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September 30, 2022

Hurricane Ian Bears Down on South Carolina After Carving Path of Destruction Across Florida
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The National Weather Service has issued hurricane advisories to more
than 2.5 million coastal residents of Georgia and the Carolinas as
Hurricane Ian gathers strength after carving a historic trail of
devastation across Florida. Ian is expected to make landfall near
Charleston, South Carolina, today as a Category 1 storm. This comes as
rescue teams in helicopters and boats are struggling to reach
communities trapped by floodwaters. So far at least 17 U.S. deaths have
been attributed to Ian, but President Biden warned Thursday that number
is likely to rise dramatically.

President Joe Biden: "This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's
history. The numbers are still unclear, but we're hearing early reports
of what may be substantial loss of life."

More than 2 million homes and businesses across Florida remain without
power. Republican Governor Ron De Santis said the storm caused
"biblical" damage to Sanibel Island and tore homes to their concrete
foundations in Fort Myers Beach. De Santis called it a one-in-500-year
storm. NASA reports ocean temperatures off Florida's coast were up to 3
degrees Fahrenheit warmer than usual for this time of year, helping to
fuel Ian's rapid intensification to near-Category 5 strength ahead of
its landfall.


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