Hurricane Ian: Waves flood roads in Key West as storm strengthens to category 4
After spending most of Thursday as a tropical storm, Ian was upgraded to a hurricane again as it takes aim at the South Carolina coastline.
Ian is forecast to make landfall somewhere near Charleston, South Carolina, at about 2pm today. It will produce life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds across parts of Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Ian could slightly strengthen before landfall, and is forecast to rapidly weaken over the southeastern United States late Friday into Saturday,” the advisory said.
Dozens of rescue operations have been taking place across Florida after unprecedented flooding from one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the United States.
Thousands of people are stranded across the state as coastguard helicopters were seen plucking people from roofs after several feet of water surged into neighbourhoods. Some 2.5million people were currently without power.
Meanwhile, the damage and economic losses caused by Hurricane Ian could amount to as much as $120bn, according to a new estimate.
Timelapse video shows rapid flooding on Florida island as Hurricane Ian creates dangerous storm surge
A time-lapse video of an intersection on the island starts off with winds and heavy rain, but the road quickly gives way to surging waters that completely cover the median and rise halfway up a street sign.
Video shows rapid flooding on Florida island as Hurricane Ian brings storm surge
The area is expected to see up to 18 feet of storm surge
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 06:12
Sanibel mayor pens emotional letter after Ian: ‘Our lives and our island have been forever changed’
The mayor of a Florida island that was ripped apart by Hurricane Ian has penned an emotional letter to residents, saying “Our lives and our island have been forever changed.”
Sanibel Island is cut off after the only bridge that connects it and Captiva to the mainland bore the brunt of the historic hurricane and had sections ripped out.
“I am struggling to find the words to convey my feelings, as I am sure most of us are as we look to the past four days. All our lives and our island have been forever changed. What we do tomorrow and the days and months ahead will redefine and strengthen our community,” wrote Mayor Holly Smith.
Read the full story by Ethan Freedman here:
Sanibel mayor pens emotional letter after island ripped apart by Hurricane Ian
A badly damaged bridge is the only road to access communities on Sanibel and Captiva islands
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 06:04
ICYMI: Firefighters evacuate Orlando nursing home as Storm Ian ravages Florida
Firefighters evacuate Orlando nursing home as Storm Ian ravages Florida
Graeme Massie30 September 2022 06:03
ICYMI: Ian re-strengthens into hurricane as it nears South Carolina
Ian has regained strength over the Atlantic Ocean and become a hurricane again, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.
The storm had been downgraded to a tropical storm as it weakened over Florida. Hurricane Ian is now forecast to hit South Carolina today as a Category 1 hurricane.
Read the full story here:
Ian re-strengthens into hurricane as it nears South Carolina
The storm is forecast to make landfall again on Friday
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 06:00
Woman braves Hurricane Ian flood to check on stranger’s mom
Christine Bomlitz became more and more distraught as Hurricane Ian gained in ferocity, sweeping across southwest Florida on Wednesday. Hours passed, but there was still no word from her 84-year-old mother.
Thursday morning came. The storm had long drifted away overnight. But still no word.
Read the full piece here:
Woman braves Hurricane Ian flood to check on stranger’s mom
As Hurricane Ian swept across southwest Florida, Christine Bomlitz grew anxious
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 05:57
Hurricane Ian sweeps away homes, memories on barrier islands
On the road into Fort Myers Beach, cars are left abandoned in the roadway, where they stalled when Hurricane Ian‘s storm surge flooded their engines and their drivers couldn’t continue. Broken trees, boat trailers and other debris litter the road.
It’s even worse in the seaside tourist town, much of which was flattened by the fierce winds and powerful storm surge generated by the Category 4 hurricane.
Read the full story here:
Hurricane Ian sweeps away homes, memories on barrier islands
Cars are left abandoned where they stalled on the road into Fort Myers Beach when the Hurricane Ian’s storm surge flooded their engines and their drivers couldn’t continue
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 05:48
Donald Trump avoids fraud lawsuit deposition by staying in Florida as Hurricane Ian strikes
Donald Trump has avoided a deposition for a fraud lawsuit by remaining in Florida as Hurricane Ian bore down. The former president had been due to be deposed in a civil class action lawsuit first filed in 2018. It accuses Mr Trump, his children, and the Trump Organization, of committing deception and fraud.
It is different to the lawsuit filed earlier this month by New York Attorney General Letitia James, that similarly accuses Mr Trump and the others of fraud, for allegedly overvaluing his assets by billions of dollars.
Read the full story by Andrew Buncombe here:
Trump avoids fraud deposition by staying in Florida as Hurricane Ian hits
‘I expressed some surprise – but they indicated they were flying down anyway’
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 05:32
Don Lemon scolded for turning NOAA Hurricane Ian interview into climate crisis debate
As Ian approached the US, Jamie Rohme, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center, raised some eyebrows when he seemed to demur about linking the storm to the climate crisis during an interview on CNN.
Read the full story here:
Don Lemon scolded for turning NOAA Hurricane Ian interview into climate crisis debate
Scientific consensus says climate crisis will make extreme weather worse
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 05:25
Study finds that climate change added 10% to Ian’s rainfall
A quick study by two scientists calculates that climate change made Hurricane Ian 10 per cent rainier than it would have been if there were no such thing as global warming.
Read the full piece by Seth Borenstein here:
Study finds that climate change added 10% to Ian’s rainfall
A quick study by two scientists calculates that climate change made Hurricane Ian 10% rainier than it would have been if there were no such thing as global warming
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 05:20
Why you shouldn’t linger in hurricane floodwaters
As Hurricane Ian slammed Florida, with wind speeds over 150mph, multiple people have shared videos of themselves swimming through floodwaters. Read here to know why you shouldn’t do the same:
Why you shouldn’t linger in hurricane floodwaters
Multiple parts of Florida were left underwater due to Hurricane Ian this week
Maroosha Muzaffar30 September 2022 05:10
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism