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Hurricane Ian slams into South Carolina, killing at least 19 people and cutting out power to millions across Florida

[Breaking news update, published at 2:26 p.m. ET]

Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina, on Friday afternoon, whipping up sustained winds of up to 85 mph, pounding the state with high winds, heavy rain and life-threatening storm surges.

[Original story, published at 1:21 p.m. ET]

Fridays in much of Florida Hurricane IanCategory 1 storms with at least 25 fatalities blaming South Carolinaan expected afternoon landfall would bring more deadly flooding, Powerful enough to change the coastal landscape.

Ian, which one? Refortified in the Atlanticwas shelling into South Carolina with sustained core winds of 85 mph. Friday at 11:00 amIts core, just a few dozen miles from the coast, was to be moved to land Between Charleston and Myrtle BeachForecaster Saidhigh winds are already hitting much of the Carolina coast, and life-threatening storm surges and destructive winds are expected soon.

“This is a dangerous storm with strong winds and large amounts of water,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. Tweeted. “Be smart, make good decisions, check on your loved ones, and stay safe.”

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A hurricane warning has been issued from the Savannah River on the Georgia-South Carolina border to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Seawater and rain can cause significant flooding, especially along the South Carolina coast. storm surge Up to 7 feet, 4 to 12 inches of rain can fall. the forecaster says.

Tornado warnings have also been issued for parts of Carolina and Virginia, including Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, Norfolk and Virginia Beach, until 10 p.m. It has been.

By 11:50 AM ET, more than 50,000 power outages were reported in South Carolina and over 17,000 in North Carolina. PowerOutage.us.

The airfield at Charleston International Airport in South Carolina was closed Friday due to high winds. SaidMyrtle Beach residents are also being asked to stay indoors during the storm, Mayor Brenda Bethune told CNN.

As Ian moved away from Florida, the governors of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia declared states of emergency.

The storm is likely to leave lasting changes to the Atlantic landscape.Coastlines along the states of Georgia and South Carolina have been hit hard by the powerful waves and storm surges brought by Ian that could flood the coastal dunes. Because of this, it is possible that significant changes will continue. U.S. Geological Survey.

In addition to flooding communities behind dunes, storms can push sand back and deposit it inland. This could “reduce the height of protected dunes, alter beach profiles, and make areas behind dunes more vulnerable to future storms,” the agency said. increase. .

Florida: At least 25 reported dead

Florida, meanwhile, faces a dizzying amount of destruction that has devastated much of the peninsula after Ian crashed into the southwest coast on Wednesday and Thursday. Category 4 storm Plowed the central and northeastern parts.

At least 25 deaths have been reported in the state. Coastal homes were swept out to sea, buildings were destroyed statewide, floods destroyed homes and businesses, and trapped residents even in inland areas like the Orlando area.

Hundreds of rescues have been made by land, air and sea, leaving residents trapped in their homes or stranded on rooftops. Fort Myers Naples area where storm surge flooded streets and homes.

Lee County manager Roger Dejalet, which includes Fort Myers, said it’s safe to say that Hurricane Ian devastated parts of the region and “must have caused a lot of deaths,” according to CNN Friday. Told.

“Someone seemed to have fallen from the sky, picked up hotels and buildings and carried them away, so much so that in many places there was not even rubble,” Dejarre said. “We also know that not as many people have been evacuated from these islands as we would have liked. ”

And now the aftermath of the storm itself poses a deadly new dangerSome stagnant water has been electrified, officials warn, but there is still a risk of injury when trying to navigate through debris-strewn buildings and streets, many of which have non-functioning traffic lights. Ineffective air conditioning can lead to heat stroke, and improper use of generators can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

In Northport, between Fort Myers and Sarasota, Rosanna Walker weathered a storm on Thursday as she stood at her flood-damaged home. Part of her drywall ceiling was sagging.

“And all of a sudden there’s water coming in through the door. Top, bottom, windows over here,” she told CNN’s John Berman. It’s all in my closet. I need to empty my closet.

“Everything is ruined.”

Here’s what you need to know about the destruction in Florida.

• Deaths in Florida: At least 25 deaths suspected to be related to Ian have been reported in Florida. , and two in unincorporated Sarasota County. Unconfirmed deaths are being processed by local coroners to determine whether they are related to the disaster, state emergency management director Kevin Guthrie said.

• Power outage: Florida experienced more than 1.9 million power outages late Friday morning, according to the state. PowerOutage.usMost of the counties with the highest percentage of non-electrified residents are in the southwest, including Lee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardy counties.

• Florida’s Historic Floods: Record flooding was recorded in central and northern Florida. at least 3 rivers It set the highest flood record in history. Orlando officials have warned residents of dangerous floods exceeding a foot in some areas.

• Hundreds of rescues and thousands of evacuations: More than 700 rescues have been made across Florida so far, the governor said Thursday, with thousands of evacuees reported. In Lee County, the hospital system had to evacuate more than 1,000 patients after the water supply was cut off. prison When nursing homeFort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson said the fire chief was “pretty happy” that everyone in need had been rescued by Friday morning.

Much of Fort Myers Beach disappeared: a helicopter flight The sky above Fort Myers Beach shows utter devastation. There are vacant lots where homes and businesses used to be, littered with debris, and boats thrown into the mangroves. “You’re talking about no structure left. … You’re talking about a house thrown into the bay. This is a long-term solution, a life-changing one,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine. Marceno said.

• Coast Guard continues rescue of Florida flight on Friday. Coast Guard crews rescued 95 people in Florida on Thursday and will continue rescue flights on Friday, including lifting people from flooded areas in helicopters, Maj. Gen. Brendan McPherson said. “We’re going to find others who need help,” he said.

• Coastal islands isolated from the mainland: The islands of Sanibel and Captiva in southwestern Florida have been cut off from the mainland after several sections of an important causeway were torn. The Sanibel storm killed at least two people and may require a complete rebuild of the bridge, local officials said. Chip Farah lives on a small island called Matlacha. told CNN A 50-foot road essential to reach the mainland bridge was swept away, and a second nearby bridge also collapsed.

• Florida insurance losses can be huge. Ian may have caused as much as $47 billion in insured losses in Florida, according to estimates by real estate analytics firm CoreLogic. Second most expensive storm in state history Adjusted for inflation after Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

The-CNN-Wire
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https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/30/hurricane-ian-makes-landfall-in-south-carolina-after-leaving-at-least-25-reported-dead-and-millions-without-power-across-florida/ Hurricane Ian slams into South Carolina, killing at least 19 people and cutting out power to millions across Florida

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