After a hurricane-free August, Florida is bracing for fierce storms and flooding as Hurricane Ian reaches landfall on the state’s southwest coast. Follow Breitbart News for live updates on this breaking story. All times eastern.
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9:09 AM — Florida residents have reported over 2 million power outages — 2,021,206 — per the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s latest update.
The 6AM update reports 2,021,206 power outages as a result of damages caused by #HurricaneIan.
Restoration crews are beginning to deploy into impacted areas. For estimated restoration times, please contact your service provider. pic.twitter.com/wbqX5dLdtj
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) September 29, 2022
9:05 AM — Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno — Lee County is where the then-hurricane made landfall — told ABC’s Good Morning America that the “fatalities are in the hundreds.”
Hoping he's wrong, but Lee County, Fla. Sheriff Carmine Marceno says it's "confirmed" there are "fatalities in the hundreds" #HurricaneIan pic.twitter.com/WtJCfWPwb4
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 29, 2022
9:01 AM –Ian has weakened to a Tropical Storm.
Tropical Storm #Ian Advisory 27A: Ian Producing Catastrophic Flooding Over East-Central Florida. Forecast to Produce Life-Threatening Flooding, Storm Surge and Gusty Winds Across Portions of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 29, 2022
11:15 PM — The NHC’s 11 p.m. update has Hurricane Ian weakening with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph. It continues to warn of “widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding, with major to record river flooding” in central Florida along with “considerable flooding in northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and eastern South Carolina” in the coming days.
11 PM ET #IAN update: Winds are now 90 mph, which makes Ian a Cat. 1 hurricane. Significant impacts continue in Florida. pic.twitter.com/MuOl36zhYi
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 29, 2022
11:01 PM — Over 1.8 million Florida residents have lost power, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s latest update.
9PM EST update: 1,840,891 residents remain without power as a result of impacts from #HurricaneIan. We have restoration crews on standby & ready to deploy.
Please shelter in place until local officials declare it is safe. pic.twitter.com/YDPxPDWJsr
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) September 29, 2022
10:16 PM — The latest models seem to be reaching a consensus, showing Ian exiting into the Atlantic in northeast Florida only to re-enter U.S. mainland somewhere along the Georgia-South Carolina border.
Brand new tropical model data coming in for #Ian… Here’s a look…
This is the latest info the NHC is using to work on their new cone; pic.twitter.com/24J4rOui1p
— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 29, 2022
10:12 PM — Northeast Florida is forecast to see up to 18 inches of rain as Ian ventures through the state. Meanwhile, the hurricane continues to batter the state’s west coast.
11"-19" of rainfall yet to come from the top half of #HurricaneIan in Florida from Orlando to Daytona and Jax. NWS forecast: pic.twitter.com/F3Qf9eVZaE
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) September 29, 2022
The onshore winds on Charlotte Bay in Punta Gorda, FL pushing the surge in tonight. #Hurricane #Ian is still lashing the state of #Florida. Live coverage continues on @weatherchannel. @TWCChrisBruin pic.twitter.com/SClou7ZAyb
— Charles Peek (@CharlesPeekWX) September 29, 2022
9:20 PM — The St. Johns River is slated for “major” flooding Friday as the storm moves across the state.
River forecast levels for the St. Johns River is calling for major flooding beginning Friday. Stay with @WESH for updates! #weshwx pic.twitter.com/5HiX4hcn6P
— Tony Mainolfi (@TMainolfiWESH) September 29, 2022
8:38 PM — Satellite imagery shows the massive size of the storm, which still remained a major hurricane — a Category 3 — as of 8 p.m Eastern.
TROPICAL UPDATE: Latest imagery from @NOAA's #GOES16️as #Hurricane #Ian remains a major Category 3 hurricane as of 8 pm EDT tonight. Get the latest: https://t.co/tVU2sBnFSx #FLwx https://t.co/MgbKiuDSWv pic.twitter.com/pRsW1wn3qa
— NOAA Satellites – Public Affairs (@NOAASatellitePA) September 29, 2022
8:30 PM — DeSantis thanked 26 states for sending assistance to Florida.
Thank you to the 26 states that have answered our call for assistance with #HurricaneIan, specifically @GovernorKayIvey, @GovBillLee and @LouisianaGov.
Florida is grateful. pic.twitter.com/Vbq26Auzx7
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 29, 2022
8:16 PM — The Florida Division of Emergency Management said it received reports of 1,425,517 power outages across the state, as of 6 p.m. Eastern.
As of 6PM EST, we've received reports of 1,425,517 power outages. Our power restoration personnel are on standby & ready to respond as soon as it is safe to do so.
Please continue to shelter in place until #HurricaneIan passes & local officials deem it is safe. pic.twitter.com/ARYOHVdEx1
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) September 28, 2022
7:55 PM — The latest NHC advisory on Ian shows the storm battering the northeast portion of the state Thursday, hugging the coast for a reentry near the Georgia-South Carolina border.
7:31 PM — Another video shows what it looked liked as the eye of the storm moved over Punta Gorda.
The left side of the eye-wall of #Hurricane #Ian moving over Punta Gorda, FL now and it definitely has a punch. Coverage continues on @weatherchannel with team all over the area. #FLwx pic.twitter.com/t5spLOtB1o
— Charles Peek (@CharlesPeekWX) September 28, 2022
7:26 PM — DeSantis campaign spokeswoman Christina Pushaw noted that those areas do not have power or service “for the most part,” which could explain why the president was unable to reach them.
Those areas don't have power or phone service for the most part.
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 28, 2022
7:07 PM — The White House says President Biden was unable to reach the mayors of Cape Coral and Sarasota and the chair of Charlotte County. According to the White House, Biden reached out to “let them know their communities have the full force of the Federal government as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Florida.” This comes on the heels of Biden deeming getting vaccinated a “vital part” of hurricane prep.
JUST IN: White House says Pres. Biden tried to call the Mayors of Cape Coral and Sarasota, Fla. and the Chair of Charlotte County but his calls went unanswered pic.twitter.com/XfRf06ITyN
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) September 28, 2022
6:34 PM — NHC is warning of “life-threatening storm surge” on the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina over the next two days.
9/28 5pm EDT: #Ian will cross the FL peninsula and likely bring life-threatening storm surge on Thursday & Friday along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia, & South Carolina, where a storm surge warning is in effect. Residents should follow any advice from local officials. pic.twitter.com/Q8eZ9PfVpg
— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 28, 2022
6:06 PM — Another video shows what appear to be a dog rescued in a very flooded Naples, Florida.
#BREAKING: Dog rescue reported in #Naples, #Florida, as #HurricaneIan continues to devastate the #WestCoast of the #SunshineState pic.twitter.com/cyOD5Dfbrs
— Leonardo Feldman (@LeoFeldmanNEWS) September 28, 2022
5:54 PM — While much focus has remained on southwest Florida, DeSantis emphasized that Northeast Florida needs to prepare for impacts of Hurricane Ian as well.
“Be prepared for some impacts,” he said, as officials are anticipating “some major, major flooding events in Northeast Florida.” Evacuations have been issued for areas in Clay County, as well as other northeast areas.
“Flagler County has issued mandatory evacuations of its barrier islands, low lying areas, and mobile homes,” he said. “Nassau has issued evacuation orders for low lying areas. St Johns County is evacuating coastal low lying areas, including the city of St. Augustine as well as the city of St. Augustine Beach. Putnam County has recommended evacuation for low lying areas and areas that have a history of flooding, and Sumter County is advising evacuations of mobile homes.”
DeSantis reemphasized that these areas are “hundreds and hundreds of miles away from the initial impact in southwest Florida.”
5:47 PM — The state now has 1.1 million reported power outages, per the governor, and he only expects the number to grow.
5:45 PM — The governor said they are getting reports of structural damage in Lee and Charlotte counties, but storm surge has been the main issue. It has hit in 12 feet in some areas, they believe.
5:43 PM — DeSantis is delivering a 5:30 p.m. update.
5:38 PM — Republican Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, as well other Florida lawmakers, sent a letter to President Biden on Wednesday in support of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) request for a Major Disaster Declaration.
It reads in part:
This historic hurricane will continue to impact the state for some time, and the full extent of damage will not be known for days. However, approving this declaration request will allow Floridians to be better prepared for the recovery phase. As such, we urge you to approve the State of Florida’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which will provide the assistance necessary for our constituents to recover and rebuild.
5:31 PM — “Sharknado” is now trending on Twitter following viral video showing a shark in the streets of Fort Myers due to the storm surge.
The storm surge is so powerful from #HurricaneIan that it has brought a shark into the city streets of Fort Myers.
🎥@BradHabuda pic.twitter.com/RHY0kK5RHR
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) September 28, 2022
5:21 PM — Recent tracks indicate a very strong likelihood of the storm briefly entering Atlantic waters, only to head back into the states, making another landfall in Georgia or South Carolina late Friday amid Florida’s recovery from the storm.
Once it crosses Florida, #Ian has the potential to go back out over the ocean and make another landfall in the Southeast.
Our LIVE coverage continues throughout the night. pic.twitter.com/NiCfouHSHB
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 28, 2022
5:14 PM — The NHC’s 5 p.m. update has Hurricane Ian weakening slightly, with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph. Additionally, tornado watches are underway in East Central Florida until 1 a.m. Eastern.
Hurricane #Ian Advisory 25: Ian Battering the Florida Peninsula With Catastrophic Storm Surge, Winds, and Flooding. New Watches and Warnings Issued For North and South Carolina. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
🌪️ Wed 9/28/22: Tornado Watches are currently in effect for East Central FL until 1 am EST as a result of impacts from #HurricaneIan.
As a reminder:
▪️ stay indoors
▪️ move to an interior room away from windows
▪️ for added protection, get under something sturdy pic.twitter.com/rOOgrtzDNU— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) September 28, 2022
5:02 PM — A Naples Fire Rescue station has been battered by storm surge. Video shows first responders trekking through water, hip deep.
⚠️ Naples Fire Rescue station heavily inundated by storm surge from #HurricaneIan.
Horrible situation for first responders who must be able to access these trucks to conduct search and rescue. pic.twitter.com/jo80AyxZ9Y
— Alejandro Galiano ❁ (@havanahistory) September 28, 2022
4:53 PM — The storm made mainland Florida landfall south of Punta Gorda, per the NHC. Maximum sustained winds are 145 mph.
435 PM EDT 28 Sep — Hurricane #Ian has made mainland Florida landfall just south of Punta Gorda near Pirate Harbor.
Maximum sustained winds at this landfall are estimated at 145 mph.
Latest: https://t.co/WlsRUwAoEz pic.twitter.com/iGr5iIEFHm
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
4:45 PM — Sharknado? Another video is circulating across social media showing the devastating effects of storm surge in Fort Myers. The video appears to show a shark in the streets.
The storm surge is so powerful from #HurricaneIan that it has brought a shark into the city streets of Fort Myers.
🎥@BradHabuda pic.twitter.com/RHY0kK5RHR
— Colin McCarthy (@US_Stormwatch) September 28, 2022
9/28 11am EDT: Eyewall of #Ian moving onshore! Catastrophic storm surge along with destructive waves are expected along the southwest Florida coast from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. Residents should urgently follow evacuation orders in effect. pic.twitter.com/a82s6OGus6
— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 28, 2022
4:33 PM — Video shows a tree branch hitting Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore, who is in Punta Gorda, Florida. The Punta Gorda airport recently reported a wind gust of 124 mph.
Video: Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore hit by a tree branch while reporting on Hurricane Ian in Punta Gorda, Florida. pic.twitter.com/mnDr46nxNf
— PM Breaking News (@PMBreakingNews) September 28, 2022
4:30 PM — Dozens of Winn-Dixie stores, a popular grocery store chain, are closing across several Florida counties due to the storm.
“To ensure the safety of our associates and customers, we are beginning to close stores as Hurricane Ian approaches and as communities throughout our footprint receive evacuation orders,” the grocer said in a statement.
4:17 PM — There are now at least 756,450 power outages across the state, according to an update from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
We've received reports of 756,450 outages as of 3PM EST. Our power restoration personnel remain on standby ready to get the lights on as soon as it is safe to do so.
Please continue to monitor all weather alerts & heed warnings from local officials.https://t.co/S49ep6jUOA pic.twitter.com/meEIamhUw9
— FL Division of Emergency Management (@FLSERT) September 28, 2022
4:12 PM — The NHC’s 4 p.m. update still describes Hurricane Ian as a “dangerous Category 4 hurricane” as it moves more inland. The Punta Gorda airport reported a wind gust of 124 mph.
4 PM EDT 9/28 Tropical Cyclone Update for Hurricane #Ian.
The Punta Gorda airport recently reported a wind gust to 124 mph, with a station at the Cape Coral Fire Dept. reporting a gust to 110 mph.
Latest: https://t.co/WlsRUwAoEz pic.twitter.com/cxMHJdeCD9
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
4:03 PM — Tens of thousands of linemen are ready to restore power.
Florida has more than 42,000 linemen already staged for power restoration efforts across the state. Thank you for being prepared to power up our state.
For updates on #HurricaneIan follow @FLSERT. pic.twitter.com/7QO8UEALbE— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 28, 2022
3:37 PM — Power outages are piling up in the state, with over 700,000 now without power, according to current estimates. Florida Power & Light (FPL) is reporting 162,970 customers without power in Lee County, where the storm recently made landfall. For greater perspective, the total number of FPL customers in the entire county is 288,630, meaning over 56 percent of customers have lost their power in that county alone.
3:29 PM — A video circulating on social media shows homes appearing to come off their foundations in Fort Myers Beach, FL.
https://twitter.com/YWNReporter/status/1575189407812009984
Believe this is original source. https://t.co/mBDVjwveNZ
— Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) September 28, 2022
3:18 PM — Hurricane Ian has officially made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida. It remains a Category 4 hurricane. NHC describes the storm as “extremely dangerous.”
305 PM EDT 28 Sep — Hurricane #Ian has made landfall as an extremely dangerous Category 4 hurricane near Cayo Costa, Florida with maximum sustained winds at 150 mph. The minimum pressure from Air Force Reconnaissance Hurricane Hunters was 940 mb.
Latest: https://t.co/tnOTyfORCw pic.twitter.com/O3agPDOZHk
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
Hurricane Ian has made official landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida at 3:05 PM Eastern Time, 2:05 Central Time, with winds of 150 mph. #IanLandfall pic.twitter.com/adIVqSI8Gy
— Mark Scirto (@KLTVWX) September 28, 2022
3:01 PM — CNN’s Bill Weir, live from Punta Gorda, Florida, opted to use his Hurricane Ian coverage to highlight “climate change” — a favorite narrative of the far-left. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) made a similar implication Tuesday after suggesting that Democrat policies could help prevent hurricanes, earning mockery across social media.
Former sports anchor @BillWeirCNN, whom CNN pays to blame everything on global warming, reporting on #HurricaneIan: “This is exactly what climate scientists have been warning about for a long time and now we get to see it up close.” pic.twitter.com/PzJAoja2Iz
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 28, 2022
2:55 PM — The waters are continuing to drain out of Tampa Bay due to the massive Category 4 storm. This phenomenon is expected to continue for the remainder of the day.
Water continues to be pushed out of Tampa Bay as CAT 4 Hurricane #Ian batters the West Coast of Florida. The offshore flow of this powerful hurricane is the cause of this rare phenomenon. @weatherchannel is live dz pic.twitter.com/SzmHVLNLE1
— Justin Michaels (@JMichaelsNews) September 28, 2022
2:52 PM — Satellite imagery shows the vast size of the storm as it overtakes the Sunshine State.
The GOES-EAST weather satellite captured clouds stretching over the Atlantic Ocean overlapping with clouds associated with #HurricaneIan. https://t.co/9WEy1F1tc9 pic.twitter.com/i2po2cE6fF
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 28, 2022
2:34 PM — Florida now has 42,000 linemen, 7,000 National Guardsmen, and 179 aircraft ready to respond as Ian makes landfall, per the governor.
#HurricaneIan is making landfall now. Florida is ready to respond. We have fleets of highwater vehicles, 42,000 linemen, 7,000 National Guardsmen and 179 aircraft prepared to help.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 28, 2022
2:32 PM — According to the NHC’s 2 p.m. update, Hurricane Ian is not yet weakening, maintaining maximum sustained winds near 155 as it rides the west coast of Florida. A hurricane warning is now in effect for a portion of the peninsula’s east coast.
2pm EDT 28 Sep — Hurricane #Ian is very near the coast of southwestern Florida Peninsula.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 155 mph with a minimum central pressure of 937 mb found by an Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunter (@53rdWRS).
Latest: https://t.co/tnOTyg5UEw pic.twitter.com/5rhfzUltE5
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
2:25 PM — More incoming video of the eye wall of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers:
In the eye wall of #Hurricane #Ian in Fort Myers. We're live on @weatherchannel along with @StephanieAbrams and @JimCantore #HurricanIan pic.twitter.com/gSBdmAUjWX
— Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) September 28, 2022
2:12 PM — A hurricane hunter aboard Kermit (#NOAA42) posted a video to Twitter, giving a glimpse of what he described as the “roughest flight” of his career.
“I have flown storms for the last six years. This flight to Hurricane #Ian on Kermit (#NOAA42) was the worst I’ve ever been on. I’ve never seen so much lightning in an eye,” he wrote, explaining that the shot was taken at night.
“You can see the curvature. Understand this is at NIGHT. The light is from LIGHTNING,” he added. Credit to Nick Underwood/NOAA.
When I say this was the roughest flight of my career so far, I mean it. I have never seen the bunks come out like that. There was coffee everywhere. I have never felt such lateral motion.
Aboard Kermit (#NOAA42) this morning into Hurricane #Ian. Please stay safe out there. https://t.co/DQwqBwAE6v pic.twitter.com/gvV7WUJ6aS
— Tropical Nick Underwood (@TheAstroNick) September 28, 2022
OMG! Scary stuff. These are the men and women risking their lives to keep us all informed and safe. #Ian https://t.co/ukew7XTlc7
— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) September 28, 2022
2:06 PM — Mike Bettes, meteorologist for The Weather Channel, posted a “rare” view of the storm surge on Estero Blvd in Fort Myers Beach, FL. According to Bettes, the camera is six feet off the ground.
*RARE* first person view of storm surge. This camera is 6 feet off the ground on Estero Blvd in Fort Myers Beach, FL. Not sure how much longer it keeps working. You’ll see it live only on @weatherchannel #Ian pic.twitter.com/WwHtvgVxjY
— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) September 28, 2022
2:04 PM — Mike’s Weather Page, a trusted source for over one million followers across social media and countless Floridians, is storm chasing live as Hurricane Ian makes landfall on the Sunshine State’s west coast.
1:58 PM — Storm chasers are reporting 120 mph winds in what is believed to be Boca Grande, Florida. Others are reporting sustained winds of 45 mph in Sarasota County. Bridges typically close down after winds reach sustained winds of 40 mph.
120mph+ winds – Boca Grindr, FL #FLwx @NWSTampaBay @abcnews @weatherchannel @NBCNews @CBSNews @spann @McBeeWX @WxPatel @Wx_Geek @Oakhurst_Wx @FOXWeatherDesk pic.twitter.com/ey5G9yrjC2
— Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers (@ChicagoMWeather) September 28, 2022
Sustained winds now at 45mph. Emergency vehicles are being pulled off the roads in Sarasota County as Ian’s eyewall is now about 40 miles away. @spann #HurricaneIan #flwx pic.twitter.com/utiou22JvE
— Stephen Quinn (@StephenQ3340) September 28, 2022
1:50 PM — Earth Networks Station at Naples Grande Beach Resort reported a wind gust of 112 mph as weather conditions continue to deteriorate in southwest Florida.
1 PM EDT 9/28 Tropical Cyclone Update for Hurricane #Ian.
The Earth Networks Station at Naples Grande Beach Resort recently reported a wind gust to 112 mph (180 km/h).
Latest: https://t.co/tnOTyfORCw pic.twitter.com/ERvk04fttd
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
1:46 PM — Winds are picking up significantly in Fort Myers Beach.
Currently in Fort Myers, Florida. Video by Loni Architects #flwx #Ian #hurricane pic.twitter.com/8nfncFlG9G
— Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) September 28, 2022
1:37 PM — DeSantis said Hurricane Ian will likely go down as “one of the storms people remember,” thanking people for their prayers for the state.
1:33 PM — DeSantis added that they will be submitting a major disaster declaration for all 67 counties, requesting that the federal government “reimburse 100 percent of the upfront costs for the first 60 days to ensure that we can quickly recover and move forward into the response and recovery part” in the aftermath of the storm.
1:30 PM — The governor highlighted the Florida National Guard’s “really impressive mobilization of over 5,000 folks as well as 2,000 additional guardsmen from other states” ready to respond.
1:23 PM — Gov. DeSantis is providing a 1 p.m. update on Hurricane Ian, which is making landfall in southwest Florida. Maximum sustained winds are still 155 mph, just short of a Category 5 storm.
1:14 PM — Gov. DeSantis has continued to combat attempts to politicize the storm, dismissing an inquiry from a reporter Tuesday and correcting the record following claims that the state has lacked in its response to the storm.
“Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Give me a break. That is nonsense. Stop politicizing. Okay? Stop it,” DeSantis said, adding, “I don’t think we’ve ever — certainly since I’ve been governor — declared a state emergency this early. We made sure that we were very inclusive with it.”
After @politicofl's Matt Dixon was forced to issue a correction to his fake news propaganda from this morning, ANOTHER Politico reporter wrote a new story about #HurricaneIan… nice stealth-editing, guys! pic.twitter.com/6KvLFOO17Q
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 #FloridaStrong (@DeSantisWarRoom) September 27, 2022
1:02 PM — Videos taken from Bayshore Blvd in Tampa, Florida, show the bay being “sucked out” as a result of the storm earlier this morning.
https://twitter.com/JordanSteele/status/1575103067946565633
Additional video showing the water retreating. Previous video was from Tampa Bay. Assuming this is the same? The wind is pushing all the water out, be careful once the storm moves on shore, the wind direction will change and all that water will move back in. #hurricaneIan #ian https://t.co/NsHMHnfC17
— Jordan Steele (@JordanSteele) September 28, 2022
12:41 PM –– There is currently an “enhanced risk” for tornadoes for the east coast of Florida, primarily spanning from Daytona to West Palm Beach — the latter of which is minutes away from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
Another aspect related to #Ian is the tornado risk for the Florida peninsula in outer rainbands away from the immediate center. @NWSSPC currently has an enhanced risk for tornadoes focusing along the E FL coastline near Daytona & West Palm Beach.
More: https://t.co/O0OFBubZVj pic.twitter.com/YW0rdzzM9c
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
12:28 PM — The storm’s eye wall is moving onshore at Sanibel & Captiva Islands, per the NHC.
12 PM EDT 9/28 Tropical Cyclone Update for Hurricane #Ian.
The eyewall of Ian is now moving onshore at Sanibel & Captiva Islands.
Latest: https://t.co/tnOTyfOjMY pic.twitter.com/mQxbywROwy
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
12:11 PM — Hurricane Ian’s potential for broad impacts — beyond the west coast of Florida — seems to be the emerging theme on Wednesday. Gov. DeSantis has repeatedly emphasized that the storm’s impacts will be broad due to the massive size of the storm and recent tracks showing it moving diagonally across the state, up to the northeast coast.
“Just understand the impacts are gonna be far, far broader than just where the eye of the storm happens to make landfall,” he cautioned on Tuesday.
Florida’s northeastern counties, such as St. Johns, have evacuations in place for certain zones, including the entire City of historic St. Augustine. Schools have also been canceled for the remainder of the week.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that after #HurricaneIan slams into Florida, its dangers will be far from over across the Southeast as hazards both inland and along the coast are expected. https://t.co/z66YpDoLNl
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 28, 2022
12:01 PM — Various Twitter users are posting videos as the storm’s eye approaches the Sunshine State.
MAJOR storm surge Pine Island, Florida Dominator Fore Hurricane Ian eye wall pic.twitter.com/WUQHLtaQvi
— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) September 28, 2022
Video from Matt Tilman of Bayshore Blvd in Tampa. The bay being sucked out. #hurricaneian #ian pic.twitter.com/F54Lv1r5KV
— Jordan Steele (@JordanSteele) September 28, 2022
WATCH: Ian’s winds here to the north are blowing water offshore in Sarasota Bay. The eyewall is roughly 55 miles to our south now. @spann #HurricaneIan #flwx pic.twitter.com/WPTBLgurK1
— Stephen Quinn (@StephenQ3340) September 28, 2022
Reed Timmer was in Pine Island, Florida this morning when conditions deteriorated further with the arrival of #HurricaneIan.
Details: https://t.co/5bMHZoGOzi pic.twitter.com/FnsgblANiz
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) September 28, 2022
11:52 AM — The bulk of Florida’s west coast is facing significant storm surge — up to 18 feet in Bonita Beach. The east coast of the state is also facing these risks, as the St. Johns River could see storm surge 3-5 feet, as could the coast line.
9/28 11am EDT: Eyewall of #Ian moving onshore! Catastrophic storm surge along with destructive waves are expected along the southwest Florida coast from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. Residents should urgently follow evacuation orders in effect. pic.twitter.com/a82s6OGus6
— NHC Storm Surge (@NHC_Surge) September 28, 2022
The eyewall of Hurricane Ian, with winds of 155 mph, is moving onshore. Catastrophic storm surge inundation of 12 to 18 feet above ground level along with destructive waves are expected along the SW Florida coastline from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. pic.twitter.com/kU8bVcy3qM
— James Spann (@spann) September 28, 2022
11:46 AM — West Central Florida could be facing 24 inches of rain, according to NWS Tampa Bay.
Strong #HurricaneIan is already impacting our area & impacts will continue thru Thu! It is time to SHELTER-IN-PLACE!
What to expect:
🌊 Life-threatening storm surge
☔️ Catastrophic flooding w/ 24" rain in W Central FL
🌬️ 155 mph winds in the eyewall
🌪️ Tornadoes possible#FLwx pic.twitter.com/tN1Cti97j6— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) September 28, 2022
11:41 AM — Gov. DeSantis put some further perspective on the massive storm, warning that it is “strong as a large tornado” and to expect “strong winds, heavy rains and flooding.”
As #HurricaneIan moves across the state, with more than 155 mph winds, this is as strong as a large tornado. Expect strong winds, heavy rains and flooding.
Listen to your local officials and follow @FLSERT for updates. pic.twitter.com/q4OP9pm3sW— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 28, 2022
11:31 AM — The NHC is also warning of hurricane-force winds extending “well inland along the core” of the storm, along with “widespread, life-threatening catastrophic flooding” in portions of central Florida. There will also be “considerable flooding in southern Florida, northern Florida, southeastern Georgia, and coastal South Carolina.”
11 AM EDT 9/28 Key Messages for Hurricane #Ian.
Catastrophic storm surge inundation of 12-18 ft above ground level expected somewhere between Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor. Catastrophic wind damage is also beginning.
Latest: https://t.co/tnOTyfOjMY pic.twitter.com/ueCnGSMEQE
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
11:22 AM — Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw is addressing members of the establishment media who are salivating over the prospect of the storm serving as a “test” to the governor.
Media talking point is Hurricane Ian is a “test” of @GovRonDeSantis. No – it’s a natural disaster; the governor is focused on saving lives. Stop politicizing!
If you are genuinely curious about how Gov. DeSantis responds to emergencies, see Surfside 2021. We are in good hands 🙏🏼
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 28, 2022
Floridians' lives are in danger, so of course CNN is rooting for the hurricane. https://t.co/oHgZsO1XQD
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 28, 2022
11:12 AM — The National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) 11 a.m. advisory has Hurricane Ian maintaining its status as a strong Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph. It warns of “catastrophic storm surge inundation of 12 to 18 feet above ground level along with destructive waves” along the southwest Florida coastline “from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor.”
Hurricane #Ian Advisory 24: Extremely Dangerous Eyewall of Ian Moving Onshore. Ian Will Cause Catastrophic Storm Surge, Winds, and Flooding in The Florida Peninsula Soon. https://t.co/tW4KeFW0gB
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) September 28, 2022
11:06 AM — Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) held a brief press conference with linemen ahead of the storm’s landfall, who assured they are executing their plans as the storm approaches. The governor stated during his 7:30 a.m. press conference that the state has over 30,000 linemen ready to respond to the storm:
10:47 AM — Hurricane Ian has reached wind speeds just 2 mph shy of Category 5, per the Associated Press:
Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified off Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph (250 kph), just shy of the most dangerous Category 5 status. Damaging winds and rain lashed the state’s heavily populated Gulf Coast, with the Naples to Sarasota region at “highest risk” of a devastating storm surge.
U.S. Air Force hurricane hunters confirmed Ian gained strength over warm Gulf of Mexico water after battering Cuba, bringing down the country’s electricity grid and leaving the entire island without power. Ian was centered about 65 miles (105 kilometers) west-southwest of Naples at 7 a.m., swirling toward the coast at 10 mph (17 kph).
“This is going to be a nasty nasty day, two days,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said early Wednesday. “This is going to be a rough stretch.”
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