Status: 09/30/2022 1:25 p.m
First Cuba and Florida, now soon South Carolina and other states on the east coast of the USA: Hurricane “Ian” is regaining strength on its way north. It is still unclear how many fatalities there have been so far.
Hurricane “Ian” has now set course for the next US coast after the severe devastation in the US state of Florida. US President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for the state before he expected to make landfall in South Carolina. Federal authorities were instructed to support the local government and local authorities with relief and rescue work, the White House said.
In its situation report, the National Hurricane Center warned of life-threatening storm surges along the coast of South Carolina as well as rain and flooding in the northern neighboring state of North Carolina and in the south of the neighboring state of Virginia. On its way north, “Ian” has continued to gain strength since Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said. Accordingly, its maximum wind speeds recently reached 140 kilometers per hour, which corresponded to category one of five.
Hurricane Ian kills and devastates Florida
Andrea Miosga, ARD Washington, daily news at 12:00 p.m., September 30, 2022
No exact information on death toll
As a Category 4 hurricane, “Ian” made landfall in Florida on Wednesday with wind speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour. It left destruction and flooding in its wake across the southern state. It weakened to a tropical storm en route through Florida, but grew back to a force one hurricane over the ocean.
Authorities have been reluctant to estimate the number of people who have died, but have had no doubts that the hurricane has claimed lives. “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history,” Biden said. The US broadcaster ABC reported, citing preliminary figures from local police and sheriff’s offices, that there had been at least twelve deaths in Florida. In the district of Charlotte County on the southern west coast of Florida alone, where the hurricane made landfall, seven people were killed.
Never seen a storm surge of this magnitude
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made it clear that he also expects high numbers of victims in the end. He warned that the situation remained dangerous. “We continue to experience deadly rains, catastrophic storm surges, flooded streets and homes,” he said. “We’ve never seen flooding like this, we’ve never seen a storm surge of this magnitude,” DeSantis said at a press conference. In more than 700 cases, people in need have been rescued.
Among other things, the Coast Guard used helicopters to rescue people from the roofs of houses. More than 2.6 million homes were without power, and more than 350,000 had power restored as of Thursday, the governor said. On Sanibel Island, the bridge connecting it to the mainland was destroyed.
Authorities warned residents of flooded areas about dangers in the water such as pollutants from the sewage system, chemicals – or even alligators. Broken power and gas lines could also cost lives. Helicopter footage showed burning houses between flooded streets or properties from which the buildings were completely washed away.
Deaths and devastation after hurricane “Ian” in Florida
Torben Börgers, ARD Washington, night magazine 00:37, September 30, 2022
“It will be disastrous”
“Hurricane Ian is going to be a storm that we’ll be talking about for decades to come,” said Deanne Criswell, director of the US Civil Protection Agency. There are many complex problems to be solved when operating in the storm area, and there is still no precise assessment of the damage. “But it will be catastrophic.” Your authority is preparing for the fact that thousands of families will not be able to return to their homes and will need temporary accommodation.
At the beginning of the week, “Ian” caused flooding and damage on the Caribbean island of Cuba.