Tropical storm Idalia continues its destructive course, which has so far caused the death of two citizens and major damages in many counties in Florida. The storms are expected to affect much of the Southeast coast through this evening as Idalia continues to “sweep” everything in its path with strong winds according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

However, it has weakened and continues to weaken as it travels southeast, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Idalia made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast early Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane, making it the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Big Bend region in more than 125 years. Flooding is also expected in parts of North Carolina on Thursday, the NWS noted in its latest update.

Idalia is currently located 15 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina while heavy rainfall, gusty winds and the threat of tornadoes will continue across the eastern parts of the Carolinas.

Typhon

Many roads are currently closed across Charleston, South Carolina, as they are flooded, police said in a social media post Wednesday night, with authorities urging residents to stay indoors.

The Citrus County Board of Commissioners in Florida has issued a mandatory curfew from 10:00 PM to 6:00 PM. local time, prohibiting all travel within the A evacuation zone, the county sheriff’s office said in a statement Wednesday.

Typhon

Damage restoration has begun

Meanwhile, recovery efforts from Idalia have already begun and will continue “for an unknown period of time,” the sheriff’s office said.

Emergency shelters are scheduled to close Thursday and some government offices and services will resume normal operations.

“Fortunately, here in Duval (County), we were spared the worst of the effects,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said at a news conference Wednesday.

Power outages, downed power lines and downed trees remain a concern, Deegan said.

Crews have restored power to about 75,000 of the 85,000 citizens, the mayor said.

Duval County schools will also remain closed Thursday so officials can clean them up after using them as shelters, he said. Classes will resume on Friday.