Hurricane Ian: Waves flood roads in Key West as storm strengthens to category 4
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian was upgraded to a hurricane again as it takes aim at the South Carolina coastline.
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.
Dozens of rescue operations have been taking place across Florida after unprecedented flooding from one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the United States.
Thousands of people are stranded across the state as coastguard helicopters were seen plucking people from roofs after several feet of water surged into neighorboods. Some 2.5million people were currently without power.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis described the hurricane as a “500-year flood event” and said that major infrastructure had been badly damaged including the Sanibel Causeway in southwest Florida and the bridge to Pine Island, near Fort Myers.
President Joe Biden declared a major disaster in Florida following the catastrophic impacts. “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history,” he said later during a briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters.
Disney World guests hunkering down as Hurricane Ian brings fierce winds and rain
The resort’s four theme parks closed on Wednesday, but in the 32 hotels that sit on the 27,000 acre theme park near Orlando, Disney staff went to every effort to keep the magic alive.
Disney World guests hunkering down as Hurricane Ian brings fierce winds and rain
‘It’s so awful what’s going on elsewhere, I feel terrible’
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 23:26
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
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 23:10
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
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 23:01
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.
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 22:52
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.
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 22:40
Latest pictures of Florida devastation from Ian
In an aerial view, a damaged Fort Myers Beach pier and surrounding buildings are seen after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Getty Images)
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 22:31
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
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 22:21
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.
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 22:20
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
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 22:10
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.”
Graeme Massie29 September 2022 21:58