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Hurricane Ian makes landfall near Sanibel, Captiva Islands, Florida


Hurricane Ian approached the west coast of Florida on September 28, 2022.

NOAA

Hurricane Ian is making landfall on the west coast of Florida, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday afternoon.

The storm intensified as it approached land, reaching 155 mph winds and nearing its deadliest Category 5 on Wednesday morning. Hurricane winds are 35 miles from the center and tropical storm winds are 150 miles from the center, according to National Weather Service.

“This is going to be a bad, nasty, two-day day,” DeSantis said early Wednesday during a press conference. Officials in Florida and across the country are closely monitoring the storm’s progress.

More than 2.5 million people have been subject to mandatory evacuation orders in Florida, but legally, no resident can be forced to leave their homes. DeSantis said the highest-risk areas in the state range from Collier County to Sarasota County, and it is no longer safe for people in those counties to evacuate.

“Do what you need to do to stay safe. If you’re where the storm is approaching, you’re already in danger. It’s going to get a lot worse very quickly. So crouch. down,” he said.

Rainfall near the hurricane’s landfall could reach more than 18 inches, and storm surge could push up to 18 feet of water over nearly 100 miles of coastline, according to the National Hurricane Center. . The National Weather Service also issued the highest possible wind warning for parts of Florida in anticipation of damage from extreme winds from the storm. But meteorologists are most concerned about flooding.

“Water. We have to talk about water,” warned National Weather Service Director Ken Graham. “90% of deaths in these tropical systems come from water. It’s the tides, it’s the rain.”

A sailboat is moored in Sarasota Bay as Hurricane Ian approaches on September 28, 2022 in Sarasota, Florida.

Sean Rayford | beautiful pictures

For residents who are still able to evacuate, American Red Cross Executive Director Gail McGovern encouraged them to follow the evacuation instructions of their elected officials and bring medication, documents, and other supplies. other essentials such as glasses.

“Check your neighbors and please don’t wait for the storm if you’re told to evacuate – it’s very dangerous,” she said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Governor DeSantis said the state has 42,000 guards, 7,000 National Guard troops from Florida and elsewhere and urban search and rescue teams ready to help when the storm is over.

Utility trucks are staged in a rural area in the Village of Sumter County, Fla., Wednesday morning, September 28, 2022, in preparation for Hurricane Ian.

Stephen M. Dowell / Orlando Sentinel via AP

More than 200,000 power outages have been reported statewide, but DeSantis said this is just one “drop in the water” compared to the widespread power outages predicted across southwestern Florida over the next 48 hours.

Even when the storm is over, DeSantis said it may not be entirely safe to go outside. He encouraged residents to be careful with downed power lines, standing water and fallen trees.

President Joe Biden told the people of Florida on Wednesday that he would support them through the storm “every step of the way.”

“We’ll be there to help you clean up and rebuild, to get Florida back up and running,” he said.

This story is developing, please check back for updates.





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