Latest Hurricane Ian updates: Storm strengthens on path north

The death toll linked to Hurricane Ian’s devastation in Florida remains unclear, as rescue crews continue to try to reach hard-hit areas.

One death was confirmed earlier in the day. In Charlotte County, north of Fort Myers on the state’s Gulf coast, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department confirmed multiple deaths but did not have a firm figure.

Authorities in Sarasota County were investigating two possible storm-related deaths, a sheriff’s spokesperson also said.

Valerie Bartley says her family spent desperate hours holding a dining room table against their patio door, fearing the storm raging outside their home in Fort Myers, Florida, would destroy everything.

“I was terrified,” Bartley said of Hurricane Ian, which ripped away patio screens and snapped a palm tree in the yard, but left the roof of her house intact and her family unharmed.

“What we heard was the shingles and debris from everything in the neighbourhood hitting our house.”

Charleston County in South Carolina has declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Ian.

Officials in the county, home to more than 400,000 people, have urged residents in low-lying areas to move to higher ground amid concerns over flooding, and buses are transporting people to local emergency shelters.

“There is the potential for major flooding tomorrow,” Charleston County Emergency Management Director Joe Coates said in a statement (PDF). “If you live on a barrier island or a low-lying area that historically floods, and you haven’t moved to higher ground, I recommend you relocate now.”

#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

Hurricane Ian is now clocking wind speeds of nearly 120km/h (75mph), the NHC said, warning that the storm is expected to “slightly strengthen” before making landfall again on Friday.

But Ian is expected to rapidly weaken over the southeastern US late on Friday and into Saturday, it added.

Ian has strengthened into a hurricane again, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

The Miami-based centre said in its latest update that the storm is now “taking aim” at the US states of Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, where it is expected to bring “life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds”.

A US official has said a total of nine Cuban migrants have been rescued after their boat sank off the Florida Keys in stormy weather on Wednesday.

Walter Slosar, chief patrol agent at the US Border Patrol’s Miami Sector Headquarters, said search-and-rescue operations were ongoing.

Four migrants swam ashore when the vessel sank, but 23 others were initially reported missing. Three people were rescued from the water on Wednesday.

#Update: A total of 9 Cuban migrants associated with this event have been safely located & rescued. @USCGSoutheast search and rescue operations remain ongoing.

— Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar (@USBPChiefMIP) September 29, 2022

Pictures shared on social media have shown the extent of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ian across Florida.

The storm cut off a chunk of the Sanibel Causeway, the only bridge to a barrier island that is normally home to approximately 6,300 people.

The number of residents who heeded orders to evacuate remains unknown, but Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller expressed cautious optimism that worst-case scenarios might not have been realised.

The Sanibel Causeway was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The only road in and out of Sanibel and Captiva. 💔 #flwx #Ian pic.twitter.com/FxOpCE9FOg

— Dylan Federico (@DylanFedericoWX) September 29, 2022

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has urged residents to prepare for lots of rain, high winds and potential power outages when the remnants of Hurricane Ian cross the state soon after the storm likely reaches landfall again in South Carolina.

Visiting the state’s emergency operations centre, the governor said in a news conference that up to 18cm (7 inches) of rain could fall in some areas, with the potential for mountain landslides and tornadoes statewide.

“For North Carolinians, I want to be clear: This storm can still be dangerous and even deadly,” Cooper said.

The US States of Louisiana and New Jersey have said that they are sending help to Florida after Hurricane Ian.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has approved sending 245 National Guard members to Florida, fulfilling requests for a family shelter task force and a hazmat team.

“Louisiana knows all too well the chaos and destruction a hurricane as strong as Ian can bring, and we will do everything we can to help our neighbors in Florida and other states impacted by this storm,” Edwards said in a news release.

Meanwhile, New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy has said that he is calling up 135 National Guard members to send to Florida as well as 40 military and support vehicles.

Emergency officials in eastern Kentucky, which was devastated by historic flooding in July, are watching the path of Hurricane Ian closely.

Knott County Emergency Management Director Jeff Combs has said that officials there are keeping a close eye on the storm and plan to have spotters out beginning on Friday to watch trigger points in area waterways that are the most likely to flood, “just in case everything starts to go south on us.”

If things start looking bad, he said the agency will put out an alert so that rescue squads can respond quickly.

Walt Disney will reopen its theme park located in Florida in a phased manner on Friday following its closure due to Hurricane Ian, the company has said.

“We continue to closely monitor weather conditions as we assess the impact of Hurricane Ian on our property,” the company said in a statement.

Walt Disney World Resort Update on Hurricane Ian – For the latest information, visit: https://t.co/exDzqxeeEG pic.twitter.com/oaO2J9bmfl

— Disney Parks (@DisneyParks) September 29, 2022

More than 33,000 people in Florida have taken shelter in evacuation shelters run by the American Red Cross and other partners, Sherri McKinney, a spokesperson for the group, has said.

“This is a storm that people will tell their grandchildren about,” McKinney told Al Jazeera, adding that “catastrophic” is the best way to describe the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian.

The mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, has asked his city to shut down on Friday as storm Ian approaches.

“There will be water tomorrow in this city,” Mayor John Tecklenburg said.

“Take this storm seriously,” Tecklenburg added, “tomorrow, stay home and stay out of harm’s way.”

No evacuations have been ordered in South Carolina, but forecasters warn several feet of ocean water could surge into low areas along the coast, like Charleston.

The US federal government is committed to assisting victims and survivors for “days, weeks and months to come”, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has said.

“When a catastrophic event hits, DHS approaches response and recovery work with a full expanse of our resources and our capabilities,” Mayorkas said in a news conference.

“We are in it for the long haul,” he said.

Emergency crews have taken to helicopters and boats to rescue residents stranded by floodwaters, downed power lines and piles of debris left behind by Hurricane Ian.

DeSantis said 28 helicopters were performing water rescues. He also said the bridge to Sanibel Island – a barrier island on the Gulf coast – was severely damaged and impassible.

Two area hospitals were evacuated, with patients moved to higher ground.

Biden has said that although an exact death toll has not yet been confirmed, there may be a “substantial loss of life” due to Hurricane Ian.

“This could be the deadliest Hurricane in Florida’s history; the numbers are still unclear but we’re hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life,” the US president said in a speech.

“We know many families are hurting today and our entire country hurts with them.”

My message to the people of Florida is that at times like these, America comes together.

We put aside our differences and pull together as one team. One America.

However long it takes, the U.S. Government will be there.

— President Biden (@POTUS) September 29, 2022

Cuba had begun to progressively restore power to the capital Havana by early, according to Reuters witnesses and official reports, but vast swaths of the Caribbean island nation still remained in the dark following the passage of Hurricane Ian.

Much of the island of 11 million people was entering its third day without power after the brawling storm made landfall, knocking out high-tension wires, flattening homes and obliterating agricultural fields.

At least three people died in the storm in Cuba, state-run media reported.

Police in historic St Augustine, Florida said water is rising in many areas of the city and are advising residents to stay inside until after Hurricane Ian passes.

Police in the city popular with tourists, noted for its Spanish-style architecture and stone fortress, made their warnings in a Facebook post that included images of flooded roads.

The water is almost over the seawall in downtown St. Augustine… and we haven’t hit the peak of high tide yet. ⁦@FCN2go⁩ pic.twitter.com/ttn9Um3ufE

— Jessica (@JessicaFCN) September 29, 2022

Tampa International Airport (TPA), one of the Florida airports temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ian, has said it will reopen on Friday morning.

“TPA did not sustain any serious damage during the storm,” the airport said in a statement, adding that the reopening would take place at 10am local time (14:00 GMT).

Overall, airlines cancelled 2,000 US flights on Thursday and nearly 2,200 on Wednesday, according to Flightaware, while another 1,042 flights were cancelled for Friday.

TPA TO REOPEN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, AT 10 AM

☑️ TPA sustained no major damage from #HurricaneIan

🚫 We remain closed to the public today

⏰ If you are flying out on Friday, arrive at least 2 hours early

✈️ Check directly with your airline for flight status updates pic.twitter.com/jZrPdsfxuk

— Tampa International Airport ✈️ (@FlyTPA) September 29, 2022