We are closely monitoring the evolving impacts of Hurricane Idalia following the storm’s landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida earlier this morning. To all of our employees currently experiencing Idalia’s impacts or preparing as the storm advances, our thoughts are with you and your families. The safety and well-being of you and your loved ones comes first, so please continue to follow local advisories and guidance from local officials.
Here are important considerations to keep an eye on over the next several hours as Idalia moves inland:
- Continued storm surge flooding from the Big Bend region stretching down through Tampa and Fort Myers. This situation will not improve much until later this evening.
- A significant span of wind damage that will create power outages through southern/southeastern Georgia from Valdosta to Vidalia/Statesboro/Savannah.
- Increasing storm surge flooding along coastal parts of Georgia and South Carolina, which will likely peak this evening.
The National Hurricane Center’s latest advisory issued at 2:00 p.m. EST today, Aug. 30, outlines the following key messages:
Florida
- Idalia’s center has moved out of Florida, but the storm’s bands continue to impact the state. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for much of Florida’s west coast from the Big Bend area to south of Tampa Bay.
- A Storm Surge Warning remains in effect for Florida’s Gulf Coast, including Tampa Bay, and significant impacts from storm surge and flooding will continue through this evening.
- A Tornado Warning is in effect for parts of Florida until 3 p.m. EST today.
Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina
- As of 2:00 p.m., the center of the storm is in southern Georgia about 10 miles north-northwest of Waycross and about 100 miles west-southwest of Savannah. Winds have dropped to 80 mph, keeping it at a Category 1 hurricane, with the potential to continue causing damage, especially to trees and power lines. Idalia is expected to continue moving along a northeastern track through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina today, Aug. 30 through tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 31.
- Idalia could maintain hurricane status while moving across southern Georgia, and near the coast of Georgia and potentially southern South Carolina late today. Idalia is forecast to be downgraded to a tropical storm while moving near the coasts of northeastern South Carolina and North Carolina tonight and through Thursday.
- A Hurricane Warning is in effect from Altamaha Sound, Georgia to Edisto Beach, South Carolina. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Sebastian Inlet north to Surf City, North Carolina. A Hurricane Watch is in place from the mouth of St. Mary’s River on the Florida-Georgia border north to Altamaha Sound, Georgia, and from Edisto Beach to the South Santee River, South Carolina.
- Damaging hurricane-force winds will occur in areas where the core of Idalia moves across southern Georgia and southern South Carolina. Residents should prepare for power outages, which are increasing in Georgia with more than 20,000 outages reported earlier this morning. A Tornado Watch is in effect for parts of Georgia until 3:00 p.m. EST today.
- Dangerous storm surge will continue to be a threat along the southeastern coast tonight and into tomorrow. Areas of flash flooding are expected in portions of central Georgia, South Carolina and upward through eastern North Carolina into tomorrow, Thursday, Aug. 31.
Our Tampa Bay office is closed today, Wednesday, Aug. 30. As soon as it is safe to do so, we will begin evaluating safety conditions in the area to determine whether to extend this office closure. Keep safety first, continue to work remotely from a safe location and do not return to the office until we communicate re-opening plans.
The Orlando office remains open at this time. However, we encourage you to continue using personal discretion and work remotely if needed. Your safety comes first.
For job sites currently closed or in the storm’s projected path, please continue to communicate with your supervisor to determine operational status updates for your site. We will assess conditions across locations that are currently closed to determine if and when it is safe to resume onsite operations. We will ask essential personnel to evaluate projects and facilities before resuming regular onsite operations. Stay in close contact with your supervisor and communicate whether you need to stay home for safety reasons.
We will continue to communicate via email, text and through updates on our Disaster Information Site accessible at this link: http://dr.bernhard.com.
Contact your supervisor if you have any concerns or questions regarding schedules.
Stay safe!