Florida News That Impacts You – August 28th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to become a hurricane later today as it makes its way north of Cuba. Tropical storm watches are in effect from the lower Keys to Englewood along Florida’s Gulf Coast. A hurricane watch is in effect from Englewood through much of the Panhandle. The hurricane’s expected landfall is Wednesday morning as a category 3 with top winds of 115 mph at landfall with storm surge possibly exceeding 9 feet. The center point of the projected path currently calls for a landfall at Cedar Key in Florida’s Big Bend region.
- 33 counties across the state are in a declared state of emergency. In a Sunday briefing Governor DeSantis said 1,100 National Guardsmen have been activated along with 2,400 high wheel vehicles and 12 aircraft have been prepared to activate as needed. In Southeast Florida our impact from Idalia is expected to be minimal with approximately 2 inches of rainfall and a low chance of tropical storm force wind gusts. As a reminder...
- Florida’s second disaster preparedness sales tax holiday runs now through September 8th. All related preparedness supplies are tax exempt during this time including portable generators of up to $3,000 in cost. Additionally pet supplies are also tax exempt.
- Gas prices were lower through the weekend. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.70 per gallon – 11 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.87 per gallon, which is the second highest price in the state.