Hurricane Ian: Waves flood roads in Key West as storm strengthens to Category 4
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian became a hurricane again as it targeted the South Carolina coast.
Ian is expected to make landfall near Charleston, South Carolina around 2pm today. It will produce life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds across parts of Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center. As Ian makes landfall in South Carolina today, President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for the state.
“Ian could strengthen slightly before landfall, and is expected to weaken rapidly over the southeastern United States Friday through late Saturday,” the warning said.
Dozens of rescue operations are underway across Florida following unprecedented flooding from one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the United States.
Thousands of people are stranded across the state as Coast Guard helicopters were seen plucking people from roofs after several feet of water reached neighborhoods. About 2.5 million people were currently without power.
Meanwhile, damage and economic losses from Hurricane Ian could reach $120 billion, according to a new estimate.
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Timelapse video shows flash flooding on Florida island as Hurricane Ian creates dangerous storm surge
A time-lapse video of an intersection on the island begins with heavy winds and rain, but the road quickly gives way to rising waters that completely cover the median and rise halfway up a street sign.
The video shows flash flooding on the Florida island as Hurricane Ian unleashes a storm surge
The area is expected to see up to 18 feet of storm surge
Maroosha Muzaffar 30 September 2022 06:12
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Sanibel’s mayor writes emotional letter after Ian: “Our lives and our island have been changed forever.”
The mayor of a Florida island that was devastated by Hurricane Ian has written an emotional letter to residents, saying “Our lives and our island have been changed forever.”
Sanibel Island is cut off after the only bridge connecting it and Captiva to the mainland took the brunt of the historic hurricane and had sections ripped away.
“I’m struggling to find the words to convey my feelings, as I’m sure most of us are as we look back at the past four days. All of our lives and our island have changed forever. What we do tomorrow and the days and months to come will redefine and strengthen our community,” Mayor Holly Smith wrote.
Read Ethan Freedman’s full story here:
Sanibel’s mayor writes emotional letter after island devastated by Hurricane Ian
A badly damaged bridge is the only road to access communities on Sanibel and Captiva islands
Maroosha Muzaffar September 30, 2022 06:04
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ICYMI: Firefighters evacuate Orlando nursing home as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Florida
Firefighters evacuate Orlando nursing home as Hurricane Ian ravages Florida
Graeme Massie 30 September 2022 06:03
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ICYMI: Ian re-strengthens to a hurricane as it approaches South Carolina
Ian has regained strength over the Atlantic Ocean and is once again a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
The storm had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it weakened over Florida. Hurricane Ian is now forecast to make landfall in South Carolina today as a Category 1 hurricane.
Read the full story here:
Ian becomes a hurricane again as it approaches South Carolina
The storm is expected to make landfall again on Friday
Maroosha Muzaffar September 30, 2022 06:00
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A woman braves the floodwaters of Hurricane Ian to check on a stranger’s mother
Christine Bomlitz grew increasingly anxious as Hurricane Ian gained in ferocity, tearing through Southwest Florida on Wednesday. Hours passed, but still no word from his 84-year-old mother.
It arrived on Thursday morning. The storm had moved away during the night. But still no word.
Read the full piece here:
A woman braves the floodwaters of Hurricane Ian to check on a stranger’s mother
As Hurricane Ian swept through Southwest Florida, Christine Bomlitz grew nervous
Maroosha Muzaffar 30 September 2022 05:57
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Hurricane Ian destroys homes, memories in the barrier islands
On the road to Fort Myers Beach, cars lie abandoned in the driveway, where they stopped when storm surge from Hurricane Ian flooded their engines and their drivers were unable to continue. Broken trees, boat trailers and other debris litter the road.
It’s even worse in the coastal resort town, much of which was flattened by the strong winds and powerful storm surge generated by the Category 4 hurricane.
Read the full story here:
Hurricane Ian destroys homes, memories in the barrier islands
Cars are left stranded where they came to rest on a road in Fort Myers Beach when storm surge from Hurricane Ian flooded their engines and their drivers were unable to continue.
Maroosha Muzaffar 30 September 2022 05:48
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Donald Trump avoids filing a fraud lawsuit by staying in Florida as Hurricane Ian hits
Donald Trump has avoided a plea to a fraud lawsuit by staying in Florida when Hurricane Ian made landfall. The former president was due to be impeached in a civil suit first filed in 2018. It accuses Mr Trump, his children and the Trump Organization of deception and fraud.
It is different from the lawsuit filed earlier this month by New York Attorney General Letitia James, which similarly accuses Mr. Trump and others of fraud, allegedly overstating their assets by billions of dollars.
Read Andrew Buncombe’s full story here:
Trump avoids impeachment for fraud by staying in Florida as Hurricane Ian hits
“I expressed some surprise but was told they were flying anyway”
Maroosha Muzaffar 30 September 2022 05:32
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Don Lemon scolded for turning NOAA’s Hurricane Ian interview into a climate crisis debate
As Ian approached the U.S., Jamie Rohme, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center, raised some eyebrows when he appeared to backtrack on linking the storm to the climate crisis during an interview with CNN .
Read the full story here:
Don Lemon scolded for turning NOAA’s Hurricane Ian interview into a climate crisis debate
The scientific consensus says that the climate crisis will worsen extreme weather
Maroosha Muzaffar 30 September 2022 05:25
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The study finds that climate change added 10% to Ian’s rainfall
A quick study by two scientists estimates that climate change made Hurricane Ian 10% wetter than it would have been in the absence of global warming.
Read Seth Borenstein’s full article here:
The study finds that climate change added 10% to Ian’s rainfall
A quick study by two scientists estimates that climate change made Hurricane Ian 10% wetter than it would have been in the absence of global warming.
Maroosha Muzaffar September 30, 2022 05:20
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Why You Shouldn’t Stay in Hurricane Flood Water
As Hurricane Ian battered Florida, with wind speeds of more than 150 mph, several people shared videos of themselves swimming through the flood waters. Read here to find out why you shouldn’t:
Why You Shouldn’t Stay in Hurricane Flood Water
Several parts of Florida were under water due to Hurricane Ian this week
Maroosha Muzaffar 30 September 2022 05:10