Deaths linked to Hurricane Idalia have risen to three amid fears more will be killed after the trail of damage and destruction began on Wednesday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said two drivers in Florida had died in crashes related to weather caused by Idalia, but Governor Ron DeSantis said this had not been confirmed by law enforcement. It has also been reported that a man died in Georgia, when he was reportedly trying to dismantle a downed tree, according to Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk.
The weather system has now been downgraded to a tropical storm after briefly reaching Category 4 speeds - 130mph - last night.
Idalia first made landfall in Florida with a major storm surge flooding the beautiful coastal area of Cedar Key. Widespread flooding has been seen elsewhere along the Florida coast, as Idalia left over 438,000 people without power in Georgia and Florida.
In a press conference, President Joe Biden said the cause of Idalia and the recent Maui wildfires was exacerbated by climate change.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
"I don't think anybody can deny the impact of a climate crisis anymore," he said.
Watch live as Hurricane Idalia live webcam streams show scale of damage in the storm's path
Around 1,500 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel have been deployed, the president said, along with 900 from the Coast Guard as rescue efforts continue.
We've finished this live blog for the day - for all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US