Hurricane Ian is making its way across Florida, bringing heavy rains, powerful winds and storm surges. As of Thursday afternoon, the storm had already killed at least nine people, including two infants. Emergency crews were not yet able to reach families stranded in their homes, according to Charlotte County’s sheriff’s office. Fort Myers city officials said first responders were prioritizing life-threatening situations.
Florida’s Hurricane Ian is one of the five worst in state’s history
Hurricane Ian is one of the strongest storms to strike Florida in recorded history. It made landfall in Cayo Costa, Florida, and was one of the most damaging hurricanes to hit the state. More than 500 people have been evacuated, and the storm caused widespread flooding and damage. The storm surge and wind speeds have surpassed 150 miles per hour in some areas.
While Ian was weakened to a tropical storm before making landfall in Florida, the damage it caused remains severe. Massive floodwaters have inundated some parts of the state, including the cities of Naples and Fort Myers. Meanwhile, powerful winds have knocked buildings off their foundations and knocked down power lines. As a result, rescue missions are underway. More than 500 people have been rescued in Lee and Charlotte counties alone. The National Hurricane Center has declared the storm a “major disaster” and says the flooding in Florida is “catastrophic.”
It has flooded homes on both coasts
As Hurricane Ian roars toward the South Carolina coast, it’s bringing with it life-threatening flooding, storm surge, and strong winds. It’s forecast to regain hurricane strength Friday as it crosses the Atlantic and curves back into the Carolinas. As of early Thursday, Ian’s winds were at 70 mph. The storm surge and winds from Ian will cause flooding and may even wash away homes and other structures.
As Hurricane Ian continues its journey inland, it is threatening the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and northeast Florida. The storm is also expected to dump more rain well inland from the coast. North Carolina and Georgia governors have declared states of emergency, and officials are urging residents to remain indoors, or seek shelter in higher ground.
It has knocked out power to millions of customers
Hurricane Ian has knocked out power to more than 2.5 million customers in Florida. The state has declared a state of emergency and has activated its National Guard. Meanwhile, state officials are scrambling to restore power to as many customers as possible. One of the biggest challenges will be re-powering the entire state.
As Ian pounded southwest Florida on Wednesday, survey crews reported collapsing buildings and downed power lines. There were also reports of flooded roads. The storm was one of the strongest storms to hit Florida’s west coast in decades. As the storm moved inland, the storm surge reached up to 12 feet, stranding some residents in their homes. Several counties were inundated with water, forcing officials to evacuate residents and shut down power.
It has left a death toll
Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a hurricane and is moving towards the US states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. It has already left a trail of destruction in Florida, and rescue workers continue to search for survivors and assess damage. The storm has already killed at least two people and left thousands homeless. Although the exact death toll is still uncertain, there have been reports of several people being rescued from homes by the Coast Guard.
In Lee County, Georgia, officials are urging residents to evacuate and move to higher ground. Buses are transporting people to local emergency shelters. As the storm approaches the Carolinas, it is expected to bring heavy flooding and a dangerous storm surge. Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen slightly before landfall before weakening rapidly over the southeastern US.
