Latest Hurricane Ian updates: Storm strengthens on path north
As Florida assesses damage from what governor dubbed ‘500-year flooding event’, Georgia and Carolinas brace for impact.
- Ian has strengthened into a hurricane again, the National Hurricane Center says, as it churns towards the US states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- Hurricane Ian has left a trail of destruction across Florida, where rescue workers continue to search for missing people and assess the damage.
- Ian has strengthened into a hurricane again, the National Hurricane Center says, as it churns towards the US states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
- Hurricane Ian has left a trail of destruction across Florida, where rescue workers continue to search for missing people and assess the damage.
- US President Joe Biden says Ian could be the deadliest storm in Florida’s history, as a “substantial loss of life” is expected.
- Several Florida coastal communities are experiencing massive flooding in what Governor Ron DeSantis described as “a 500-year flooding event”.
This live blog is now closed, thank you for joining us. These were the updates on Hurricane Ian on Thursday, September 29:
Photos: Storm leaves trail of devastation in Florida
Florida death toll remains unclear
The death toll linked to Hurricane Ian’s devastation in Florida remains unclear, as rescue crews continue to try to reach hard-hit areas.
One death was confirmed earlier in the day. In Charlotte County, north of Fort Myers on the state’s Gulf coast, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department confirmed multiple deaths but did not have a firm figure.
Authorities in Sarasota County were investigating two possible storm-related deaths, a sheriff’s spokesperson also said.
‘I was terrified,’ storm survivor says after hours-long ordeal
Valerie Bartley says her family spent desperate hours holding a dining room table against their patio door, fearing the storm raging outside their home in Fort Myers, Florida, would destroy everything.
“I was terrified,” Bartley said of Hurricane Ian, which ripped away patio screens and snapped a palm tree in the yard, but left the roof of her house intact and her family unharmed.
“What we heard was the shingles and debris from everything in the neighbourhood hitting our house.”
South Carolina county declares state of emergency
Charleston County in South Carolina has declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Ian.
Officials in the county, home to more than 400,000 people, have urged residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground amid concerns over flooding, and buses are transporting people to local emergency shelters.
“There is the potential for major flooding tomorrow,” Charleston County Emergency Management Director Joe Coates said in a statement (PDF). “If you live on a barrier island or a low-lying area that historically floods, and you haven’t moved to higher ground, I recommend you relocate now.”
#Ian becomes a hurricane again. Taking aim at the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds.
For the latest visit https://t.co/meemB5d6ch pic.twitter.com/yvW9r1uLVu
— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 29, 2022
Ian’s maximum winds increase to 120km/h: NHC
Hurricane Ian is now clocking wind speeds of nearly 120km/h (75mph), the NHC said, warning that the storm is expected to “slightly strengthen” before making landfall again on Friday.
But Ian is expected to rapidly weaken over the southeastern US late on Friday and into Saturday, it added.
Ian strengthens into hurricane again, threatens other US states
Ian has strengthened into a hurricane again, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.
The Miami-based centre said in its latest update that the storm is now “taking aim” at the US states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where it is expected to bring “life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds”.
More Cuban migrants rescued off Florida coast: Official
A US official has said a total of nine Cuban migrants have been rescued after their boat sank off the Florida Keys in stormy weather on Wednesday.
Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent at the US Border Patrol’s Miami Sector Headquarters, said search-and-rescue operations were ongoing.
Four migrants swam ashore when the vessel sank, but 23 others were initially reported missing. Three people were rescued from the water on Wednesday.
#Update: A total of 9 Cuban migrants associated with this event have been safely located & rescued. @USCGSoutheast search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@USBPChiefMIP) September 29, 2022
Images on social media show devastation left behind by Ian
Pictures shared on social media have shown the extent of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ian across Florida.
The storm cut off a chunk of the Sanibel Causeway, the only bridge to a barrier island that is normally home to approximately 6,300 people.
The number of residents who heeded orders to evacuate remains unknown, but Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller expressed cautious optimism that worst-case scenarios might not have been realised.
The Sanibel Causeway was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The only road in and out of Sanibel and Captiva. 💔 #flwx #Ian pic.twitter.com/FxOpCE9FOg
— Dylan Federico (@DylanFedericoWX) September 29, 2022
North Carolina prepares for heavy rain, potential power outages
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has urged residents to prepare for lots of rain, high winds and potential power outages when the remnants of Hurricane Ian cross the state soon after the storm likely reaches landfall again in South Carolina.
Visiting the state’s emergency operations centre, the governor said in a news conference that up to 18cm (7 inches) of rain could fall in some areas, with the potential for mountain landslides and tornadoes statewide.
“For North Carolinians, I want to be clear: This storm can still be dangerous and even deadly,” Cooper said.
Louisiana and New Jersey say they are sending help to Florida
The US States of Louisiana and New Jersey have said that they are sending help to Florida after Hurricane Ian.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has approved sending 245 National Guard members to Florida, fulfilling requests for a family shelter task force and a hazmat team.
“Louisiana knows all too well the chaos and destruction a hurricane as strong as Ian can bring, and we will do everything we can to help our neighbors in Florida and other states impacted by this storm,” Edwards said in a news release.
Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy has said that he is calling up 135 National Guard members to send to Florida as well as 40 military and support vehicles.
Eastern Kentucky on the watch for flooding
Emergency officials in eastern Kentucky, which was devastated by historic flooding in July, are watching the path of Hurricane Ian closely.
Knott County Emergency Management Director Jeff Combs has said that officials there are keeping a close eye on the storm and plan to have spotters out beginning on Friday to watch trigger points in area waterways that are the most likely to flood, “just in case everything starts to go south on us.”
If things start looking bad, he said the agency will put out an alert so that rescue squads can respond quickly.
Walt Disney theme park to reopen on Friday, the company says
Walt Disney will reopen its theme park located in Florida in a phased manner on Friday following its closure due to Hurricane Ian, the company has said.
“We continue to closely monitor weather conditions as we assess the impact of Hurricane Ian on our property,” the company said in a statement.
Walt Disney World Resort Update on Hurricane Ian – For the latest information, visit: https://t.co/exDzqxeeEG pic.twitter.com/oaO2J9bmfl
— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 29, 2022
American Red Cross shelters more than 33,000 people in Florida
More than 33,000 people in Florida have taken shelter in evacuation shelters run by the American Red Cross and other partners, Sherri McKinney, a spokesperson for the group, has said.
“This is a storm that people will tell their grandchildren about,” McKinney told Al Jazeera, adding that “catastrophic” is the best way to describe the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian.
Mayor of South Carolina city urges residents to stay home
The mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, has asked his city to shut down on Friday as storm Ian approaches.
“There will be water tomorrow in this city,” Mayor John Tecklenburg said.
“Take this storm seriously,” Tecklenburg added, “tomorrow, stay home and stay out of harm’s way.”
No evacuations have been ordered in South Carolina, but forecasters warn several feet of ocean water could surge into low areas along the coast, like Charleston.
US officials vow full support for recovery, hurricane victims
The US federal government is committed to assisting victims and survivors for “days, weeks and months to come”, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has said.
“When a catastrophic event hits, DHS approaches response and recovery work with a full expanse of our resources and our capabilities,” Mayorkas said in a news conference.
“We are in it for the long haul,” he said.
Crews use helicopters, boats to search for missing
Emergency crews have taken to helicopters and boats to rescue residents stranded by floodwaters, downed power lines and piles of debris left behind by Hurricane Ian.
DeSantis said 28 helicopters were performing water rescues. He also said the bridge to Sanibel Island – a barrier island on the Gulf coast – was severely damaged and impassible.
Two area hospitals were evacuated, with patients moved to higher ground.
There could be ‘substantial loss of life’, Biden says
Biden has said that although an exact death toll has not yet been confirmed, there may be a “substantial loss of life” due to Hurricane Ian.
“This could be the deadliest Hurricane in Florida’s history; the numbers are still unclear but we’re hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life,” the US president said in a speech.
“We know many families are hurting today and our entire country hurts with them.”
My message to the people of Florida is that at times like these, America comes together.
We put aside our differences and pull together as one team. One America.
However long it takes, the U.S. Government will be there.
— President Biden (@POTUS) September 29, 2022
Cuba turns lights back on in parts of Havana
Cuba had begun to progressively restore power to the capital Havana by early, according to Reuters witnesses and official reports, but vast swaths of the Caribbean island nation still remained in the dark following the passage of Hurricane Ian.
Much of the island of 11 million people was entering its third day without power after the brawling storm made landfall, knocking out high-tension wires, flattening homes and obliterating agricultural fields.
At least three people died in the storm in Cuba, state-run media reported.
Popular tourist city in Florida issues flood warning
Police in historic St Augustine, Florida said water is rising in many areas of the city and are advising residents to stay inside until after Hurricane Ian passes.
Police in the city popular with tourists, noted for its Spanish-style architecture and stone fortress, made their warnings in a Facebook post that included images of flooded roads.
The water is almost over the seawall in downtown St. Augustine… and we haven’t hit the peak of high tide yet. @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/ttn9Um3ufE
— Jessica (@JessicaFCN) September 29, 2022
Tampa airport to reopen Friday after Hurricane closure
Tampa International Airport (TPA), one of the Florida airports temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ian, has said it will reopen on Friday morning.
“TPA did not sustain any serious damage during the storm,” the airport said in a statement, adding that the reopening would take place at 10am local time (14:00 GMT).
Overall, airlines cancelled 2,000 US flights on Thursday and nearly 2,200 on Wednesday, according to Flightaware, while another 1,042 flights were cancelled for Friday.
TPA TO REOPEN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, AT 10 AM
☑️ TPA sustained no major damage from #HurricaneIan
🚫 We remain closed to the public today
⏰ If you are flying out on Friday, arrive at least 2 hours early
✈️ Check directly with your airline for flight status updates pic.twitter.com/jZrPdsfxuk
— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) September 29, 2022
South Carolina-bound Ian could become hurricane again: NHC
Tropical Storm Ian is expected to become a hurricane again later on Thursday before making US landfall for the second time on Friday, the US National Hurricane Center has said, issuing a hurricane warning for the entire coast of South Carolina.
9/29 11am EDT: There is the danger of life-threatening storm surge from #Ian along the coasts of northeast FL, GA, SC, & the Neuse River, NC, where a storm surge warning is in effect. Residents should follow advice from local officials & check https://t.co/0BMJEA5Wz0 for updates. pic.twitter.com/h7h6ZevGhx
— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 29, 2022
Biden speaks to Florida governor, pledges support
US President Joe Biden has spoken with Florida’s governor, the White House said, to discuss steps his administration can take to help the state respond to Hurricane Ian.
Biden earlier issued a disaster declaration, allowing federal support to flow to Florida.
“The President told the Governor he is sending his [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Administrator to Florida tomorrow to check in on response efforts and see where additional support is needed,” the White House said.
“The President and Governor committed to continued close coordination.”
Storm marks ‘500-year flooding event’: Governor
DeSantis has said Florida has “never seen storm surge of this magnitude”, as the US Coast Guard began rescues on southwest Florida’s barrier islands as soon as winds died down.
“The Coast Guard had people who were in their attics and got saved off their rooftops,” the governor said.
“We’ve never seen storm surge of this magnitude … The amount of water that’s been rising, and will likely continue to rise today even as the storm is passing, is basically a 500-year flooding event.”
At least 2.5 million Florida homes, businesses without power
More than 2.5 million homes and businesses across Florida remain without power, local electricity companies have said.
Governor Ron DeSantis said that Lee and Charlotte counties, home to more than 900,000 people, are “basically off the grid”.
Hurricane Ian, which hit western Cuba before heading towards Florida earlier this week, also plunged the entire island of 11 million people into darkness.
Florida residents trapped in flooded homes
Emergency crews have sawed through toppled trees to reach Florida homes flooded as a result of Hurricane Ian, which first made landfall in the US state as a Category 4 storm on Wednesday afternoon.
But with no electricity and virtually no cell service, it was impossible for many people to call for help when the surge filled their living rooms.
“Portable towers are on the way for cell service. Chances are your loved ones do not have ability to contact you,” said the sheriff’s office in Collier County, which includes the hard-hit Florida city of Naples. “We can tell you as daylight reveals the aftermath, it’s going to be a hard day.”