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Editor’s Note: Affected by the storm? Use CNN’s lite site for low bandwidth.

CNN — The center of Hurricane Idalia has slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast at dangerous Category 3 strength, inflicting deadly storm surge and catastrophic winds not seen in this region in 125 years while promising untold devastation far beyond the landfall zone.

Idalia moved ashore midmorning Wednesday near Keaton Beach in the Big Bend area – where the panhandle meets the peninsula – with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and has begun an ominous trudge across Florida and the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina, where residents are urged to beware the sort of floods, strong winds and tornadoes already impacting Florida’s west coast, the National Hurricane Center said.

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It is the third hurricane to make landfall in Florida in the last 12 months, following Ian last September and Nicole in October. Residents had been urged to flee and the National Guard prepped for rescues as “extremely dangerous” Idalia took aim with once-in-a-lifetime damaging winds and a life-threatening storm surge of up to 16 feet, the National Hurricane Center said.

“There is great potential for death and catastrophic devastation,” warned the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, in the Big Bend region southeast of Tallahassee.

Significant Impacts of Hurricane Idalia

Even before landfall, “we’re starting to see an almost apocalyptic scene here,” Cedar Key resident Michael Bobbit said early Wednesday. “Four hours from now, Cedar Key will be unrecognizable.”

A rare extreme wind warning – issued in cases of life-threatening sustained winds of 115 mph or more – was issued for parts of the Big Bend region – including Dixie and Taylor counties, even as Idalia’s sustained winds slowed slightly around 7 a.m. from Category 4 strength.

“Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to the safe room in your shelter,” the National Weather Service office in Tallahassee warned. “Take action now to protect your life!”

A tornado watch also is in place for nearly 12 million people across central and northern Florida and southeast Georgia until 3 p.m., Wednesday, as conditions continue to deteriorate, with coastal streets and lots flooding in places including Tampa, St. Petersburg and Fort Myers Beach as ocean water pushes ashore, rain pours down and winds whip.

Destruction is possible far behind the forecast cone, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday morning. At least 11 tornado warnings already had been issued – even in places “way outside the cone that you see on your TV screens,” he said.

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As its eye moves onshore in the Big Bend region, Idalia’s core will bring destructive winds and storm surge high enough to stack a wall of seawater halfway up the second floor of an average building. It could be the first major hurricane at Category 3 or stronger to hit the area.

“This has the makings of an unprecedented event for this part of the state,” the National Weather Service in Tallahassee said. “There are NO major hurricanes in the historical dataset going back to 1851 that have tracked into Apalachee Bay. None. “Don’t mess around with this one.”

DeSantis warned of “significant, significant impact” to the Big Bend region, saying first responders will not be able to reach the few people who have stayed in evacuation zones until after the storm passes. “You really got to go now,” he urged Big Bend residents Tuesday evening. “Now’s the time.” Do not try to “‘ride’ this one out,” police told residents in the Big Bend city of Perry, adding the storm surge higher than 15 feet is “not survivable if you are caught in it.” Storm surge accounts for nearly half of all hurricane-related fatalities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says.

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In this situation, an AI legalese decoder can be of great value. During natural disasters like Hurricane Idalia, there may be important legal information such as evacuation orders, emergency declarations, and safety instructions issued by local authorities. However, these legal documents are often written in complex legal jargon known as “legalese” which can be difficult for the average person to understand.

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For example, the AI legalese decoder can decode evacuation orders issued by county officials, making it clear which areas are under mandatory evacuation and providing guidance on the necessary steps to take. It can also decode emergency declarations to inform residents about the state of emergency, the availability of resources and assistance, and any restrictions or regulations in place.

By utilizing the AI legalese decoder, individuals affected by Hurricane Idalia can access crucial legal information in a user-friendly format, helping them navigate through the storm safely and effectively. This technology has the potential to save lives by bridging the gap between legal information and public understanding, particularly in high-risk situations like natural disasters.

legal-document-to-plain-english-translator/”>Try Free Now: Legalese tool without registration

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