Florida News That Impacts You – August 31st, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Damage assessment is underway following the impact of Hurricane Idalia. Highly populated areas of Florida’s Gulf coast such as Tampa Bay, St. Pete and Clearwater Beach experienced localized flooding which quickly receded. The hardest hit areas in Florida were small communities in the Big Bend which were directly in the path of the storm including Keaton Beach where at least one home was destroyed, with several others flooded, and the inland town of Perry where extensive damage to homes and businesses has been observed. No deaths have been directly attributed to the impact of the storm in Florida. FHP recorded two traffic fatalities in two separate single car accidents during the storm. As of this morning there were more power outages attributed to the impact of Idalia outside of Florida than in it.
- Idalia remains a tropical storm and has reentered the Atlantic off the coast of Wilmington, North Carolina where it’s expected to pass by Bermuda as a tropical storm. Including Idalia, there are five tropical disturbances, though none pose a threat to Florida or any populated areas (beyond the potential tropical storm impact of Idalia to Bermuda).
- Brightline is delaying the start of its service from South Florida to Orlando for a second time. Originally scheduled to begin September 1st, a delay in the start of service to September 7th was announced last month. Yesterday, Brightline announced a further two-week delay to September 21st for the onset of Orlando operations. The high-speed rail operator has been delayed while testing its trains in part due to staffing shortages and the need to have employees certified prior to the start of service. Brightline is providing refunds, automatic upgrades and rental car fee breaks for those impacted by the delay.
- Gas prices were flat again on Wednesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded remains $3.70 per gallon – 5 cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.87 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state.