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Florida’s Big Bend bracing for massive storm surge from Idalia

Several areas under mandatory evacuation ahead of storm

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. – Hurricane Idalia is expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Wednesday morning as a powerful Category 4 storm, bringing a devastating storm surge along with it.

State leaders have warned that the storm surge could reach 15 feet.

“It would wipe a lot of (the community) out,” said one resident of Crystal River in Citrus County. “People’s homes would be gone. Businesses would be gone.”

The area is currently under a mandatory evacuation order.

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Despite that, some people living in the Big Bend area are choosing to ride out the storm in their homes.

News 6 spotted some people fishing as they awaited Idalia.

Idalia strengthened into a category 2 hurricane Tuesday afternoon.

As of Tuesday at 5 p.m., Idalia was about 195 miles southwest of Tampa, Florida, moving north at 16 mph while packing 100 mph winds. Hurricane-force winds extend outward 25 miles from the center, while tropical storm-force winds extend 160 miles from the center of the storm.

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About the Authors
Thomas Mates headshot

Thomas Mates is a Streaming Executive Producer for News 6 and ClickOrlando.com. He also produces the podcast Florida Foodie. Thomas is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania and worked in Portland, Oregon before moving to Central Florida in August 2018. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism in 2010.

Erik von Ancken headshot

Erik von Ancken anchors and reports for News 6 and is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist in the prestigious and coveted "On-Camera Talent" categories for both anchoring and reporting.

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