm, and that Gainesville can expect between 2 and 4 inches of rain. If the storm continues on its northwesterly track, Gainesville could see as little as 1 to 3 inches of rain.
“Hurricane-force conditions are going to be a pretty tight, narrow spot that we’ll see, but depending on the exact track, Gainesville is very close to that, so 70-plus mph winds are not out of the question as of right now,” DuBois said. The storm’s biggest impacts are expected to be felt late Tuesday through early Wednesday.
County-Wide Emergency Measures
Alachua County kicked its hurricane preparations into high gear Monday morning with plans for debris management, search and rescue, damage assessment, and more. “There’s a whole lot of planning and a whole lot of folks sitting down right now talking to each and making sure that we’re ready both pre- and post-storm,” said county spokesman Mark Sexton.
Sexton said Alachua County has not experienced a hurricane-strength event in its recorded history, and that officials have been working to ensure they have residents’ attention in case of a worst-case scenario. “We want people right now to be focused on getting ready for this thing,” he said.
When Irma passed over Alachua County in September 2017, it left widespread power outages, flooding, and enough debris that it took crews more than three months to clean up the mess.
Ahead of Hurricane Idalia, sandbags are being distributed Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wayside Park, 11855 NW US 441, and again on Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon. Shovels, bags, and sand will be available to residents who stop after hours. The city of Gainesville also is offering pre-made sandbags from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Public Works, 405 NW 39th Ave. A self-serve sandbag station is also open those same hours at Citizens Field, 1000 NE Waldo Road.
City and County Response
Mayor Harvey Ward said in a Monday afternoon emergency meeting that all divisions of local government are ready to respond before and after the storm. “City and county staff, including utility staff, have been working very, very closely. They already know how to do this. Our staff is amazing,” he said. “… I hope everyone watching at home is aware that our utility staff, our general government staff, the county staff, sheriff staff, they all know what to do and they’re all doing it.”
Alachua County will open general population, pet-friendly shelters, and a special medical needs shelter beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Already announced locations include a general population (pet-friendly) shelter at the Easton Newberry Archer Center, 24880 NW 16th Ave., Newberry, and a special needs shelter (service animals only) at the Alachua County Senior Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd., Gainesville. For more information about the special needs shelter, call 352-955-2575.
School Closures and Emergency Lines
All Alachua County Public Schools and Santa Fe College will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The University of Florida will be closed beginning Tuesday at noon through Wednesday. The county also has activated its 311 emergency line, which Sexton said is the best source for residents seeking information and rumor control.
As Gainesville braces for Hurricane Idalia, residents are urged to take all necessary precautions and stay informed through local news and official channels.
All You Need to Know About Hurricane Idalia
UPDATE: Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in Florida Wednesday morning, spared much of Gainesville and Alachua County. With the departure of the hurricane, a gradual return to normalcy is underway. Many institutions, including UF and local schools, have reopened their doors after temporary closures due to the storm’s threat.
The following schools will reopen Thursday:
- UF’s main campus
- P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School
- Baby Gator
- Santa Fe College
- Alachua County Public Schools
Current Status of Hurricane Idalia:
Hurricane Idalia, a Category 2 storm, is forecast to intensify into a Category 3 over the next 12 hours. The storm is sustaining 100 mph winds and is projected to hit the Tallahassee region by early Wednesday, though its exact path could still change. Idalia, which started brewing late last week, is forecast to bring winds over 100 mph to Florida’s west coast. While Alachua County is currently outside of Idalia’s direct path, it’s still likely to experience hurricane-force wind and rain. Life-threatening storm surges of up to 15 feet and flash floods are also expected across the state.
Some models show that Idalia may cross into the Atlantic and circle back to hit Florida again, this time on the east coast.
Impact on Alachua County:
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency on August 26 for 33 counties, including Alachua County, in preparation for the hurricane’s possible impacts. The state of emergency has been extended to 13 more counties as of Monday.
“Floridians along our Gulf Coast should be vigilant even if you’re currently outside the cone,” DeSantis said in a press conference Monday. “We issued an executive order yesterday to allow prep time and to stage resources to be able to respond to the storm’s aftermath.”
Alachua County Emergency Management announced a tropical disturbance alert on August 25, urging residents to take protective measures and stay cautious. Several counties have been issued evacuation orders, including Pasco, Citrus, and Hernando County. Residents in vulnerable areas do not need to evacuate to other states but instead drive to higher ground in Florida, DeSantis said.
State Mobilization:
The state is mobilizing the Florida National Guard with high-water vehicles and aircraft for the ahead of the storm. There are 2,500 Florida National Guard members on standby. DeSantis announced 3,000 more guards are on the way today.
Although DeSantis said he doesn’t expect there to be major disruptions in fuel supply, about 200,000 gallons of fuel are on their way to the state. Supplies for post-hurricane recovery, such as clean water, ready-to-eat meals, and tarps, are also being collected.
Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Department of Law Enforcement are on standby ready with assets at their disposal, DeSantis added.
“Please remain vigilant and please follow orders,” DeSantis said.
University of Florida (UF) Updates:
- Class Cancellations: UF’s campus and classes will close at noon Tuesday and remain closed Wednesday. Students are still expected to go to class before noon on Tuesday.
- Dorms: Dorms will stay open during the storm, and residents are advised to stay inside. Off-campus students are advised to prepare for the storm by monitoring local and state advisories.
- Dining Halls: Dining halls will follow normal hours on Tuesday. The Food Hall at Gator Corner and The Eatery at Broward will operate from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. Markets at Graham, Beaty, and Rawlings will be open Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Broward Bites will be open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Student Activities: All student-related activities will be canceled at noon Tuesday and throughout Wednesday, including on-campus student organization and club meetings.
- RTS Bus Service: RTS services will be available on Tuesday, but services will not be available on Wednesday. The Severe Weather Policy states “bus service is suspended when winds reach sustained 35 mph,” according to the RTS website.
- Drop/Add Period: The Drop/Add schedule is being maintained at this time.
- Campus Reopening: UF expects to make an announcement Wednesday regarding the presumption of classes and campus operations.
- Parking: UF students and staff are discouraged from parking vehicles in campus parking garages — including UF Health Garages — as they are needed for UF Health employees.
Santa Fe College Updates:
- Class Cancellations: Classes are canceled Tuesday and Wednesday. Northwest campus, all centers, the Academy for Science and Technology, the SF Teaching Zoo, the Kika Silva Pla Planetarium, and the SF Gymnasium will be closed. A reopening date has not yet been decided.
- Storm Updates: Students are advised to remain updated about the storm and other college alerts with the SF Alerts page.
Alachua County Public Schools:
- Class Cancellations: Schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. School reopening dates will be decided after the storm has passed.
- Public Input Sessions: Public input sessions on rezoning, originally scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, have been postponed. The Tuesday board meeting has also been postponed.
Sporting Events:
There are no Florida teams scheduled to compete in Gainesville this week. The Florida Gators football team altered their travel plans to Salt Lake City, Utah, for their first game of the 2023 season against the Utah Utes on Thursday. The team will now depart from Gainesville Tuesday for Dallas, spend the night there, and then arrive in Utah Wednesday.
Gainesville Storm Shelters:
- The City of Gainesville will hold a press conference at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall to announce the city’s plans to handle the storm. In the meantime, sandbags can be picked up at the Public Works Administration Building from noon to 5 p.m. Monday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. There is a limit of 10 bags per person.
- Alachua County will be opening a general population, pet-friendly, and special medical needs shelter at 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to an Alachua County Facebook post.
- Southwest Recreation Center will open as a shelter at 6 p.m. on August 29 for UF students, staff, and their families. A Gator 1 card is required for identification. Southwest Recreation Center is located at 3150 Hull Road.
- Chabad UF is also open for students to stay at until the storm passes. A limited amount of sleeping supplies are available. Chabad UF is located at 2021 NW Fifth Ave.
Preparation Tips:
- Keep the gas tank at least half full in case evacuation is necessary.
- Have a battery-powered radio and flashlight on hand.
- Refill prescription medications ahead of time, as the storm could lead to unplanned shutdowns.
- Be prepared to lose power during the storm.
- Stock up on water and food staples.
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