Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
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Hurricane Ian brought immense damage to Florida, causing death, destroying property, knocking out power to millions, and generating dangerous flood waters that left many Floridians stranded. Thursday, the state’s effort to recover began in earnest.
“We fully expect to have mortality from this hurricane,” Floridan Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press conference before urging the media against speculating about the death toll before official estimates arrived.
Governor DeSantis and @CaseyDeSantis Deliver an Update on Hurricane Ian from Punta Gorda https://t.co/8LE9dqvmE3
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 29, 2022
As of this writing, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, whose county was particularly hard hit, has confirmed that at least one elderly man had died and two other deaths were being investigated.
“Right now, Charlotte County is just going to need a lot of support and a lot of prayers,” Prummell said during an appearance on Fox News.
On Twitter, DeSantis urged Floridians who had evacuated to remain where they were until it was safe to return.
“As #HurricaneIan passes, do not rush to come home—we have crews working to clear the roads and restore power,” DeSantis tweeted Thursday. “Avoid downed power lines, flood water, downed trees, and do not drive in standing water.”
Accurate damage estimates are likely days away, although ABC News reports a preliminary cost of $258 billion. For now, the focus in Florida is on preserving the lives of people who were stranded.
According to a release from DeSantis’ office, some 700 residents from just two counties had been rescued as of Thursday afternoon.
“The numbers … are still unclear, but we’re hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life,” President Joe Biden said during a speech at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C. “But parenthetically, I should note I’ve spoken with the governors and the mayors and the commissioners. I’ve been on the phone with the governor this morning. I spoke with the commissioners and mayors, and they are … worried, but they are … telling me what an incredible job is being done to save their cities, their towns, their counties, their ports, their bridges, et cetera.”
Power is slowly being restored to the approximate 2.3 million homes and businesses that were left without power, but this process is expected to take weeks to complete.
Among the intense sadness, there has also been the encouraging reminder that there are still many charitable residents in the United States.
Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that $10 million had already been donated to the Florida Disaster Fund.
“We are very appreciative and thankful for the outpouring of support. Raising more than $10 million dollars in one day to The Florida Disaster Fund demonstrates the kindness and compassion from people across this state and nation,” the First Lady said in a statement. “These private sector contributions will be deployed quickly and effectively to meet the immediate needs of those most impacted by the storm. We cannot thank people enough for their generosity.”
Hurricane Ian, which had dropped to a tropical storm while over Florida, has intensified since reaching the Atlantic Ocean. It is expected to make landfall in South Carolina around 2 pm on Friday as a Category 1 storm.
#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