Volusia County ‘Largely Unscathed’ from Hurricane Idalia

The Volusia County Emergency Management Department announced Wednesday afternoon that the county had mostly made it through Hurricane Idalia safely. The update allows many residents to breathe a sigh of relief, with the damages from 2022’s hurricanes Ian and Nicole still fresh. “We were fortunate with this storm as we only had to deal with its outer edges,” said Volusia County Emergency Management Director Clint Mecham in the statement. “Each storm presents its own challenges, and we all need to be ready for the next one.” As of Wednesday afternoon all bridges in Volusia County are open to motor traffic, and even the county’s beaches remain open to foot traffic. The Emergency Management Department advises caution for those looking to hit the beach today, as mild storm surge and dangerous tides and rip currents are still a distinct possibility. Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida’s gulf coast this morning as a Category 4 hurricane, likely indicating significant damages to the areas in its crosshairs. The storm is angled to the northeast, and before long it will have cleared Central Florida and begun to impact Southeast Georgia. Volusia County residents with questions relating to Hurricane Idalia are encouraged to call the Citizens Information Center at (866) 345-0345.