The Cedar Key area of ​​Florida, USA, is now a deserted town, as the coastal areas of the state prepare for the – devastating as predicted – Hurricane Idalia.

Already the upgraded to “extremely dangerous category 4” A Category 5 Saffir-Simpson hurricane is making landfall in Cedar Key and Tampa, according to residents’ videos on social media.

“Italy is a category 4 hurricane” on the five-point Safir-Simpson scale and “continues to strengthen” as it approaches the American coast, the NHC underlined in a statement issued today at 12:00 Greek time.

The hurricane is expected to hit the gulf coast of florida with strong winds and torrential rains.

FLORIDA HURRICANE

More than 30 Florida counties are under evacuation orders and residents have been told to seek higher ground.

FLORIDA HURRICANE

Boats have been pulled from marinas, businesses, shops and hotels closed, inside their homes residents are trying to secure their furniture from the coming floods while schools across the state have canceled classes.

FLORIDA HURRICANE

FLORIDA HURRICANE

“If you haven’t left, you need to do so now,” said Kevin Guthrie, head of Florida’s emergency management agency. “You have to stop what you’re doing. Go to your room, pack, pack your things and go somewhere safe,” he stressed.

FLORIDA HURRICANE

Hurricane and thunderstorm warnings have also been issued for the neighboring states of Georgia and South Carolina.

All three have declared a state of emergency.

Storm waves up to 5 meters high are expected

On the west coast of Florida, southeast Georgia, and eastern parts of North and South Carolina 10 to 20 cm of rain is possible by tomorrow Thursday. In addition, in some areas it is possible that the height of rain will reach up to 30 cm, the NHC added.

Officials emphasized that the most dangerous phenomenon that will accompany the hurricane is the huge storm surgeswhich are estimated to cause flooding in low-lying areas.

Storm surge warnings have been issued for hundreds of kilometers of coastal areas, from Sarasota to the western end of Apalachicola Bay. In some areas it is even expected that waves will reach 3.7 to 4.9 meters high.