Idalia's Path of Destruction: By The Numbers

 Sarah Netter

Published: August 31, 2023

Millions of people across Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are bracing themselves as they get a first look at the destruction caused by Hurricane Idalia.

Idalia slammed into Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 3 hurricane causing massive flooding and high winds not just in Florida, but in Georgia and the Carolinas as it churned its way northeast.

Residents, business owners, and officials are now tasked with assessing the damage and starting to rebuild.

Here’s what the aftermath looks like so far:

13.55 inches: Rainfall recorded near Holly Hill, South Carolina.

290,000: Customers without power in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina more than 24 hours after Idalia made landfall.

$​1 million-plus: Donations that have poured into the Florida Disaster Fund to support communities impacted by Idalia.

Nearly 7​00: Florida Department of Transportation team members working to clear roadways, inspect bridges and restore traffic signals.

$2 million (and going up): Estimated damage in Manatee County, Florida so far. That figure will go up, county officials said, as they clear roads and get access to places with more substantial damage.

4​5 mph: Idalia intensification within 24 hours of making landfall.

85 mph: Wind gust recorded in Perry, Florida. It was one of the highest recorded, though gusts were likely higher in places without available weather observations. Other high wind gusts in Florida included 83 mph in Keaton Beach, and 81 mph Horseshoe Point. Lowndes County in Georgia recorded wind gusts up to 73 mph.

7​ feet: Amount of water that rose in Steinhatchee, Florida is just one hour.

60: People rescued in Pasco County, Florida. Numerous pet rescues occurred there as well.

(At least) 5​0%: Estimated crop loss of pecan nuts that blew from orchard trees during Hurricane Idalia.

1​896: Year the Category 3 Cedar Key hurricane hit Florida's Big Bend area. Idalia tied the Cedar Key hurricane in intensity.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.