Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Florida near Keaton Beach, located in the Big Bend region where the Florida peninsula meets the panhandle. It struck early on the morning of August 30, 2023, around 7:45 a.m. EDT, as a strong Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of approximately 125 mph
. This area experienced severe storm surge flooding, with water levels rising between 7 to 16 feet in some coastal communities such as Cedar Key, Steinhatchee, and along the Nature Coast
. The storm caused extensive damage to homes, infrastructure, and power lines in this region and was noted as the most powerful hurricane to hit Florida's Big Bend since 1950
