Hurricane Ian: Revived storm pounds South Carolina as death toll rises to 27
Flooding continued in central Florida as storm barrelled through state before gathering strength
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A revived Hurricane Ian battered South Carolina, bringing heavy rains and flooded streets as the death toll in the US from one of its costliest storms climbed to 27.
The storm barrelled through western Cuba and raked across Florida before gathering strength in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean to curve back and strike South Carolina.
While the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone earlier on Friday, the agency warned river flooding will continue through next week across central Florida. Meanwhile, president Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for South Carolina.
The storm hit Florida as one of the most powerful hurricanes in the state’s history, with wind speeds nearly reaching Category 5.
Nearly 2 million people in Florida were left without power – and economic losses could amount to $120bn, according to an estimate.
Recovery in Naples could take week or even months, says city official
City manager Jay Boodheshwar said Naples had seen widespread damage, and that a conservative estimate of overall damage was more than $200m.
Mr Boodheshwar said that damage to city property alone was estimated at around $20m.
Disney World in Orlando set to re-open on Friday
The Walt Disney Company says it will confirm the exact opening hours later on Thursday.
“While theme parks and many operating areas remain closed to guests today, we anticipate weather conditions to improve this evening,” the company said in a statement Thursday.
“Walt Disney World Resort will resume theme park and Disney Springs operations in a phased approach starting on Friday, Sept. 30.”
Residents of Charleston, SC asked to stay home as Hurricane Ian heads to city: ‘Take this storm seriously’
The storm could bring up to seven feet of storm surge to the South Carolina coast.
Charleston residents asked to stay home as Hurricane Ian heads to city
The storm could bring up to seven feet of storm surge to the South Carolina coast
FCC says Ian knocked out more than 1,500 cell phone sites in Florida
That number represents around 11 per cent of cell sites in the state, according to the Federal Communications Commission.
Lee County, where Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday, has reported that 65 per cent of cell sites were taken out by the storm.
Ian upgraded to hurricane once again
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian has been upgraded to a hurricane again.
The National Hurricane Center stated in its 5pm ET update that Hurricane Ian was “taking aim at the Carolinas and Georgia with life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds.”
The hurricane is now moving north-northwest at around 10 mph with maximum sustained winds increasing to 75 mph with strong gusts.
“Ian could slightly strengthen before landfall tomorrow, and is forecast to rapidly weaken over the southeastern United States late Friday into Saturday,” the advisory said.
Hurricane #Ian Advisory 29: Ian Becomes a Hurricane Again. Taking Aim At the Carolinas and Georgia With Life-Threatening Flooding, Storm Surge and Strong Winds. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 29, 2022
Latest pictures of Florida devastation from Ian
Firefighters evacuate nursing home as Storm Ian ravages Florida
Residents of a nursing home in Orlando, Florida, were evacuated after flood water from Hurricane Ian inundated their accommodation on Thursday morning, 29 September.
Firefighters evacuate nursing home as Storm Ian ravages Florida
Residents of a nursing home in Orlando, Florida were evacuated after flood water from Hurricane Ian inundated their accommodation on Thursday morning, 29 September. Dozens of rescue operations were conducted across the state after heavy flooding from one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the United States. Ian weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph at 8am on Thursday, but remained extremely dangerous, according to the National Hurricane Centre. Click here to sign up to our newsletters.
Florida boats destroyed by Hurricane Ian winds and surge
Boats were tossed around like toys in Fort Myers, Florida, as Hurricane Ian brought devastating winds and storm surge as it made landfall on Wednesday, 28 September.
Florida boats destroyed by Hurricane Ian winds and surge
Boats were tossed around like toys in Fort Myers, Florida, as Hurricane Ian brought devastating winds and surge as it made landfall on Wednesday, 28 September. 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. The hurricane weakened to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph at 8am on Thursday, but remained extremely dangerous, according to the National Hurricane Centre. Click here to sign up to our newsletters.
Sanibel mayor pens emotional letter after Ian: ‘Our lives and our island have been forever changed’
Sanibel Island is cut off after the only bridge that connects it and Captiva to the mainland bore the brunt of the historic hurricane and had sections ripped out.
Sanibel mayor pens emotional letter after island ripped apart by Hurricane Ian
A badly damaged bridge is the only road to access communities on Sanibel and Captiva islands
Ian re-strengthens into hurricane as it nears South Carolina
The storm is forecast to make landfall again on Friday.
Ian re-strengthens into hurricane as it nears South Carolina
The storm is forecast to make landfall again on Friday
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