August 30, 2023 – Idalia makes Florida landfall
10:08 p.m. ET, August 30, 2023
Florida’s Citrus County issues mandatory curfew
The Citrus County Board of Commissioners in Florida issued a mandatory curfew from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time, prohibiting all travel within evacuation Zone A, the county’s sheriff’s office said in a statement Wednesday.
“Citizens who live in this area will not be permitted to return until this curfew is lifted and conditions have been deemed safe,” the statement read.
The statement warns citizens to use “extreme caution when venturing back out” and to not walk or drive through standing water.
“There is no way to know what dangers are hidden beneath the surface, not to mention possible contamination,” it said.
The statement added that there is “an abundance of wildlife that has been displaced as a result of this storm.”
Restoration efforts have begun and will continue “for an unknown period of time,” the sheriff’s office said. Road closures are still in place for the west side of the county, it added.
“US HWY 19 from CR 488 (West Dunnellon Road) to West Venable Street in Crystal River and the portion of roadway from West Gulf to Lake HWY (SR 44) to US HWY 19 is still CLOSED,” the statement said.
Emergency shelters are scheduled to close Thursday, and some government offices and services will resume normal operations.