Tropical Storm Adelia made its presence felt as it dumped heavy rain in the Carolinas before moving away from the US eastern seaboard.
The storm’s arrival had raised fears of potentially catastrophic flooding. However, the Carolinas have mostly escaped serious damage. Early forecasting and accompanying preparations helped residents avoid significant damage.
Along Florida’s Gulf Coast, where the storm made landfall as a major hurricane, recovery efforts continued as officials assessed the damage.
Idalia hit Florida’s Big Bend area with Category 3 winds of about 125 mph, causing significant damage. The storm weakened into a post-tropical cyclone as it moved into the Atlantic after hitting the Gulf Coast.
The impact of the storm caused downed trees, power outages and debris piled up in the area. Emergency teams rescued residents trapped by the flood. Fortunately, damage and casualties were less than expected.
Idelia’s storm surge posed a major threat, but no casualties were reported. As the storm moved toward the Atlantic Ocean, it left behind heavy rains, possibly up to 10 inches in parts of North and South Carolina.
Flash floods were a concern, but both states seem to have largely escaped.
In the town of Whiteville, North Carolina, about 40 businesses were damaged by flooding. South Carolina’s emergency management center began decommissioning.
Florida’s Big Bend Coast suffered significant damage, particularly in Horseshoe Beach, where trailer homes were destroyed, and boat docks were in ruins. Insured property losses were estimated at $9.36 billion.
President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the affected Florida counties, and FEMA was involved in recovery efforts.
Despite the challenges, timely evacuation helped prevent casualties. Many residents faced property damage and possible displacement as they dealt with the effects of Adelia.
