Hurricane Idalia wreaked havoc on the Florida's Gulf Coast after making landfall as a Category 3 storm on Wednesday.
Wednesday morning, Florida governor and U.S. presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis warned citizens not to go outside even if the weather looked calm because the area they are in may be in the eye of the storm.
DON'T MISS: Florida trip booked? How Hurricane Idalia may affect your plans
As Hurricane Idalia makes landfall, do not go outside if you are in the path of the storm. If it is calm outside, you may be in the eye wall and conditions can deteriorate rapidly. pic.twitter.com/2TrIi2yXSQ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) August 30, 2023
Storm surge – rising water moving inland from the shoreline – is a big danger for people in the storm's path, and about half of Florida's immense Gulf Coast was either under a storm surge warning or storm surge watch from the National Hurricane Center as of 11 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday.
But the danger from the storm isn't just confined to the storm itself – as a Category 3, it can average winds between 111 and 129 miles per hour – because even after the Idalia passes, electricity and drinking water could be scarce for some parts of the affected area for days or even weeks.
At least 30 counties across western and central Florida asked citizens to evacuate ahead of the storm's arrival.
St Pete and Clearwater… #Idalia #HurricaneIdalia pic.twitter.com/0UHXaoL7qv
— CBKNEWS (@CBKNEWS121) August 30, 2023
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But for the Floridians who either can't or won't evacuate, ride-sharing company Uber (UBER) -) has announced that it is stepping in to help.
The company is offering free transportation to and from shelters in Alachua, Citrus, Collier, Dixie, Lake, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter, Union and Volusia Counties.
For trips worth up to $35 each way, the company will offer free rides to "state-approved" evacuation shelters to users who enter the promo code IDALIARELIEF.
In spite of the warnings from officials, some Floridians have decided to venture out into the storm. Social media has video of people driving through several feet of standing water, attempting to ride a bike through feet of standing water and even whatever this guy is doing:
Despite officials' warnings, sheer madness is happening now on Bay Shore Boulevard, Florida.#StockMarket #Idalia #Florida #HurricaneIdalia #storm #HurricaneSeason #Cat3 #Cat4 #Hurricane #hurricane #viralvideo #Esther Gravenberch Blue Moon Clearwater Weather Channel Amrabat pic.twitter.com/bEgJrJDPSr
— Noble (@noblemi6) August 30, 2023
(All of these videos were located in the "Clearwater" hashtag, by the way)
