Hurricane Idalia touched landfall in Florida on Tuesday and continued across the Southeast through Wednesday, causing damage and flooding in certain areas.

  • Hurricane Idalia reached landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane.
  • It swept through Georgia Wednesday at Category 1 levels.
  • On Thursday morning, the storm reached South Carolina.

The Hurricane Thus Far

The hurricane reached the Big Bend area of Florida – north of the Tampa area – bringing 125 mph winds and the strongest hurricane in the area in over 100 years.

  • More than 275,000 homes and businesses were without power.

Heavy flooding in the Hudson Beach area and beyond created hazardous conditions in some affected areas of Florida. 

Hurricane Idalia spared the heavily populated Tampa region of its most severe weather although heavy rain was still felt.

  • Georgia Governor Brian Kemp issued a state of emergency Wednesday in preparation for the hurricane’s arrival.
  • Flash flooding remains possible in Georgia through the Carolinas Thursday.

Florida Promo Companies Begin Normalizing Operations

FedEx said on Wednesday that hazardous conditions across portions of Florida means that “delays and disruptions can be expected for inbound and outbound shipments starting August 30 in affected areas.”

  • To track the status of your FedEx package, click here.
  • UPS did not issue statements about the storm’s effect on operations and is assumed to be attempting to operate normally.

Clearwater-based supplier Koozie Group’s CEO, Pierre Montaubin addressed customers Wednesday, explaining that the hurricane made landfall 190 miles north of Koozie Group facilities. The company was still checking in with employees as they navigate reports of flooding, minor wind damage and areas without power.

“Our team did a great job of prepping our facilities, and our buildings were not damaged by the storm,” Montaubin says. “We will reopen [Wednesday] afternoon and run extra shifts over the weekend to minimize, as best we can, any further disruption.”

  • Koozie Group’s Minnesota facilities were unaffected. It is mostly pens and drinkware affected by this disruption.
  • The supplier will reinstate 24-hour service out of Clearwater, Florida as soon as possible.
  • Live updates can be found at KoozieGroup.com.

St. Petersburg-based supplier Hit Promotional Products provided an update Wednesday that the storm caused “minor, if any, damages” and the company is focused on resuming operations.

  • Hit Promotional Products resumed operations at 11 am ET Wednesday.
  • However, local conditions – including flooding and bridge closures – means many employees likely had trouble reaching the facility Wednesday and Thursday.
  • As of Wednesday, the supplier expected to be staffed at 30% of typical levels.
  • The company plans to work on Saturday to make up for the interruption.
  • Disruptions north of the area could still cause shipping delays this week.

The Storm Continues

As of publication, the storm continues through the Carolinas.

  • Downgraded to a tropical storm, Idalia has weakened since reaching Florida but is still capable of causing damaging floods.
  • Many homes and businesses, including promotional product companies reside in its path.
  • Widespread power outages and at least two deaths have been reported.
  • The storm is expected to keep pulling east into the Atlantic Ocean Thursday, but it is still unknown whether it will continue northeast next week or turn back to the United States. 

PPAI Media will monitor the situation. If your company has experienced damages, delays or closures as a result of the storm reach out to News@PPAI.org.