United States: Florida reels from the recent onslaught of Hurricane Ian, a category 4 storm which severely damaged and flooded hundreds of houses and buildings.
Emergency crews have tried to reach stranded in the state residents as a resurgent Hurricane Ian cut a path of destruction and left behind deadly floodwaters, downed power lines and widespread damage
Hurricane Ian Florida updates:
• At least 1 death confirmed in Florida from #Ian
• President Biden approved a disaster declaration for Florida
• More than a foot of rain showers has fallen in Orlando
• Power outages surpass 2.6 million in Florida, and climbing
After collapsing buildings and pounding in the state of the United States with strong winds and relentless rain, Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in South Carolina on Friday, bringing life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions to the coast, the National Hurricane Center said
Fort Myers Beach, along with Lee County’s other barrier islands, took the brunt of Hurricane Ian’s assault on Florida’s coastline.
The storm, a Category 4 when it made landfall, sent 150 mph winds and a towering storm surge tearing through the town’s center.
Fort Myers, boasting a population of more than 92,000, is a popular city for tourists and spring breakers.
The nearby small coastal town of Fort Myers Beach, filled with beach-side bars and hotels and resorts, sits on skinny Estero Island, making it more vulnerable as Ian pounded the region. The town has a population of around 6,000.
The devastation inflicted on Florida came into focus a day after Ian struck as a monstrous Category 4 hurricane, one of the strongest storms ever to hit the U.S. It flooded homes on both the state’s coasts, cut off the only road access to a barrier island, destroyed a historic waterfront pier and knocked out electricity to 2.67 million Florida homes and businesses — nearly a quarter of utility customers.
