Idalia slams Jefferson County

Laura Young
ECBPublishing, Inc.

Jefferson County residents were hit hard by hurricane Idalia on Wednesday, Aug. 30, suffering near 100 percent power outages and widespread structural damage across the county as fierce winds and heavy rain caused toppled trees, blocked roads and flooding. A direct hit from a storm of this magnitude had not occurred in the Apalachee Bay Area since record keeping started in 1851.
Idalia reach Category 4 status with sustained winds of 130 mph as it approached the Big Bend. The storm weakened only slightly as its eye came ashore at Keaton Beach, battering our community and others on its strongest northwest side with Category 3 winds, heavy rains and life-threatening storm surge. Jefferson County K-12 school served as an emergency shelter, and more than 80 people reportedly have sought shelter there.
As our community braced for the historic weather event, announcements from the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office – Emergency Management ordered mandatory evacuations for residents in mobile homes or living in low lying areas, and warned others to complete their hurricane preparations ahead of the storm.
When conditions began to improve by mid-afternoon on Wednesday, the JCSO advised residents to shelter in place until further notice, so that crews could clear roadways for emergency vehicles and power company trucks.
“We are still actively clearing the roads that do not have power line entanglements,” said the JCSO post on Facebook on Wednesday afternoon. “The blockages with power lines will remain there until the power company can clear it. Restoration of our power is a top priority for us and the power companies, however, this may take 7-14 days. Both Duke Energy and Tri County Electric are both working hard, working quickly while working safely.”
Schools remained closed locally on Thursday, as did many but not all businesses.
In a statement to the Monticello News/Jefferson County Journal at press time on Thursday morning, Aug 31, Sheriff Mac McNeiil told the Monticello News/Jefferson County Journal at press time on Thursday morning that 85 to 90 percent of the roads are open and that supplies of food and water will be arriving to be distributed at the public library and other locations. He thanks the Jefferson County Road Department, his Office of Emergency Management, both Duke and Tri-County Electric companies, G-Fast and CERT volunteers for their coordinated efforts before, during and after the storm.