Lauren C. Moye, FISM News
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Florida’s emergency management officials have reported 21 deaths as 10,000 residents remain unaccounted for in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian’s landfall. Over 1 million homes remain without power in Florida and South Carolina, where the storm’s damage was most severe.
Searches and rescues continue, but there have been 21 confirmed fatalities after Ian’s landfall so far, according to Florida’s director of the Division of Emergency Management. Kevin Guthrie added yesterday morning that there were still 10,000 people unaccounted for, but many of those are expected to be sheltered or without power.
The brutal storm surges caused severe flooding, leaving many people in a desperate situation. “You have to either swim or drown,” one anonymous woman told CBS News.
While Guthrie’s count is just over twenty deaths, others have posted different estimations. NBC News claims to have counted 34 deaths from local authorities.
Search and rescue efforts are still underway according to Florida Governor Ron Desantis.
Search and rescue teams are working around the clock patrolling areas affected by #HurricaneIan.
If you or someone you know of needs assistance or a safety check, visit: https://t.co/az8teQWYYD pic.twitter.com/RiJnk3G4Ug— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 30, 2022
However, rescue efforts are hindered by the widespread destruction and loss of power experienced in the state. 1.7 million homes and businesses are still without power between Florida and South Carolina according to PowerOutage.us.
After darkening the Sunshine State on Wednesday afternoon, Ian hit South Carolina on Friday. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm for a second time as it works its way north along the coastline.
Ian is anticipated to become one of the costliest storms in Florida history. One U.S. property data and analytics company, CoreLogic, estimated the cumulative damage cost to insurers would fall between $28 billion and $47 billion.
According to Florida Today, the costliest hurricane to Florida property was Irma in 2018, which caused over $53 billion in damage. It also left 4.4. million homes and businesses without power. Meanwhile, Hurricane Andrew from 1992 is on record as the second-most destructive hurricane with the destruction of 64,000 homes. Andrew left 1.4 million homes without power.
President Joe Biden declared a national emergency for the state of South Carolina ahead of Ian’s second landfall to free up resources to immediately respond to damage.
However, Biden specifically wants Florida residents to know they are not alone in their emergency. He said at a press conference yesterday, “This is an American crisis. We’re all in this together.”
He added that the devastation was so bad that “America’s heart is literally breaking, just watching people — watching it on television.”
Defense Department personnel, National Guard, Border Patrol, and first responders are working together in rescue efforts. Biden reported that as of yesterday, this coalition of rescuers had saved 117 people from the Fort Myers and Naples area.
The ages rescued so far range from a one-month-old baby to a 94-year-old woman.
In all, 13 Florida counties have been approved for individual disaster assistance, which means that federal funds will be used to clear the damage and pay for the increased cost of first responders engaging in emergency rescue operations.
250 Army Corps generators are being sent to Florida to address the devastating power outage. At the same time, 44,000 utility workers from over 30 states have been ordered to help restore power to hospitals and shelters.
Additionally, volunteers from around the nation have banded together to provide humanitarian aid.