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.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update that Hurricane Ian “was targeting the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds.”
The hurricane is now moving to the north-northwest around 10 mph with maximum sustained winds increasing to 75 mph with strong gusts.
“Ian could strengthen slightly before landfall tomorrow, and is forecast 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 rooftops after several feet of water poured into neighboring neighborhoods. About 2.5 million people were currently without power.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described the hurricane as a “500-year flood event” and said major infrastructure had been badly damaged, including the Sanibel Causeway in southwest Florida and the bridge in Pine Island, near Fort Myers.
President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Florida after the catastrophic impacts. “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history,” he said later during a briefing at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters.
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Over 500 people rescued so far in Lee and Charlotte counties
“Search and Rescue Update: As of 2 p.m. EST, more than 500 people have been rescued in Charlotte and Lee counties since operations began this morning. Search and rescue efforts continue in affected areas” , the state emergency management department tweeted Thursday.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph, while Charlotte County is to the north.
Graeme Massie 30 September 2022 00:01
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According to scientists, climate change increased rainfall by 10%.
The analysis by researchers Kevin Reed of Stony Brook University and Michael Wehner of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has not yet been peer-reviewed, but they say they used the same methodology for their study of the Atlantic hurricane season 2020, yes.
Graeme Massie 29 September 2022 23:46
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Disney World guests take shelter as Hurricane Ian brings fierce winds and rain
The resort’s four theme parks closed Wednesday, but at the 32 hotels that dot the 27,000-acre theme park near Orlando, Disney staff did their best to keep the magic alive.
Disney World guests take shelter as Hurricane Ian brings fierce winds and rain
“It’s so horrible what’s happening in other places, I feel terrible”
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 11:26 p.m
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Ian becomes a hurricane again as it approaches South Carolina
The storm is expected to make landfall again on Friday.
Ian becomes a hurricane again as it approaches South Carolina
The storm is expected to make landfall again on Friday
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 11:10 p.m
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Sanibel’s mayor writes emotional letter after Ian: “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.
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
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 11:01 p.m
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Florida boats destroyed by Hurricane Ian’s winds and surge
Boats were tossed about like toys in Fort Myers, Florida, when Hurricane Ian brought devastating winds and storm surge as it made landfall on Wednesday, September 28.
Florida boats destroyed by Hurricane Ian’s winds and surge
Boats were tossed about like toys in Fort Myers, Florida, when Hurricane Ian brought devastating winds and waves as it made landfall on Wednesday, September 28. President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster in the state, which has seen widespread destruction and flooding after the storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm with winds sustained highs of 65 mph at 8 a.m. Thursday, but remained. extremely dangerous, according to the National Hurricane Center. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 10:52 p.m
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Firefighters evacuate nursing home as Hurricane Ian hits Florida
Residents of a nursing home in Orlando, Florida were evacuated after floodwaters from Hurricane Ian flooded their accommodation on Thursday morning, September 29.
Firefighters evacuate nursing home as Hurricane Ian hits Florida
Residents of a nursing home in Orlando, Florida were evacuated after floodwaters from Hurricane Ian flooded their accommodation on Thursday morning, September 29. Dozens of rescue operations were carried out across the state after heavy flooding from one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the United States. Ian weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph as of 8 a.m. Thursday, but remained extremely dangerous, according to the National Hurricane Center. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 10:40 p.m
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Latest images from Ian’s Florida devastation
An aerial view shows a damaged Fort Myers Beach pier and surrounding buildings after Hurricane Ian tore through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
An aerial view shows buildings damaged as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images)
Graeme Massie 29 September 2022 22:31
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Ian went through the hurricane once again
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian has returned to being a hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center said in its 5 p.m. ET update that Hurricane Ian “was targeting the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds.”
The hurricane is now moving to the north-northwest around 10 mph with maximum sustained winds increasing to 75 mph with strong gusts.
“Ian could strengthen slightly before landfall tomorrow, and is forecast to weaken rapidly over the southeastern United States Friday through late Saturday,” the warning said.
Hurricane Warning #Ian 29: Ian is a hurricane again. Targeting the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and high winds. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 29, 2022
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 10:21 p.m
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FCC says Ian took down more than 1,500 cell phone sites in Florida
According to the Federal Communications Commission, that number represents about 11 percent of the state’s cell sites.
Lee County, where Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday, reported that 65 percent of cell sites were knocked out by the storm.
Graeme Massie September 29, 2022 10:20 pm