Tropical Storm Idalia expected to make landfall Wednesday morning.
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Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan gives a briefing during Monday afternoon's meeting. (MORGAN MCMULLEN/Lake City Reporter)
Columbia County has officially begun its preparations for Tropical Storm Idalia’s expected landfall.
County Commissioners convened an emergency meeting Monday afternoon at 2 p.m. to unanimously declare a state of emergency in response to Idalia, which is expected to begin affecting Florida’s west coast as soon as Tuesday night with high winds.
The meeting was also attended by Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter, Lake City Police Chief Gerald Butler, Columbia County Emergency Management Director Shayne Morgan and other heads of city and county departments.
Morgan said there weren’t any significant updates to the current storm models during Monday’s briefing. The storm is projected to develop into a Category 3 hurricane by Tuesday night and make landfall early Wednesday morning in North Florida. According to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. update Monday, Idalia had sustained winds of 70 mph. Morgan said the storm is set to deliver roughly 4-8 inches of rain through its course.
“It’s still projected to be a major hurricane by the time it makes landfall somewhere along the Big Bend area,” Morgan said. “The really bad thing is they project it to be intensifying as it makes landfall.”
Morgan said if the current projection holds, Idalia would cross through the heart of Columbia County.
“That is why I have asked the Board (of County Commissioners) to consider a local state of emergency for Columbia County,” he said, “so that we can do the emergency protective measures that we need moving forward over the next several days.”
Columbia County Schools have called off school both Tuesday and Wednesday, Morgan said. Fort White High School and Westside Elementary will be utilized as storm shelters throughout the week.
“We’re also going to look at opening Winfield Community Center and probably also the Westside Community Center as well to handle general populations needs that are out there,” Morgan said. “We will operate these starting at 12 noon (Tuesday), with the game plan running it until 7 a.m. on Thursday morning.”
Assistant County Manager Kevin Kirby said three sites are available for Columbia County residents only to fill up sandbags: the Southside Sports Complex, Columbia County Public Works and the Fort White ballfields. Residents will be allowed to fill up bags from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday. Kirby said handicapped residents who can’t fill their own bags should report to the Public Works location. A 15-bag per vehicle limit is in effect for those filling up.
“We plan on working until three hours prior to landfall (Tuesday) night,” Kirby said. “We will be ready, Mr. Chairman. With God’s blessing, we will be ready.”