Hurricane Ian winds drop additional, flood danger stays
Hurricane Ian’s most sustained winds dropped to 75 mph by early Thursday, the day after it struck Florida as a robust Category 4 storm.
But northeastern and central Florida have been forecast to get 10 to twenty inches of rain, and as much as 30 inches in some spots, the National Hurricane Center mentioned. Florida’s jap coast may additionally see a storm surge of 6 toes.
The storm, now a Category 1, was about 55 miles southwest of Cape Canaveral at 2 a.m., the hurricane middle mentioned in an advisory. It was transferring northeast at 9 mph.
It didn’t seem that any deaths had been reported in the hurricane, however officers close to the place it struck earlier Wednesday mentioned the harm was feared to be intensive and it was unknown how dangerous the state of affairs was as excessive winds have been persevering with.
Man, 91-year-old mom ‘trapped’ on Twenty second flooring of Fort Myers, Florida, high-rise
Cape Coral hit by storm surge; residents trapped in properties and automobiles
Why ‘Category 4’ doesn’t start to elucidate Hurricane Ian’s risks
Hurricane Ian made landfall on Florida’s southwestern coast Wednesday as a robust Category 4 storm, making it one in every of solely 15 Category 4 or 5 hurricanes on report to hit the state.
Its ranking might understate how a lot destruction the storm brings.
Even as Ian gathered energy and neared Category 5 standing, specialists warned that solely taking note of a hurricane’s class typically masks simply how harmful and life-threatening such storms could be — notably as local weather change makes hurricanes each rainier and extra intense.
All flights out of Jacksonville airport canceled
The terminal at Jacksonville International Airport will probably be closed Thursday, and all flights in and out are canceled, the airport mentioned.
The airport requested passengers to contact their airways to rebook in an announcement on social media late Wednesday.
The airport had mentioned Wednesday morning it could stay open so long as its airline companions and the Federal Aviation Administration deemed situations protected to fly.
Jacksonville, on Florida’s Atlantic coast, closed all three of its seashores Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Ian’s impacts.
The National Weather Service in Jacksonville has warned of in depth flash flooding, particularly over northeast Florida, and it cautioned in an replace Wednesday afternoon that the town might get 8 to 10 inches of rain.
Hurricane Ian weakens to a Category 1, however storm nonetheless battering Florida
Hurricane Ian’s most sustained winds dropped to 90 mph by late Wednesday, however the storm was nonetheless battering Florida with heavy rain and the danger of life-threatening storm surge, officers mentioned.
The wind speeds made Ian a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It was a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds when it made landfall close to Cayo Costa on Florida’s western coast at 3 p.m.
Officials in Lee County say the harm there may be intensive, however its full scope was not clearly identified. Residents reported being trapped by excessive water.
Central and northeast Florida might get 20 inches of rain, the National Hurricane Center mentioned in an 11 p.m. advisory. Its middle was about 70 miles south of Orlando because it moved northeast at 8 mph.
Storm surge warnings lined a lot of the western coast, together with Tampa Bay, and have been additionally in place on the East Coast, from round Volusia County to elements of South Carolina.
Terry Mazany, of Fort Myers, described it as a “freight train” of wind. The constructing they’re in is surrounded by 8 toes of water, he mentioned on MSNBC.
Crew-5 mission to International Space Station is delayed, NASA says
NASA and SpaceX are delaying a launch to the International Space Station by at the least 24 hours after Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida, officers mentioned Wednesday.
The Crew-5 mission, initially scheduled to depart from Kennedy Space Center off Florida’s east coast on Monday, is set to take three astronauts and a cosmonaut to the station, NASA mentioned.
The flight will take off no prior to 12 p.m. on Oct. 5, though it could possibly be additional delayed, the company mentioned.
Hurricane Ian plunges greater than 2 million prospects into darkness
At least 2 million prospects throughout greater than 12 Florida counties are with out energy Wednesday night time, in keeping with PowerOutage.us, which tracks utility knowledge throughout the nation.
Roughly half of these with out energy are in the area serviced by Florida Power & Light Co., whose protection space consists of the hard-hit communities of Lee County.
A message posted on the utility’s web site mentioned crews are working to revive energy “in between weather bands as conditions allow.”
Late Wednesday, the utility requested folks to be ready for widespread and prolonged outages as crews assess the harm.
“Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic winds will mean parts of our system will need to be rebuilt — not restored,” Florida Power & Light Co. tweeted Wednesday night time. “We are already at work restoring power where we can do so safely.”
Storm chaser: ‘Damage is widespread’ from Hurricane Ian
Biden says he has given DeSantis ‘all the things’ he is requested for in emergency response
President Joe Biden mentioned Wednesday night time that his administration has supplied Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with the entire sources he has requested for to reply to Hurricane Ian.
“We have been completely responsive to the governor of Florida, everything he’s needed and asked for,” Biden mentioned in remarks at an occasion hosted by the Democratic Governors Association. “We’ve given the governor every single thing he’s asked for, in terms of emergency response.”
Biden added that he could be assembly with officers on the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday and “do whatever the people of Florida need.”
National Hurricane Center: Lingering flooding from Ian might make response in Florida tough
Reports of ‘compromised’ buildings, automobiles floating away in Lee County, sheriff says
There have been experiences of automobiles floating to the ocean in Lee County, the place Hurricane Ian struck Wednesday, the sheriff mentioned.
Authorities don’t know precisely how dangerous the harm is in the county, which incorporates the town of Fort Myers, as a result of winds have been too robust for response efforts, Sheriff Carmine Marceno mentioned round 8 p.m.
“Reports of buildings compromised, we have reports of vehicles being, just floating out into the ocean,” he mentioned. He mentioned 911 callers have additionally reported broken roofs that there was and one report of a constructing that collapsed.
Marceno mentioned that tons of of deputies have been prepared to reply as quickly as climate situations allow. “Obviously, there are a lot of challenges that we face. We don’t even know exactly what we face just yet,” he mentioned. “We know we’ve been hit very hard.”
Ian made landfall in as a Category 4 hurricane close to Cayo Costa in Lee County round 3 p.m. Wednesday. It was a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds at 8 p.m.
Hurricane Ian weakens to Category 3; northeast Florida shoreline prepares for storm surge
People stranded in Lee County, the place harm is ‘extensive’
Officials in Lee County, Florida, the place Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday, say preliminary assessments have revealed intensive harm.
County Manager Roger Desjarlais mentioned that there’s intensive harm to infrastructure however that officers don’t know the extent but in the county, which incorporates Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
“I am sad to tell you that while we don’t know the full extent of the damage to Lee County right now, we are beginning to get a sense that our community has been, in some respects, decimated,” he mentioned.
Officials mentioned that individuals are stranded by excessive water however that officers have been unable to reply to them due to climate situations.
“We are aware of a number of calls of people who are stranded due to high water,” Lee County Public Safety Director Benjamin Abes mentioned at a news convention. “However, we are faced with conditions that make it impossible to respond right now.”
911 calls are being prioritized for when authorities can reply, he mentioned. People with water in their properties ought to name 911 and “and seek the highest spot possible.”
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno mentioned deputies and different first responders would go to the rescue as quickly as they’re in a position.
“Right now, just do the best you can to get to higher ground. Go to the second floor,” Marceno said. “Those that are in need: We want to get to you, and we will get to you as soon as possible.”
Surveying the harm in Davie, Florida
Orlando-area residents asked to shelter in place
Residents in Orange County, the Florida county that is home to Orlando, have been told to stay inside and off roads as the effects of Hurricane Ian began to be felt Wednesday evening.
“We’ve asked all of our residents to start the process of sheltering in place,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said at a 6 p.m. news conference. “You should not be out on the roadways at this time moving about the community.”
Ian was a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph at 8 p.m., and its center was about 95 miles southwest of Orlando, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving northeast.
Orlando was under a hurricane warning, and the National Weather Service said conditions will deteriorate Wednesday night.
“The threat of significant to catastrophic flooding” was expected for an area that includes metro Orlando, the weather agency mentioned, and flooding could be particularly harmful at night time. In addition to the wind and the storm surge, the realm might get 10 to fifteen inches of rain, it said.
“There’s no question that we’re now feeling the effects of this hurricane, and we haven’t seen the worst of it yet,” Demings said.
Hurricane Ian weakens to a Category 3 storm
Hurricane Ian has been downgraded to a Category 3 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Ian, which came ashore in Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane and has been lashing the state with winds of 150 mph, is now recording sustained winds of 115 mph, the hurricane center said in its 8 p.m. update.
Ian, which was moving northeast at 8 mph, was about 95 miles southwest of Orlando.
The storm is forecast to move across central Florida on Wednesday night, and catastrophic wind damage is likely near its core, the hurricane center said.
“Widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flash and concrete flooding, with main to report flooding alongside rivers, is predicted to proceed throughout central Florida,” the middle mentioned in its newest replace.
Virginia, North Carolina declare states of emergency
The governors of North Carolina and Virginia declared states of emergency Wednesday evening ahead of Hurricane Ian’s expected impact later this week.
“A State of Emergency is needed now so that farmers and those preparing for the storm can more quickly get ready for the heavy rain that is likely to fall in much of our state,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in his executive order. “North Carolinians should stay aware, keep a close eye on the forecast and prepare their emergency supplies.”
The remnants of Ian could bring heavy rain, flooding and even tornadoes to North Carolina on Friday and Saturday. Declaring a state of emergency activates emergency operations plans, waives rules that could inhibit the transport of fuel and critical supplies, helps first responders and protects consumers from price gouging, Cooper said.
Eighty members of the North Carolina National Guard have been activated.
In Virginia, the state of emergency mobilizes resources and equipment needed for response and recovery efforts, Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement.
“We want to ensure that our communities have the resources needed to respond to and recover from any potential effects from the storm,” he said. “While we recognize that the storm track is still uncertain, I nevertheless encourage all Virginians and visitors to make a plan, have supplies on hand, and follow official sources for the latest forecast information and guidance.”
Power outages top 1.5 million in Florida
About 1.5 million customers were without power in Florida at 6:45 p.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us.
The number has been steadily ticking upward throughout the day as Hurricane Ian batters communities and plunges more and more people into darkness.
Florida Power & Light Co., the utility that serves areas hardest hit by Ian, continues to report the most outages, at nearly 1 million homes and businesses Wednesday evening.
Biden reaches out to Florida mayors offering federal support
President Joe Biden on Wednesday reached out to local officials in Florida to “let them know their communities have the full force of the federal government behind them,” the White House said.
The president called the mayors of Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Sarasota and the chair of Charlotte County to discuss the kinds of assistance they might need with Hurricane Ian making landfall. According to a readout from the White House, Biden was able to get hold of only Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson.
The pair “discussed Fort Myers’ ongoing needs including support for the elderly members of the community, families that live in mobile homes and other community members who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the storm,” the White House said.
Biden left messages for the other officials, the White House said. He spoke to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday night.
DeSantis warns that more deaths typically occur after a storm hits, urges people to wait
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said people should not immediately venture outside after Hurricane Ian passes, warning that data from past hurricanes shows a higher number of post-storm deaths.
“In Hurricane Irma, there were seven fatalities directly because of the storm, and there were 77 that were a result of post-storm,” he said at a news briefing Wednesday evening.
A lot of deaths stem from downed power lines, standing water and the misuse of generators. “Please, make sure that you’re taking the proper precautions,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis also addressed the rescue response, saying first responders will wait until things calm down before they venture out. In the meantime, people who live in high-risk areas and have called authorities for help are being “logged,” he said.
FEMA administrator: Hurricane Ian will leave ‘catastrophic footprint’
Curfews issued for coastal communities in Florida
Mandatory curfew orders have been issued for the coastal communities of Collier County and the city of Fort Myers starting Wednesday night local time.
The curfew for Collier County, which includes the city of Naples and parts of Everglades National Park, starts Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET and will remain in effect through 6 a.m. ET Thursday. First responders and staff members at hospitals and other essential businesses are exempt.
The city of Fort Myers, in neighboring Lee County, ordered a 48-hour curfew that goes into effect Wednesday at 6 p.m.
Damaged condos from apparent tornado caused by Hurricane Ian
Ian batters Florida as officials issue new watches and warnings as far away as North Carolina
Hurricane Ian was battering Florida with catastrophic winds and flooding Wednesday, weather officials said as they issued new watches and warnings from the storm as far away as North Carolina.
In a 5 p.m. update, the National Hurricane Center said the eye of the storm was northwest of Fort Myers and moving north toward central Florida at 8 mph. Ian’s wind speeds were clocked at 140 mph, while its storm surge was as high as 18 feet in some areas.
A tropical storm warning was extended to Surf City, North Carolina, while a storm surge watch was issued for most of South Carolina’s northern coast. A tropical storm watch was also extended to Cape Lookout, North Carolina.
The storm is expected to weaken as it moves across Florida, the center said, but it could still be a hurricane when it moves toward the state’s east coast Thursday.
Marco Island city manager: ‘Streets are indistinguishable from the canals’
Flamingos at St. Petersburg botanical garden take shelter from storm in bathroom
Video shows firetrucks in Naples caught in flooding
More than 1 million power outages reported in Florida
Power outages have topped 1 million across Florida as of 4:45 p.m. ET, less than two hours after Hurricane Ian made landfall.
The bulk of these outages, more than 700,000, are within the coverage area serviced by Florida Power & Light Co. This includes Lee County, where Ian first hit Wednesday afternoon.
City of Bradenton warns wastewater treatment plant in danger of overflowing
The city of Bradenton, about 25 miles south of St. Petersburg, Florida, said its public works staff had warned that the city’s wastewater treatment plant was “full and is in danger of overflowing.”
The city pleaded with residents to conserve water, adding that they should avoid doing “dishes or laundry, flush only when necessary, limit showering, etc.”
‘You have to stay put’: Fort Myers mayor urges nonevacuated residents to stay indoors
3 Cuban migrants rescued after vessel sinks amid Ian, 20 still missing
Three Cuban migrants who attempted to swim to shore after their vessel sank in the midst of Hurricane Ian have been rescued by U.S. Coast Guard crews, officials said in a tweet.
They are being treated in a local hospital for symptoms related to exhaustion and dehydration.
Twenty other migrants are still missing and an air search is underway, officials said.
Hurricane Ian is fifth most powerful storm in terms of wind speed to ever hit U.S.
‘Don’t go outside’: Charlotte County spokesperson urges residents to remain indoors
Todd Dunn, the public information officer for Charlotte County, urged nonevacuated residents to remain inside as Hurricane Ian slammed Florida on Wednesday.
The county, which is just north of Fort Myers, was preparing for 8 to 14 feet of storm surge as the winds picked up, Dunn said. Emergency teams were on standby to begin rescues, but they were waiting until it was safe to venture out.
Dunn said he hoped people had heeded the county’s warnings and evacuated before the storm arrived, as the shelter that can hold 3,500 people only held about 1,000 when the storm hit.
“Our message we have been trying to convey: Stay safe and go to an interior space, away from windows and doors, and get to a center part of your house and ride the storm out,” he said. “Don’t go outside. It is very dangerous.”
NBC News correspondent Kerry Sanders offers a glimpse behind those dramatic hurricane shots
Winds whip through Punta Gorda downing street signs, sending debris flying
More than 800,000 Floridians without power
Hurricane Ian has knocked out power for more than 810,000 people in Florida as of 3:35 p.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us, which aggregates data from utilities across the state.
Florida Power & Light Co., whose service area includes Lee County, reported the most outages Wednesday afternoon, with nearly 542,000 customers without power.
Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, in Lee County, shortly after 3 p.m. ET.
Ian makes landfall on the west coast of Florida
Hurricane Ian made landfall on the west coast of Florida at 3:05 p.m. ET as an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm, hitting the southwest coast at the island of Cayo Costa, near Fort Myers and Cape Coral, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Ian walloped the region with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.
‘People will be forced to swim’: Expert fears Florida residents unprepared for Ian’s storm surge
From his perch atop a parking garage in Punta Gorda, Florida, Hal Needham is expecting catastrophe from Hurricane Ian, which was churning with incredible power offshore Wednesday and bearing down on a town where it was clear not everyone had heeded warnings to evacuate.
Needham told NBC News by phone that residents nearby were not ready for what was to come.
“I think a lot of people will be forced to swim or wade in the water for their survival,” he mentioned, talking from a city in the trail of Ian. “It will be like a raging river.”
Needham, an excessive climate and catastrophe scientist with the GeoTrek mission, mentioned Wednesday that he’s anticipating a large storm surge because the hurricane approached. The highly effective hurricane drew water out of the harbor alongside Punta Gorda on Wednesday morning, however quickly all of that water and way more could be flowing by way of Punta Gorda.
“We’ll get a surge here that will be catastrophic,” he said. “We’re expecting 12 to 18 feet of storm surge, according to the National Hurricane Center.”
Tampa tenant going through eviction stays put, fearing landlord gained’t let him again in after Ian
TAMPA, Fla. — With Hurricane Ian bearing down on Florida, 63-year-old Kenny Lofton confronted two equally terrible situations Wednesday — being evicted from his residence by his landlord or being evicted by the storm.
Lofton mentioned he knew staying put could possibly be harmful, however feared leaving his residence in North Tampa for a shelter as a result of he may not have a house to come back again to when the hurricane lastly passes.
“I’m home packing my belongings,” Lofton advised NBC News. “I have no clue where to go.”
Lofton is likely one of the greater than 2 million folks in Florida who have been requested to pack up and evacuate earlier than Ian made landfall. But he’s additionally going through eviction Friday as a result of, with rising costs, his authorities housing help is not sufficient to pay the lease.
Apparent downed energy line catches fireplace after Hurricane Ian’s eyewall makes landfall in Florida
Hurricane Hunter flies into Ian and takes video of the ‘roughest flight of my profession’
Nick Underwood, an engineer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Hunters, has flown into storms with a staff of scientists for the previous six years.
He mentioned the flight into Hurricane Ian on the P-3 turboprop airplane the NOAA has flown into hurricanes for the reason that Nineteen Seventies was undoubtedly the “roughest flight of my career.”
He shared video of the flight, in which the NOAA measures varied features of the storm, on his Twitter account.
Ian already wreaking havoc because it nears coast of southwestern Florida
Hurricane Ian was already inflicting “catastrophic” storm surge, winds and flooding alongside the Florida Peninsula on Wednesday afternoon because the storm neared the southwestern coast of the state, in keeping with a 2 p.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Ian was full of most sustained winds round 155 mph, in keeping with the middle. The storm was about 25 miles away from Fort Myers.
Roadways develop into waterways in Naples as eyewall of hurricane makes landfall
More than 1,000 Florida flights canceled Tuesday as Hurricane Ian approaches
In complete, Florida airports canceled greater than 1,000 flights set to reach or depart Tuesday, in keeping with FlightAware.
More than 700 arrivals and departures have been canceled on the Orlando International Airport after it closed Tuesday night. It additionally shut down business flights Wednesday.
Miami International Airport mentioned it had canceled 206 arrivals and 214 departures Tuesday as a result of hurricane. The airport mentioned that may have an effect on flights between Miami and cities throughout the U.S., the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
Tampa International Airport closed Tuesday, canceling tons of of flights Wednesday as Ian’s arrival loomed. Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers closed as nicely and reported tons of of cancellations because of this.
Floridians are livestreaming Hurricane Ian on TikTok
Floridians are giving TikTok customers a front-row seat to Hurricane Ian.
Dozens of TikTok customers in Florida used TikTok’s livestream feature Wednesday to supply a window into their lives because the hurricane approached. Some confirmed seashores and struggled to talk above the howling winds, whereas others broadcast from their properties as bushes have been whipped round exterior.
“I wanted to give an accurate portrayal,” Brad Stecklein, a golf teacher in Fort Myers, who goes by “golfpantsman” on TikTok, advised NBC News in a telephone interview Wednesday. Stecklein has gone reside on TikTok to greater than 5,000 folks to showcase the storm in his yard.
“These storms have been so overhyped in the 20 years my wife and I have lived down here, it’s hard to take them seriously,” he mentioned. “This one is going to redefine how people act.”
Gov. DeSantis: 42,000 linemen ready to revive energy in response to hurricane
Jacksonville mayor points a state of emergency for the town
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry declared a state of emergency for his metropolis Wednesday and really helpful evacuations for many who reside in areas susceptible to flooding.
Residents ought to rapidly be taught what evacuation and flood zones they reside in, mentioned Curry, who additionally activated the town’s emergency operations middle.
The order made it simpler to allocate cash and sources to guard those that reside in Jacksonville, he mentioned. It additionally opened emergency shelters and closed faculties and authorities buildings from Wednesday by way of at the least Saturday.
Curry emphasised, nevertheless, that he was not but ordering a compulsory evacuation.
Naples mayor signifies concern for thrill-seekers as Ian approaches
Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann expressed “safety concerns for “thrill-seekers” Wednesday afternoon as Hurricane Ian made its method inland.
Thrill-seekers are identified to chase the attention of hurricanes that hit land, a particularly harmful exercise.
“It’s concerning, it’s very dangerous, there are downed wires, we’ve had a few electrical fires,” she said Wednesday afternoon on MSNBC.
Heitmann and the city’s manager, Jay Boodheshwar, drove through Naples as the high tide approached. Residents were still seen on the city’s streets.
“My message to them is, please, stay indoors and hunker down.”
Officials have spoken about how disappointing it is to see people take the risk.
“Unfortunately we can’t get to them now, the streets are flooding, and it is coming in fast and furious.”
Federal hurricane response, by the numbers
Here is what the federal government has provided so far to help with hurricane preparations:
128,000 gallons of fuel ready for rapid deployment
3.7 million meals and 925,000 gallons of water positioned in Alabama
350 personnel staged from the Army Corps of Engineers
5,000 Florida National Guard troops staged, with another 2,000 Guardsmen from Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina activated
“Hundreds” of FEMA personnel staged in Miami, Orlando and Atlanta, including FEMA Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech
The American Red Cross says it will have 2,500 responders ready to deploy to the region
30,000 personnel staged from Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy and Tampa Electric
300 ambulances on standby, plus a 38-person disaster medical assistance team from the Department of Health and Human Services staged in Miami, with an additional two medical assistance teams deployed to Robin Air Force Base in Georgia
HHS also deployed a 15-person incident management team, two 15-person health and medical task force teams and four pharmacists to Atlanta, with more staff anticipated in the next 24 hours
Orange County and Orlando could see up to 24 inches of rain, possible tornadoes
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said the area, which includes Orlando, is projected to see as much as 24 inches of rain, winds nearing 100 mph and possible tornadoes as Hurricane Ian moves inland.
He said the county is “within the crosshairs” of the storm, with significant winds expected to hit the area as soon as 2 p.m. ET.
He said a tornado watch is in effect for much of east Central Florida and Orange County through at least 5 p.m.
“Within the next 24 hours, we will get sustained winds of 95 mph. So that means that those are hurricane force winds that will create significant damage for our community,” he said in a Wednesday afternoon news conference. “We want everyone to be prepared for that. By this evening, we will be experiencing full tropical force, tropical storm winds.”
Demings asked locals to relocate by no later than 2 p.m., then hunker down.
Satellite captures moment eyewall of Ian hits Florida
Tampa no longer a bull’s-eye for Ian, but city is ‘not out of the woods yet’
Hurricane Ian’s trajectory has shifted and Tampa is no longer in its direct path, the city’s mayor told reporters Wednesday afternoon. But the city is “not out of the woods but,” she added.
“Do not let your guard down now,” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said at a news conference.
Ian will probably still cause flooding and power outages across Tampa, she said. That’s why residents who have already evacuated should not return until the storm has passed, she said.
Eyewall of Ian hits Florida, moving onshore at Sanibel and Captiva islands
The eyewall of Hurricane Ian was moving onshore at the Sanibel and Captiva islands in Florida, the National Hurricane Center said in a noon ET update.
The islands are located just off the coast of Fort Myers, about 25 miles northwest of Naples.
Sustained winds of 71 mph and a wind gust of 98 mph were reported at a weather station near Sanibel Island, the weather service said.
The storm is currently located about 50 miles west, northwest of Naples, barreling forward with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.
Sarasota police taken off the streets; mayor says ‘too late to evacuate’
Sarasota Mayor Erik Arroyo said Wednesday that police officers have been removed from the streets due to “hazardous conditions” as Hurricane Ian draws near.
“We just made the decision just now to withdraw all of our police officers from the streets just because of the sustained wind pressure that we’ve been having,” he said on CNN.
Arroyo warned that over the next few hours, “we’re anticipating that everyone will heed the governor’s warning and stay hunkered down. It is too late to evacuate at this point.”
He said all city buildings and assets have been fortified, police have an evacuation plan and officers have been redirecting traffic.
“Our foremost precedence is the security of our residents and we’ve been making ready for this for years. For this specific hurricane, we’ve been making ready since final week,” Arroyo mentioned.
Hurricane Ian’s ‘dangerous’ eyewall approaches Florida coast
Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, tells residents to shelter in place
The flash flooding and fierce winds across Florida’s Hillsborough County are so intense that officials believe residents need to stay off the roads and shelter in place until Ian has passed.
“Remain sheltered the place you’re. Do not try and relocate to a Hillsborough County emergency shelter or some other location,” county officials said in a statement Wednesday as the storm neared Category 5 strength.
Officials in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, told residents to shelter in “an inside room,” away from windows and skylights. They advised that residents keep their cellphones and electronic devices charged in case of power loss, adding that flashlights or chemical sticks are safer than candles.
“Once storm situations subside, don’t go away your private home till officers announce that it’s protected,” officers mentioned.
Gov. Ron DeSantis warns millions will lose power within 48 hours
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned millions of people will lose power in the state within the next 48 hours in what will be a “historic storm,” during a Wednesday morning news conference.
DeSantis said of locals in Hurricane Ian’s path: “Fortunately, most of them are not going to have their homes destroyed, but almost all of them are going to lose power.”
“Resuming companies is a high precedence,” he said.
DeSantis said Ian’s impact will last long after the storm passes.
“This is going to be something that is going to be there for days and weeks and months and unfortunately, in some circumstances, even years.”
DeSantis warned locals to stay home even after the hurricane clears.
“There’s a lot of hazards that happen after the storm and more recent storms, not as strong as this, have seen more fatalities even in the aftermath of the storm than from the direct impact of the storm itself.”
5,000 Florida National Guard troops on the ground ahead of Hurricane Ian
As Ian looms, 5,000 Florida National Guard troops stand at the ready Wednesday to aid residents at armories and bases.
Another 2,000 guardsmen from Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina are “activated and able to help if wanted,” the National Guard mentioned in a news release.
In addition to troops on the ground, 16 helicopters, 1,640 high-wheeled vehicles, seven boats, 36 fuel tankers and generators are also available for search and rescue operations, to help clear roads and to support law enforcement, officials said.
A satellite system was also set up for video and data communications in case of infrastructure damage, the release said.
‘Waffle House Index’ update: The chain closes 21 locations in another sign of Ian’s danger
Waffle House, a popular restaurant chain known for staying open during severe weather, closed 21 locations in Florida from Bradenton to Naples as of Wednesday morning, a company spokeswoman said — underscoring the danger posed by Hurricane Ian.
Inside the Federal Emergency Management Agency, officials use the so-called “Waffle House Index” as an unofficial metric to determine the severity of a natural disaster and the level of federal response it might require. The term was coined by former FEMA chief Craig Fugate.
Power goes out for more than 230,000 customers across Florida
More than 230,000 customers in Florida were without power as of 11 a.m. ET, according to PowerOutage.us, a website that aggregates data from utilities across the state.
The website said that roughly 233,545 customers have lost power.
Meanwhile, nearly all of Cuba was in the dark after sweeping outages in Ian’s wake.
Biden warns oil industry against storm-related price hikes
President Joe Biden warned oil and gasoline producers Wednesday not to use Hurricane Ian as an “excuse” to hike prices and “gouge the American folks.”
The incoming storm will impact the production by less than 2% a day and shouldn’t impact the cost of oil and gasoline, the president said.
“Do not, let me repeat, don’t, don’t use this as an excuse to boost gasoline costs and gouge the American folks,” Biden told attendees at a White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health.
The president also urged Floridians to heed the warnings of local authorities to evacuate if Ian comes their way.
“You ought to obey all warnings and instructions from emergency officers,” he said. “Don’t take something as a right. Use their judgment, not yours. Evacuate when ordered, be ready.”
NBC News correspondent Steve Patterson hammered by wind off St. Petersburg
FEMA, National Weather Service warn of deadly floods
Ken Graham, the director of the National Weather Service, warned of the “devastating” impact of Hurricane Ian, cautioning that heavy rainfall across the state will have a hard time draining due to 12-18 foot storm surges, leading to deadly floods.
“This is going to be a storm we talk about for many years to come,” he said at a news briefing in Washington, D.C. “It’s a dangerous, life-threatening storm surge.”
Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said that efforts were underway to provide backup power to critical infrastructure, and that water and food were being staged in Alabama. Search and rescue teams have also been set up in Miami to help people trapped by the storm, she said.
She said people should never drive through standing or moving water, urging the public to seek higher ground if they are in an area with rising water. And she said that generators should never be used inside a house due to the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning; they should only be used outside.
“As with any storm, the most important work starts at home,” Criswell said, urging people to listen to guidance from their local officials.
Charlotte County suspends emergency response services
Charlotte County, home to nearly 187,000 people on Florida’s west coast, said Wednesday morning that it had suspended calls for service due to deteroriating weather conditions.
The county earlier in the morning told residents to shelter in place.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West assists 7 people before storm makes landfall
The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West said crews have already assisted seven people who called for help as Ian approached Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 155 mph. The Coast Guard shared a video on Twitter of crews responding to someone who had called from a wind-blown boat.
“It’s at all times safer to comply with metropolis, county evac suggestions,” the Coast Guard mentioned.
Biden directs federal agencies to ‘surge all available resources’ to Florida as Ian nears
President Joe Biden has directed the heads of federal agencies across the U.S. government to “surge all accessible sources” to areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian’s incoming arrival, the White House said.
As of Wednesday, there were more than 1,300 federal response workers on the ground in Florida to support emergency preparations, “together with operations, planning, energy restoration, particles elimination, and concrete search and rescue,” it said in a statement.
At least 110,000 gallons of fuel and 18,000 pounds of propane are ready for immediate deployment, as well as personnel and equipment to support distribution, the statement said. A variety of generators of “all sizes and kinds” have also been readied.
Meanwhile, at least 3.7 million meals and 925,000 gallons of water are being staged in Alabama, the White House said.
The Biden administration said it also has at least 300 ambulances already in the state to respond to the impact of Ian, along with other resources.
Photos show waters receding as officials warn they ‘will come back’
The city of Venice shared images from the its Venice Fishing Pier showing waters receding as Hurricane Ian advances.
The National Weather Service of Tampa Bay posted the images on its Twitter account, warning residents that they should not attempt to go near the area or “some other location with receding water.”
“The water WILL come again,” it said.
The Tampa Police Department additionally shared related pictures of receding waters from Bayshore Boulevard, warning they’re a “clear signal that #hurricaneian is drawing close to.”
Expected storm surge levels increase to 12-18 feet in some places
Predictions for historic storm surge levels along the southwestern coast of Florida have been increased, the National Hurricane Center has said.
As of 9 a.m. ET, peak storm surge inundation was increased to 12 to 18 feet from Englewood to Bonita Beach, as well as in Charlotte Harbor, it said.
Expected levels from Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee were also increased to 8 to 12 feet, while from Chokoloskee to East Cape Sable, storm surge levels were expected at 5 to 8 feet.
The hurricane center has repeatedly warned of the potentially life-threatening impacts of storm surge, which sees an abnormal rise of water caused by a storm over and above the predicted astronomical tide.
‘This storm is bigger than the state of Florida,’ Rubio says
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., expressed concerns Wednesday of the potentially life-threatening impacts Hurricane Ian could have as it advances upon Florida’s west coast.
Asked what he was worried about most during an interview on Fox News, Rubio said: “The water. The flooding.”
“We discuss storm surge. We discuss flooding. We’re speaking about folks drowning to demise, dying as a result of of water is method too excessive. They needed to redo the numbers final night time. Storm surge map, they didn’t have a colour for 12 to fifteen toes,” he said about the historic levels of storm surge expected near where Ian is expected to make landfall.
“I fear and now we pray for individuals who didn’t heed the evacuation warnings,” Rubio said.
“This is a large storm. This storm is larger than the state of Florida. It’s wider than the peninsula,” he mentioned.
At least 1,990 U.S. flights canceled for Wednesday, many due to Ian
At least 1,990 flights within, to or from the United States were canceled Wednesday, with many of the cancellations involving airports affected by Hurricane Ian.
Orlando International Airport had at least 313 cancellations listed as of early Wednesday, while Miami International Airport had at least 234 cancellations.
American Airlines said it has canceled a total of 544 flights due to Ian.
It comes after the airline issued a travel alert Monday for 20 airports in the western Caribbean and Florida, allowing customers whose travel plans are affected by Ian to rebook without change fees.
Skyway Bridge closed in both directions amid strong winds
The Florida Highway Patrol has closed the Skyway Bridge in both directions amid heavy winds Wednesday morning as Hurricane Ian approaches.
The agency said winds ranged between 50 to 60 mph by around 7:50 a.m., forcing officials to close the bridge connecting Pinellas and Manatee counties.
“The bridge will stay closed till the storm passes and the inclement climate subsides,” it said.
The freeway patrol mentioned motorists needing to journey Wednesday and Thursday ought to affirm the supply of their route by checking its incidents page.
Early morning scenes in St. Petersburg, Florida.
‘Last opportunity’ to get to evacuation centers in Sarasota County, officials say
Sarasota County officials have warned that residents are at their “final alternative” to get to evacuation centers or they will need to shelter in place.
“As you are waking up this morning, you are seeing the situations exterior deteriorate, the climate and the winds are selecting up,” Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane mentioned in a video replace shared on Facebook round 8:20 a.m. ET.
“If you possibly can nonetheless get to an evacuation middle, evacuation shelter or discover a good friend or member of the family’s home safely, then try this,” he said. But, McCrane added, “if you happen to get to some extent the place you haven’t finished that and you’re at house, you’ll want to shelter in place.”
Tornado watch issued for parts of Florida
A tornado watch has been issued for parts of Florida until Wednesday evening.
“Several tornadoes” are likely as Hurricane Ian advances upon Florida’s west coast, the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay said.
The tornado watch is expected to remain in place until 5 p.m. ET, it said.
‘Time to take cover,’ Red Cross warns Charlotte County
“It is time to take cowl,” Charlotte County is being warned.
The American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands issued the warning in a tweet, advising residents to “keep inside in the innermost room in your private home with no home windows.”
It issued the same statement in Spanish in a following tweet.
Historic life-threatening storm surge of 12-16 feet possible
Life-threatening storm surge of up to 12 to 16 feet and catastrophic winds near where Ian makes landfall Wednesday could alter life in southwest Florida for weeks to come.
Historic storm surge is possible in Charlotte Bay down to Fort Myers. It could potentially take years to recover from the damage Ian is likely to bring.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said early Wednesday that Ian is expected to make landfall in Charlotte County.
Landfall timing continues to look earlier, likely early afternoon, with Ian set to come onshore as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.
If the storm gets any stronger, it could intensify into a Category 5 storm.
Too late to evacuate for some residents, DeSantis warns
It is too late for residents of Charlotte County, where Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon, to evacuate their homes, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned.
“It’s not doable to soundly evacuate,” he said, speaking at a news conference early Wednesday. For those living in Charlotte County and nearby, “it is time to hunker down and put together for this storm,” he said.
DeSantis warned residents to treat the incoming storm as if it were a tornado approaching their homes.
He said bridge closures were already in place and he urged everyone to remain indoors.
Ian to make landfall in Charlotte County, potentially as Category 5, DeSantis says
Hurricane Ian is on track to make landfall in Charlotte County, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday.
With maximum sustained winds of nearly 155 mph, with higher gusts, the storm, which is currently Category 4, was “knocking on the door of a Category 5 storm,” he said at a news conference around 7:30 a.m.
DeSantis said Ian would hit Florida’s west coast as a “main hurricane,” with forecasters expecting it to make landfall Wednesday afternoon.
A view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station
NASA
Strong winds, heavy rains in Fort Lauderdale
Video shared on social media confirmed robust winds and heavy rains pounding Fort Lauderdale in the early hours of Wednesday.
In the footage captured simply earlier than 5 a.m by Twitter consumer @photobytoolow, bushes could be seen blowing in the wind as heavy rains blast the realm in Fort Lauderdale Beach.
2 taken to hospital after Delray Beach residence advanced broken by doable twister
Two folks have been taken to a hospital after their residence advanced suffered extreme climate harm pointing to a doable twister landing, officers mentioned.
Firefighters have been referred to as round 9:15 p.m. Tuesday and encountered “a lot of wind and damage,” the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue mentioned in an announcement.
It mentioned one individual had referred to as 911 as a result of a roof collapse had left her caught in the lavatory. Firefighters have been in a position to rescue her.
The fireplace division mentioned at the least 30 folks needed to be evacuated for his or her security, whereas the roof was “blown off of several top floor apartments” and vehicles have been discovered toppled and rolled the other way up.
It mentioned the harm pointed to a “possible tornado touchdown.” The National Weather Service in Miami had warned of a twister risk for southeast Florida counties forward of Hurricane Ian’s arrival.
Ian on observe to make landfall in Florida as ‘catastrophic’ Category 4 storm
Hurricane Ian is strengthening because it nears Florida’s west coast, officers mentioned.
Maximum sustained winds had elevated to almost 155 mph, with greater gusts as of round 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, the National Hurricane Center mentioned.
Ian is forecast to make landfall on the west coast as a “catastrophic category 4 hurricane,” with weakening anticipated after landfall, it mentioned.
Landfall most certainly to occur between Venice Beach and Fort Myers
As Hurricane Ian, now a robust Category 4 storm, takes intention at Florida’s west coast, landfall is most certainly to occur between Venice Beach and Fort Myers.
Venice Beach is about 80 miles south of Tampa.
The middle of Ian is predicted to method the west coast of Florida Wednesday morning, earlier than transferring onshore later in the day.
As of early Wednesday, most sustained winds have been close to 140 mph, with greater gusts.
Pollution from Florida mining a priority with Hurricane Ian
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The polluted leftovers of Florida’s phosphate fertilizer mining trade, greater than 1 billion tons in “stacks” that resemble huge ponds, are in danger for leaks or different contamination when Hurricane Ian comes ashore in the state, environmental teams say.
Florida has 24 such phosphogypsum stacks, most of them concentrated in mining areas in the central a part of the state. About 30 million tons of this barely radioactive waste is generated yearly, in keeping with the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute.
“A major storm event like the one we are bracing for can inundate the facilities with more water than the open-air ponds can handle,” Ragan Whitlock, employees lawyer for the Center for Biological Diversity environmental group, mentioned in an e-mail Tuesday. “We are extremely concerned about the potential impacts Hurricane Ian may have on phosphate facilities around the state,” Whitlock added.
A leak in March 2021 at a stack referred to as Piney Point resulted in the discharge of an estimated 215 million gallons of polluted water into Tampa Bay, inflicting large fish kills. State officers, overseen by a court-appointed receiver, are working with a $100 million appropriation to close down that long-troubled location.
Hurricane Ian is predicted to make landfall in southwest Florida on Wednesday earlier than reducing by way of the state, near most of the gypsum stacks.
More than 17K prospects affected by Florida energy outages, officers say
More than 17,200 prospects have been affected by energy outages in Florida as of early Wednesday, as residents bought a preview of Hurricane Ian’s pressure.
The Florida Power and Light Company reported a complete of 17,255 outages throughout a number of counties, together with Broward, which has seen greater than 6,700 outages, in addition to Miami-Dade, the place greater than 5,700 outages have been reported, as of round 3: 15 a.m.
Duke Energy reported at the least 11 outages in the Tampa space, whereas the Tampa Electric Company reported 24.
Ian strengthens into Category 4 storm
Hurricane Ian has strengthened right into a Category 4 storm because it advances upon Florida’s west coast.
As of round 5 a.m., most sustained winds have been close to 140 mph, with greater gusts, the National Hurricane Center mentioned in an early morning replace.
The hurricane was about 75 miles west-southwest of Naples, on the state’s Gulf Coast.
Satellite photographs present Hurricane Ian approaching Florida
Florida faces ‘life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding’
Hurricane Ian is “expected to cause life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding” in the Florida Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center warned Wednesday.
As Ian, at the moment a Category 3 storm, barreled towards Florida’s west coast, the middle warned in its 2 a.m. replace of the storm’s probably lethal impacts.
It mentioned a storm surge warning “means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations.”
“This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions,” the hurricane middle mentioned, urging residents to comply with evacuation orders and different directions from native officers.
How can hurricanes have an effect on Florida’s manatees?
Hurricanes can pose some massive challenges to manatees, that are already going through excessive ranges of die-off in Florida.
Though manatees are tailored to excessive climate occasions in the state, storm surges can deliver the mammals far inland, the place they’ll develop into trapped in unfamiliar territory as soon as water recedes, Patrick Rose, the manager director of the Save the Manatee Club mentioned in an announcement.
They may develop into stranded when water leaves an space, similar to when a hurricane pulls water out of a bay, mentioned Rose, an aquatic biologist, in a 2017 video by the nonprofit organization. Algal blooms and different contamination may impression their habitats after the hurricane has handed.
In an announcement about Hurricane Ian, Rose inspired residents to maintain an eye fixed out for stranded manatees as soon as it’s protected to take action, and to report sightings to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Florida’s manatees are dying at alarmingly high rates — a report 1,110 deaths have been reported in 2021, in keeping with preliminary numbers from the FWC. They are additionally contending with points similar to worsening water quality, which has taken a toll on seagrass, the manatees main food source.
Tropical storm-force winds attain coasts of southeast and southwest Florida
Tropical storm-force winds have begun reaching the coasts of southeast and southwest Florida as Hurricane Ian advances towards the state, officers mentioned.
In a 3 a.m. replace, the National Hurricane Center mentioned a WeatherMove station at Biscayne Bay Light, close to the southeastern coast of Florida, measured a sustained wind of 39 mph and a wind gust to 60 mph.
On the southwestern coast of Florida, a WeatherMove station close to Sanibel Island measured a sustained wind of 35 mph and a wind gust to 47 mph.
As of three a.m., the storm was about 90 miles southwest of Naples, with most sustained winds of 120 mph.
Blackout in Havana
Florida sports activities groups make modifications forward of Ian
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s skilled sports activities groups and universities are conserving a detailed watch on the forecast, and a few are making modifications as Hurricane Ian approaches.
The NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers relocated their soccer operations to the Miami space Tuesday in preparation for Sunday night time’s sport towards the Kansas City Chiefs. The staff is predicted to follow on the Dolphins’ coaching advanced in Miami Gardens beginning Wednesday. So far, there was no change for the sport, which is scheduled for Sunday night time at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been keeping track of the hurricane as they opened a three-game sequence in Cleveland.
Meanwhile, the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning postponed preseason video games scheduled to be performed at house Wednesday towards Carolina and Thursday towards Nashville.
In school soccer, Florida moved its sport towards Eastern Washington from Saturday to Sunday. Central Florida did the identical with its sport towards SMU. South Florida relocated its Saturday sport towards East Carolina from Tampa, Florida, to Boca Raton.
No. 23 Florida State and Twenty second-ranked Wake Forest, in the meantime, are “closely monitoring” the storm whereas anticipating to play as deliberate in Tallahassee. And Stetson canceled its house sport scheduled for Saturday.
Ian anticipated to strengthen till making landfall, officers say
Hurricane Ian continues to be forecast to strengthen till the hurricane makes landfall in Florida, the National Hurricane Center mentioned.
In its 2 a.m. replace Wednesday, the hurricane middle mentioned Ian was forecast to method the west coast of Florida later Wednesday as “an extremely dangerous major hurricane.”
Maximum sustained winds have been close to 120 mph with greater gusts as of round 2 a.m., the NHC mentioned.
Hurricane Ian barrels towards Florida’s west coast
Hurricane Ian was advancing upon Florida’s west coast early Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center mentioned.
In its newest replace at 2 a.m., the NHC mentioned the middle of Ian was anticipated to method the west coast of Florida throughout the hurricane warning space Wednesday morning and transfer onshore later in the day.
The Category 3 storm was about 95 miles southwest of Naples early Wednesday.
“Ian is moving toward the north-northeast near 10 mph,” the hurricane middle mentioned. “This general motion with a reduction in forward speed is forecast tonight and Wednesday, followed by a turn toward the north on Thursday.”
The middle of Ian is forecast to maneuver over central Florida Wednesday night time and Thursday morning, earlier than rising over the western Atlantic by late Thursday, it mentioned.
