Hurricane Idalia Update

07 Sep 2023

To: RICOWI Membership

On Wednesday, August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia struck Florida's gulf coast as a Category 3 storm. While Idalia met RICOWI's definition of an "event," after further investigation, the RICOWI Storm Investigation Program (SIP) leadership determined a deployment is not necessary.

The Storm Investigation Program (SIP) identifies an event as "A major hurricane making landfall in a heavily populated area in Florida, or in an area previously investigated by RICOWI, with wind speeds at or above ASCE 7-2005 design levels based on early projections by NOAA/NHC and/or other credible sources. Alternatively, a hurricane similarly projected by NOAA/NHC to include one-minute sustained wind speeds equal or greater than 95 mph (Category II) making landfall along the northeast corridor."

SIP leadership examined aerial photos and reports from contacts on the ground in the Weeki Watchee area and determined there was not enough damage to gain enough new information to warrant an investigation.

The SIP team and RICOWI leadership is monitoring Hurricane Lee, currently in the Atlantic, anticipated to become a Category 4 Hurricane by the afternoon of Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Thank you,

Jason Hoerter
Chairman
RICOWI, Inc.

Jordan Loudon
Executive Director
RICOWI, Inc.

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