31 August 2023 , 07:34
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Ron DeSantis wife has confirmed the family are safe after a century-old oak tree crashed onto their family mansion in Tallahassee as Hurricane Idalia began its path of destruction across Florida.
No injuries were reported as DeSantis' wife, Casey DeSantis, confirmed that she and their three young children were unharmed at the home, along North Adams Avenue
"Mason, Madison, Mamie and I were home at the time, but thankfully no one was injured. Our prayers are with everyone impacted by the storm," she shared on X, formerly Twitter, accompanied by a photo revealing the oak tree split in half near the mansion. The mansion suffered damage to its roof and garden area.
DeSantis was out of the house at the time coordinating with state and federal authorities in the wake of the hurricane. The governor's spokesperson stated that Governor DeSantis was deeply grateful for the well-wishes pouring in and reassured the public that his family was safe.
Casey DeSantis confirmed her family was safe (Bloomberg via Getty Images)Tropical Storm Idalia descended on the Carolinas on its way out to the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction throughout the Southeast that stretched back to its landfall as a hurricane in Florida.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
Rescue and repair efforts continued in the areas the storm passed Wednesday and there was no immediate word on the toll from the ferocious winds and inundating waters.
Florida Highway Patrol earlier said two men, aged 40 and 59, had died in separate "weather-related" crashes. However, DeSantis' comments suggest the deaths are not being attributed to Idalia.
Ron DeSantis warned people to take the hurricane seriously and take necessary precautions (AFP via Getty Images)The storm left as many as a half-million customers without power in Florida and other states at one point as it ripped down power poles and lines. Still, it was far less destructive than feared, providing only glancing blows to Tampa Bay and other more populated areas as it came ashore with 125 mph (201 kph) winds in rural Florida.
The weakening storm still packed winds of up to 60 mph (96 kph) as it blasted through Georgia and South Carolina on Wednesday evening. It was expected to reach the North Carolina coast Thursday and roll off into the ocean through the weekend.
Idalia had weakened to a tropical storm by late Wednesday afternoon but it still packed a punch as it advanced into Georgia, where a man in Valdosta died when a tree fell on him as he tried to clear another tree out of the road, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk said.