As of Tuesday morning, August 29, 2023, Hurricane Idalia is projected to make landfall near Florida’ big bend on Wednesday morning. The storm is likely to drop high volumes of rain on cities like Gainesville, Tallahassee and even Jacksonville before crossing into South Carolina Wednesday evening. In addition to high winds and rain, the category one storm is predicted to spin off tornadoes in the north-central part of Florida. Tornado warnings are in effect from Sarasota, Florida to Wilmington, South Carolina.

How powerful Hurricane Idalia will be when it finally makes landfall is still unknown, but the National Hurricane Center warns of a potential category three or four storm. Hurricane Idalia is predicted to strengthen to a category three storm as it approaches Florida’s coast from the Gulf of Mexico and weaken as it nears land. This is the norm with hurricanes, as they tend to rapidly deteriorate as they make landfall and lose access to the warm surface water that fuels their growth.

So far, 33 counties in the path of the storm are in a state of emergency. As of Tuesday morning, many Florida big bend counties are under mandatory evacuation orders, including:

• Citrus County
• Dixie County
• Franklin County
• Gulf County
• Hillsborough County
• Lafayette County
• Leon County
• Levy County
• Manatee County
• Pasco County
• Pinellas County
• Suwannee County
• Sumter County
• Taylor County
• Wakulla County
• Volusia County

Other northern Florida counties are subject to voluntary evacuation advisories, including:

• Alachua County
• Baker County
• Gilchrist County
• Hamilton County
• Hernando County
• Jefferson County
• Madison County
• Marion County
• Nassau County
• Sarasota County
• Union County

Hurricane Idalia could potentially be a very serious major hurricane that inflicts widespread damage on property throughout the northern and central parts of Florida. Please be cautious and heed warnings for your area. People in areas with voluntary evacuation recommendations should strongly consider leaving if you live in a low-lying area or a mobile home.

Are You Prepared?

The team at Kanner & Pintaluga would advise all residents in the path of Hurricane Idalia to heed county-issued warnings and orders. Although nothing is guaranteed, Hurricane Idalia certainly has the potential to develop into a major hurricane. If you haven’t already, be sure to prepare your home, family and business for the hurricane.

Hurricane Preparedness Resources

Hurricane Preparedness Kit – A properly stocked hurricane preparedness kit can be a life saver in any hurricane situation, whether you shelter in place or evacuate further inland. Be sure you have an adequate supply of water (three days for your household, including pets), all necessary prescription medications, food, toiletries and all other life essentials.

Hurricane Radios – Are there new batteries in your hurricane radio, or is it charged up? If you don’t already have one, purchasing a hurricane radio can be a great safety tool for your family. Stay up to date with all the relevant information from reliable sources with a hurricane radio.

Preparing Your Home and Business – Is your home or business properly boarded and bagged up? Families in affected counties are running out of time to prepare. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to secure your home or business. Don’t wait till the last minute, as it may put you or your property in the path of danger.

Preparing Your Boat – Are you one of the thousands of Florida residents who own a boat? There are a variety of steps you can take to protect your investment during a hurricane. Learn more about it in our blog on the topic.

Preparing Your Home Damage Claim

Insurance lobbyist have spent the last several years making it harder for homeowners in Florida to successfully file property damage claims after hurricanes. While they may have legitimate concerns about a handful of bad actors in the contracting industries, one of their true goals is to discourage property damage lawyers from helping homeowners after claim denials or undervaluation.

The team at Kanner & Pintaluga isn’t intimidated by insurance companies. We’re always standing at the ready to fight for homeowners who are being treated unfairly by claims adjusters and insurers. Our property damage lawyers have the resources and knowhow to accurately assess damages and effectively advocate for the money you need to recover.

After a hurricane, always be sure to:

• Take thorough video and photo evidence of all damage, including damaged personal belongings
• Create a detailed list of the damage
• Take basic steps to prevent further damage from occurring (like boarding up broken windows and putting tarps over damaged roofs)
• Keep all receipts, including any additional costs you incur for hotel stays, food and supplies while you are forced to temporarily relocate

If you believe your Hurricane Idalia damage claim is being treated unfairly, don’t hesitate to call the hurricane damage lawyers at Kanner & Pintaluga. Schedule a free evaluation at 800.586.5555.