Disaster record
Hurricane Idalia (August 2023) — Florida Big Bend / Georgia
Two years after the disaster 12 deaths $3.6 billion
Summary
Hurricane Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach, Florida, on August 30, 2023, as a Category 3 hurricane. It brought destructive wind, storm surge, and flooding to the Big Bend, then major flooding across southern Georgia.
NHC Tropical Cyclone Report (Feb 2024): 12 U.S. fatalities (9 direct, 3 indirect), including Southeast rip-current deaths during offshore passage. Unchanged through two-year cutoff.
Scientific attribution
The storm drew energy from very warm Gulf water. Scientists said human-caused warming can make rapid intensification and extreme rain more likely. That does not mean climate change was the only cause.
Aug 30, 2023 · Keaton Beach, Florida Category 3 landfall; major wind, surge, and inland flooding across the Big Bend and southern Georgia · hurricane / inland flooding
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Messaging tallies
About these tallies
“Core Democratic Officials reviewed” shows how many of the 54 Core Democratic Officials have been examined for this disaster. Scoring rules: Methods.
Democratic framing
Summary
Two Core Democratic Officials named this storm in the seven-day window. They did not connect it to climate change. They did not name Republican obstruction of climate action.
On August 31, Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock wrote President Biden asking for prompt federal disaster aid for southern Georgia after Hurricane Idalia. They named Valdosta, power outages, blocked roads, damaged homes, and pecan crops.
Florida has no Democratic U.S. senators. A September 5 Senate floor line that listed Florida with Hawaii and Vermont did not name this storm.
Statements
- Jon Ossoff (U.S. Senator (D-GA)) — Aug 31, 2023
- Raphael Warnock (U.S. Senator (D-GA)) — Aug 31, 2023
Republican framing
Sen. Rick Scott wrote President Biden on August 31, with Sen. Marco Rubio and Florida House members, supporting Gov. DeSantis’s request for a major disaster declaration after Idalia’s landfall near Keaton Beach. He named the storm. He did not mention climate change.
No other in-window Republican U.S. senator statement was added here.
Statements
- Rick Scott (U.S. Senator (R-FL)) — Aug 31, 2023
Sources
- Hurricane Idalia Tropical Cyclone Report — NOAA / National Hurricane Center
- Sens. Ossoff, Reverend Warnock Urge Prompt Recovery Response for Georgians Impacted by Hurricane Idalia — Office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff
- Senators Reverend Warnock, Ossoff Urge Administration for Prompt Recovery Response for Georgians Impacted by Hurricane Idalia — Office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock
- Florida Delegation Letter — Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Idalia — Office of U.S. Senator Rick Scott
- Hurricane Idalia hits Florida with 125 mph winds, flooding streets, snapping trees and cutting power — Associated Press