Sanibel, in Lee County, “got hit with really biblical storm surge,” Gov. I would be surprised that there’s a single structure on the island that hasn’t been impacted by the storm.” “The power infrastructure is severely damaged. “The island is in rough shape,” said Sanibel Police Chief Bill Dalton. Due to the damage to the causeway, first-responders are only able to get to the island by boat. “The numbers are still unclear, but we’re hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life.”įlorida State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis agreed, telling CNN Ian is shaping up to be the largest natural disaster in state history.įlorida residents assessing storm damage Thursday found collapsed buildings, ongoing flooding, downed power lines and impassable roads, including a key bridge connecting Sanibel and Captiva islands to Florida’s mainland that has been washed out.Īpproximately 40 people were taken off the Sanibel Thursday, 12 of whom were injured. “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history,” President Joe Biden said Thursday. Perez said the office did not have additional details on where the deaths took place or information on the deceased individuals.Īdditionally, more than 2.3 million customers had no power Thursday evening, according to PowerOutage.US, and some drinking water systems have broken down completely or have boil notices in effect. Sarasota County is reporting two hurricane-related deaths in the county, Sarasota County Sheriff PIO Kaitlyn Perez told CNN. And a 72-year-old man in Deltona died overnight after going outside to drain his swimming pool during the storm, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. One person who was in hospice care died in Osceola County, Emergency Management Director Bill Litton said. About five people are believed to have died in Lee County, the sheriff there said. The death toll in Charlotte County was at least eight or nine, Charlotte County Commissioner Joseph Tiseo told CNN Thursday afternoon.
At least 17 deaths have been reported in connection with Ian. In southwest and central Florida, at least 15 people were reported dead so far due to the storm. Ian made landfall Wednesday afternoon in southwest Florida and was downgraded to a tropical storm, dropping heavy rain on central and northeast Florida throughout Thursday.īut it intensified into Category 1 hurricane Thursday afternoon and is forecast to make a second landfall in South Carolina on Friday, the National Hurricane Center said. Ian’s vicious combination of winds, rain and storm surge caused at least a dozen deaths, flooded homes, cut off roadways and left millions of Florida residents without power Thursday as it again intensified into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and barreled toward South Carolina.
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