Hurricane Ian

Much of the state is at risk of heavy rainfall, and the coast could see devastating storm surge, particularly around Tampa Bay.

Residents were encouraged to [check their evacuation zones](https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/) and [identify the closest shelters](https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/shelters/) before the storm arrives. [The Conversation](https://theconversation.com) under a Creative Commons license. Residents across Florida need to prepare for the risk of heavy rain, flash flooding, storm surge, isolated tornadoes and strong winds. If the storm is large enough, it could even generate storm surge on the eastern side of the Florida Peninsula, like Irma did along portions of northeast Florida. [see some storm surge and coastal flooding](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/102341.shtml?peakSurge#contents), especially as the storm nears land. The part of the storm east of the center of circulation generally has more cloud cover and more rain. The Tampa area forecast as of Tuesday, was for up to 10 feet of storm surge that could be pushed into Tampa Bay. But as Florida saw with Andrew, wind damage can be catastrophic in these smaller systems. Up to 3 feet of storm surge was expected for the Florida Keys and South Florida, but these amounts could also be higher, especially as Ian strengthens. Several areas, including around Tampa Bay, were under [evacuation orders](https://www.tampabay.com/hurricane/2022/09/26/hillsborough-orders-300000-evacuate/). Since land surrounds the Gulf of Mexico, there is nowhere for this water to go but inland. But the scale doesn’t take water risk into account, and flooding and storm surge are both major risks from Ian.

Florida's vulnerable Tampa Bay area could be struck directly for the first time in a century.

In the airport, one man said he had not faced the prospect of a storm like this in his 43 years of living in the area. On one flight to Tampa on Tuesday, returning residents discussed the approaching storm. "This is not a drill," Mayor Castor said. If hit directly, the region may be "unrecognisable" in the next couple of days, Mr Salna told the BBC. This is, in its own way, a human nature trainwreck," said Richard Olson, director of the extreme events institute at Florida International University (FIU). Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor said on Tuesday that the city would also be implementing a curfew for remaining residents.

Hurricane Ian is bearing down on Florida, bringing life-threating storm surge, powerful winds and the possibility of flash floods.

If water begins to rise inside of the car, move to the roof. Check on your neighbors to see if they need help. If your kit includes canned food, be sure to also have a manual can opener. Remember that not everyone is able to make these preparations. It is difficult to tell how deep water is or what dangerous items might be hidden in the water. It’s important to stay updated, so you know what to expect and when to expect it. - Have you ever received a loud emergency alert on your phone or the radio? Utilities, roads and stores may be damaged after a storm hits, making it difficult to find food and water. - Several days’ supply of food and water for your family, pets and service animals. [Sign up for community alerts](https://www.ready.gov/alerts)in your area. One way to do this is to have several ways to receive alerts. Hurricane Ian is bearing down on Florida, bringing life-threating storm surge, powerful winds and the possibility of flash floods.

It's also expected to impact eastern North Carolina. There's still a lot of uncertainty about the storm's path. Emergency management officials say residents ...

Jarvis says they have already sent a team of four to Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian. Late Friday through Saturday is expected to be the wettest, most impactful period. A game scheduled for Saturday between South Carolina and S.C. He says they've taken the first steps toward readiness if they’re needed. And she adds that an isolated tornado or waterspout is not entirely impossible for Friday night and into Saturday. Duke Energy, the state's largest utility provider, is monitoring Hurricane Ian and its potential impacts. State has been moved to Thursday. "We're going to hold our crews here in the Carolinas for now because we are in the path of the storm. We want to make sure we're supporting our local communities and being there for them. There's still a lot of uncertainty about the storm's path. N.C. [told Public Radio East](https://www.publicradioeast.org/2022-09-27/enc-to-feel-hurricane-ians-impacts-late-week-heavy-rain-strong-winds-flooding-and-isolated-tornadoes-possible) that the storm is expected to bring winds of up to 35 mph and up to seven inches of rain once it hits North Carolina.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2022 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path ...

USDA can also assist local government sponsors with the cost of recovery efforts like debris removal and streambank stabilization to address natural resource concerns and hazards through the [Emergency Watershed Protection Program](https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/programs/landscape/ewpp/?cid=nrcseprd1381472). For FSA and NRCS programs, they should contact their local [USDA Service Center](https://www.farmers.gov/service-center-locator). For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their [crop insurance agent](https://www.rma.usda.gov/en/Information-Tools/Agent-Locator-Page). In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. Department of Agriculture](https://www.usda.gov/) (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Ian that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. NAP or Federal Crop Insurance often only covers the crop and not the plant. USDA also developed a [disaster assistance discovery tool](https://www.farmers.gov/recover/disaster-assistance-tool#step-1) specifically targeted to rural and agricultural issues. You also may contact APHIS Veterinary Services state offices for information and assistance about protecting and moving livestock. If it is not feasible to evacuate your livestock, be sure to provide a strong shelter, and adequate food and water that will last them until you can return. A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full). - Freeze water in small plastic storage bags or containers prior to a storm. [Disaster Resource Center](/topics/disaster).

Hurricane Ian became a major Category 3 storm early Tuesday and will continue to strengthen as it approaches Florida, National Hurricane Center forecasters ...

[Tampa](https://www.facebook.com/FlyTPA/videos/826008391758811), [Orlando](https://twitter.com/MCO/status/1574802639220604930) and Pinellas County in Florida announced that they would close Tuesday and Wednesday. [Residents on Florida's Gulf Coast ](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/floridians-head-shelters-hurricane-ian-barrels-tampa-rcna49675)stocked up on food and prepared with sandbags and plywood for their windows. [Hurricane Ian ](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/hurricane-ian-live-updates-rcna49545)became a major Category 3 storm early Tuesday and will continue to strengthen as it approaches Florida, National Hurricane Center forecasters say. Charlotte Harbor may see 12 feet of storm surge, and in the Tampa Bay area, 7 feet is expected, according to forecasters. [Ian ](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/hurricane-ian-live-updates-rcna49545)made landfall at about 4:30 a.m. American Airlines [announced travel waivers](https://www.aa.com/i18n/travel-info/travel-alerts.jsp) for people flying to or out of 20 airports in Florida and the Caribbean. "What we have here is really historic storm surge and flooding potential," he said at a news conference Tuesday morning. About 2.5 million residents are under some type of evacuation orders, he said. Ron DeSantis declared a statewide emergency, saying Ian could bring several feet of storm surge. Models show the storm landing somewhere between Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. [Follow along for NBC News’ live coverage of Hurricane Ian](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/hurricane-ian-live-updates-rcna49545) [hurricane center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/271500.shtml).

Much of Jacksonville's beach communities and St. Augustine could flood, along with low-lying neighborhoods near the St. Johns River like Downtown, ...

Like Irma, Ian is expected to simultaneously raise water levels in the St. Augustine flooded, along with low-lying neighborhoods near the river, like Downtown, San Marco and Riverside. A worst-case scenario could see much of Jacksonville's beach communities and St.

The warm water creates “a lot more rocket fuel for the storm.” And this effect is likely to become even more frequent due to climate change, scientists say.

While hurricane seasons fluctuate year-to-year, when looked at over 10-year intervals, there are roughly 25 percent more rapidly intensifying storms in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific now than 40 years ago, according to an analysis of National Hurricane Center data by The Associated Press. “It’s more likely because of climate change,” he said. “But it’s really hard to say that climate change has an impact on any one storm in terms of its formation or its individual intensity.” Yet while storms aren’t necessarily more frequent, they are getting nastier because of global warming, experts say. It exacerbates deadly storm surges through sea-level rise, worsens freshwater flooding and increases the proportion of monster Category 4 and 5 storms, like Fiona last week, several studies show. The build up of heat-trapping gases from burning fossil fuels is making storms slower and wetter.

Two people were killed by the storm, which caused extensive damage and flooding in western Cuba.

The financial misery, along with ongoing political repression, sparked one of the largest protest movements in decades last year. The second was a 43-year-old woman who died in San Luis when one of the walls of her house collapsed. Before the sun set, residents braved wind and rain to search for food and basic supplies, lining up under overhangs to buy a piece of chicken or a bottle of oil.

PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba — Cuba's electrical grid collapsed late on Tuesday, local officials said, leaving the entire country in the dark shortly after Hurricane ...

“Sometimes hurricanes pass through here, but not of this magnitude,” said Abel Hernandez, a 49-year-old tobacco farmer. State-run media said farmers had secured 33,000 tonnes of tobacco in storage from prior harvests, but many farms buildings, made with thatched palm roofs, had been flattened by the storm. The hurricane hit Cuba at a time of dire economic crisis. “There is no electricity service in any part of the country right now.” The storm left at least two dead in western Cuba, state-run media reported. Violent wind gusts shattered windows and ripped metal roofs off homes and buildings throughout the region, where many houses are decades old and infrastructure is antiquated. “We almost lost the roof off our house,” Suarez told Reuters, her voice trembling. By 8 p.m. Further north, in Florida, residents and officials were hunkering down in anticipation of what the NHC called a “large and destructive hurricane.” National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Ian made landfall in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio Province early on Tuesday, prompting officials early on to cut power to the entire province of 850,000 people as a precautionary measure and evacuate 40,000 people from low-lying coastal areas, according to local media reports. Mayelin Suarez, a street vendor who sells ice cream in the provincial capital, called the night of the storm’s passage the “the darkest of her life.”

Florida officials waived toll collections to facilitate evacuations as local officials issued mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders in anticipation of ...

Department of Health and Human Services activated the National Disaster Medical System and deployed Incident Management Team personnel to Florida and Georgia. - One Incident Management Team is deployed to Atlanta and two others are at the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. Army Corps of Engineers power restoration team is deploying to Craig Field in Alabama ahead of the storm. - FEMA activated a medical support contract for 52 ambulances and 100 paratransit seats. Two health and medical task forces are staging in Atlanta. The agency is establishing a personnel mobilization center to expedite forward movement when needed. - The agency has nearly 3,500 reservist personnel available to deploy to support. Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medicines. Ordered supplies for staging at Maxwell Airforce Base in Alabama include 3.5 million liters of water, 3.7 million meals and 6,380 cots. Plan for batteries and other alternative power sources to meet your needs when the power goes out. After a hurricane, you may not have access to these supplies for days. Hurricane Ian is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge along much of the state’s west coast, with the highest risk from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region.

Some crises, such as Hurricane Ian that is now heading towards Florida, provide more time for businesses to prepare than others. What companies do before ...

“Since the Tampa Bay area has not been struck by a major hurricane in recent times, the structural integrity of buildings in the region has not been tested against high winds and storm surge. Our offices are located directly on the Tampa Bay, and Hurricane Ian seems to be on a direct path towards us,” Next, determine “whether or not there are controls in place (backup generators would be an example of a control). “We have set up many different lines of communication between our team and our vendors so that we can move quickly to reopen after the storm passes. Our food inventory is a huge concern for us due to the possibility of loss of power, so we have been working to run down our inventory to eliminate possible waste,” Ferraro observed. State and local governments, chambers of commerce, and other trade groups offer disaster planning and recovery guidance,” Oliver noted. At FEMA, any multi-state private sector organization may volunteer to take part in the “It is expected to bring life-threatening [storm surge](https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/12/weather/what-is-storm-surge-xpn/index.html) along much of Florida’s west coast by mid-week, as well as hurricane-force winds,” according to the news organization. Execution of crisis management plans should be looked at multiple times a year,” Porter recommended. “We are in one of the predicted direct hit areas,” Ferraro said via email. “Our management team has been monitoring the weather reports from several different sources and discussing them to adjust [our] plans as needed. What companies do before the storm hits the state, and how they do it, could be critical to their survival.

State of play: The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said "significant wind and storm surge impacts" occurred Tuesday morning in the west coast of the island. Ian ...

The storm's outer rain band began on Monday night lashing [coastal areas](https://twitter.com/NWSMiami/status/1574576479681257487) of Florida, where it could hit as a Category 4 hurricane as early as Wednesday. There's a "danger of life-threatening storm surge" along much of the Florida west coast," the [NHC said](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/262102.shtml). [flooding](https://twitter.com/PerfectHealth_1/status/1574959181869760512) across the lower Florida Keys as the Category 3 hurricane moved 105 miles southwest of Naples, Florida, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. [tweet](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574678606126583809). [major hurricane](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida) just before making landfall over western Cuba on Tuesday morning, according to the [National Hurricane Center](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574648913734160384/photo/1). [Strengthening Hurricane Ian closes in on Cuba and Florida](/2022/09/25/hurricane-ian-intensifies-florida-threat) [tweeted](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574806286067179520). the [NHC said](https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1574987422068199424/photo/1) in an update at 1am ET. [Hurricane Ian](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/25/hurricane-ian-intensifies-florida-threat) was expected to further ramp-up to a major Category 4 storm ahead of its expected landfall in Florida with "catastrophic" winds and storm surge on Wednesday, per the National Hurricane Center. [Hurricane Ian approaches Category 4 intensity as it heads toward Florida](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida) [Hurricane Ian](https://www.axios.com/2022/09/27/live-hurricane-ian-southwest-florida) swept through in the morning and severely flooded the Caribbean island. [AP notes](https://apnews.com/article/hurricanes-cuba-caribbean-hurricane-ian-080599db41b3e492d41e55046cb13c23?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=TopNews&utm_campaign=position_01).

FEMA is working with federal, state, local, tribal and community partners to prepare for Hurricane Ian's landfall. Ian is predicted to bring ...

Prepare for the storm’s impact and follow instructions from local/community officials. [emergency supply kit](https://www.ready.gov/kit)for your household and [pets](https://www.ready.gov/pets). [evacuate](https://www.ready.gov/evacuation)or [shelter in place](https://www.ready.gov/shelter). [power outages](https://www.ready.gov/power-outages). Ian is predicted to bring life-threatening storm surge, with flooding and power outages. [local evacuation orders](https://www.floridadisaster.org/evacuation-orders).

Ian hit a Cuba that has been struggling with an economic crisis and has faced frequent power outages in recent months.

The masonry and zinc roof of the house had just been installed. A hospital in Pinar del Río was damaged. Authorities were still assessing the damage in its world-famous tobacco belt. It made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the island’s western end, devastating Pinar del Río province, where much of the tobacco used for Cuba’s iconic cigars is grown. Power was initially knocked out to about 1 million people in Cuba’s western provinces, but later the entire grid collapsed. Authorities were still assessing the damage, although no fatalities had been reported by Tuesday night.

Hurricane Ian is headed for the gulf coast of Florida after making landfall in Cuba. The hurricane is expected to bring storm surge and heavy rain to the ...

more frequently in recent years](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/09/29/record-us-hurricane-landfalls-climate/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_9). And last summer alone, [nearly 1 in 3 Americans experienced a weather disaster](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/09/04/climate-disaster-hurricane-ida/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_10). [seven safety tips to help you get ready for hurricanes](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/05/03/hurricane-safety-prepare-noaa/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_6). Read more about [how climate change is fueling severe weather events](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2020/10/22/climate-curious-disasters-climate-change/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_11). [intensified this fall with conditions prime for storms](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/08/17/hurricane-season-tropical-atlantic/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_1). For the seventh year in a row, hurricane officials expect [an above-average season of hurricane activity](https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/05/24/noaa-atlantic-hurricane-outlook-2022/?itid=lb_the-atlantic-hurricane-season_5).

In Jamaica, Ian moved south of the island, producing around three to six inches of rainfall, storm surge and swells that affected coastal communities.

In La Habana, one of the six provinces under a hurricane alert, moderate rainfall and strong wind gusts have left several areas in the island’s capital of the same name without power. In Jamaica, Ian moved south of the island, producing around three to six inches of rainfall, storm surge and swells that affected coastal communities. The system rapidly intensified as it moved across Cuba, becoming the fourth hurricane and second major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.

Various counties across central Florida are opening up various shelters for the general population. Here are some of the resources being made available for ...

[Orlando is providing free transportation](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61200c4a2ec57063cb010a11/t/6333436706bc0a52169bbc4c/1664303975636/Orlando%27s+Emergency+Storm+and+Homeless+Shelters+2022.pdf) via buses to its five homeless and emergency shelters beginning Wednesday afternoon. [https://www.scgov.net/government/emergency-services/emergency-management/evacuation-centers](https://www.scgov.net/government/emergency-services/emergency-management/evacuation-centers). [https://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/emergency-management/shelters.stml](https://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/emergency-management/shelters.stml). [https://www.orangecountyfl.net/EmergencySafety/shelters.aspx#.YzQFguzMKha](https://www.orangecountyfl.net/EmergencySafety/shelters.aspx#.YzQFguzMKha). But for unhoused people who may not have that option, shelters across the state are offering their resources. [visit here](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/61200c4a2ec57063cb010a11/t/6333436706bc0a52169bbc4c/1664303975636/Orlando%27s+Emergency+Storm+and+Homeless+Shelters+2022.pdf). [Osceola County](https://www.osceola.org/agencies-departments/emergency-management/shelters.stml) has five general population shelters (two are pet friendly), as well as one special needs shelter. [Orange County is opening up five high schools ](https://www.orangecountyfl.net/EmergencySafety/shelters.aspx#.YzQFguzMKha)for the general population, including those who have been evacuated and those living in low-lying areas. Three of the shelters are pet friendly, according to the [Homeless Services Network of Central Florida](https://hsncfl.org/), a part of the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness. [upgraded the hurricane](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/261755.shtml) to a Category 4 storm early Wednesday.

Situation Report in English on Cuba about Agriculture, Coordination, Tropical Cyclone and more; published on 28 Sep 2022 by UNCT Cuba.

• Hurricane Ian directly hit the province of Pinar del Río and the Special Municipality Isla de la Juventud. Of these, 500,000 are children and adolescents, and 700,000 are elderly people. Damages have also been reported in the province of Artemisa and in the capital of the country, La Habana.

Cuba's electrical grid collapsed late on Tuesday, local officials said, leaving the entire country in the dark shortly after Hurricane Ian plowed through ...

State-run media said farmers had secured 33,000 tonnes of tobacco in storage from prior harvests, but many farms buildings, made with thatched palm roofs, had been flattened by the storm. "Sometimes hurricanes pass through here, but not of this magnitude," said Abel Hernandez, a 49-year-old tobacco farmer. "I've never seen anything like this," said Ana Julia Gomez, a 56-year-old woman who lives alone in Pinar del Rio, as she surveyed the wreckage inside her home. "Ian has done away with what little we had left," said Omar Avila, a worker at butcher shop in Pinar del Rio. "There is no electricity service in any part of the country right now." "We almost lost the roof off our house," Suarez told Reuters, her voice trembling.

Universities are canceling classes and shuttering campuses ahead of the storm, showing the importance of disaster resilience in a world transformed by ...

[What does ‘strengthen research capacity’ actually mean, and how can we do it?](https://timeshighereducation.com/campus/what-does-strengthen-research-capacity-actually-mean-and-how-can-we-do-it) [University-edtech collaboration: how to leverage the best of both worlds](https://timeshighereducation.com/campus/universityedtech-collaboration-how-leverage-best-both-worlds) [Considering a university merger? “This is a learning opportunity, and universities have a special power to inculcate good social lessons in students,” Verchick said. “Thus, developing long-term investment (resilience capacity, resilience building) in preparing campus communities for a range of different disasters is critical.” “Certainly, the days of special library collections in basements are coming to an end.” Kapucu said the grant allowed UCF to become “the first storm-ready campus in the nation with a fully staffed Emergency Operation Center.” “A lot of campuses are basically like little cities.” Others, like Rollins College in Winter Park, announced they would close residence halls Wednesday and asked students to leave campus—a decision college administrators [said](https://emergency.rollins.edu/) they made with “the utmost gravity.” “There is a delicate balance between panic and complacency in response to disasters.” The University of Tampa, directly in Ian’s projected path, was a veritable [ghost town](https://twitter.com/tconcannon20/status/1574861104357974017?s=20&t=hp1O-r3XOg79BfQovHAz3A) by Tuesday evening, having [bused all students off campus](https://twitter.com/tconcannon20/status/1574769052488241155?s=20&t=hp1O-r3XOg79BfQovHAz3A) and [boarded up its windows](https://twitter.com/tconcannon20/status/1574513979686359041?s=20&t=hp1O-r3XOg79BfQovHAz3A). “I can definitely say that the university is well prepared for hurricanes and other potential human-caused or natural hazards and disasters,” Kapucu wrote. But if you close a dorm, where are the students going to go?” he said. “Students submit to us their hurricane evacuation plans, which consist of where they plan to ride out the storm.

The storm brings down electricity grid and leaves the entire island without power before barrelling towards Florida.

Only a few people with gasoline-powered generators had access to electricity on the island. Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed late on Tuesday, local officials said, plunging the entire country into darkness shortly after the hurricane ploughed through the western end of the island, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Hurricane Ian has torn into western Cuba as a Category 3 storm, knocking out power lines in the country of 11.3 million people.

Ian strengthens into a Category 4 storm as it heads towards the US state of Florida after plunging Cuba into darkness.

As we keep our eye on the tropics, just having enough supplies to make it through a hurricane isn’t enough. - Strong winds are expected in the hurricane warning area in southwest and west-central Florida beginning on Wednesday morning. - “Residents are quickly running out of time to leave. You need plenty to make it through what could be a long recovery period too. “There is no electricity service in any part of the country right now.” - The NWS recommends writing or reviewing a family emergency plan before the storm or hurricane hits, and “this consists in sitting down with family and close friends and deciding how to get in touch with each other, where to go, and how will you get in contact.” - The CDC also advises people to protect windows and doors, particularly windows, to help keep people safe from pieces of shattered glass. - A storm surge is expected along the Florida west Coast and the lower Florida Keys, with the highest risk from Naples to the Sarasota region. - The Red Cross has encouraged people to listen to the advice of local authorities and evacuate immediately if asked to do so. - According to US authorities, the hurricane is expected to hit the state of Florida on Wednesday, with forecasters warning of life-threatening storm surges and “devastating” winds. - The Florida coastal zone at highest risk for US landfall is home to miles of sandy beaches, dozens of resort hotels and numerous mobile home parks, a favourite with retirees and vacationers alike. - A Category 4 storm on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale carries winds of up to 209km (130 miles) an hour and can reach 251km (156 miles) per hour.

Storm surge danger even exists for the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina as the storm might make a second landfall near the Georgia/South Carolina ...

[Stephen Strader](https://twitter.com/StephenMStrader), a geographer at Villanova University, shared the map below of housing in the Tampa Bay Area as of 2020. One thing that I discussed with my students at the University of Georgia on Tuesday is something many people might miss — potential wind enhancement because of the combined presence of Ian and a broad area of high pressure in the Northeast. There was a lot of uncertainty with the models leading up to this storm. The bad news is that it tends to make the strongest part of the storm larger in size. The storm is expected to slow down near and after landfall. There is already a lot of water, canals, and coastal areas in Florida. The worst news with Hurricane Ian is the storm still intensified and got larger in size. Forecasts are calling for a large swath of 1-2 feet of rainfall across the entire north-central peninsula. However, the immediate concern is the West Coast of Florida, which will experience destructive winds, storm surge, and inland freshwater flooding because of rainfall. The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon. It went through a full eyewall replacement cycle, hardly blinked, grew by 50% (as measured by its RMW), and delivered the 3rd highest storm surge since 1913 to Key West in the process. National Hurricane Center Advisory](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/035341.shtml?peakSurge#contents), Ian had strengthened to a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (AP) — Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified as it neared landfall along Florida's southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of ...

Ian went from 120 mph (193 kph) to 155 mph (250 kph) in just three hours, the second round of rapid intensification in the storm’s life cycle. One tornado damaged small planes and a hangar at the North Perry Airport, west of Hollywood along the Atlantic coast. And “it will really increase the amount of storm surge.” He boarded the windows of his Tampa home with plywood, laid down sandbags, and with his wife, packed their car with bottled water, flashlights, battery packs for their cellphones and a camp stove before evacuating. Hotels along the coast either filled up or closed down, and with flights canceled, some tourists planned to join locals at emergency shelters. “You can’t do anything about natural disasters,” said Vinod Nair, who drove inland from the Tampa area Tuesday with his wife, son, dog and two kittens, seeking a hotel in Orlando, where only tropical-storm force winds were expected. Ron DeSantis said early Wednesday, stressing that people in Ian’s path along the coast should rush to the safest possible shelter and stay there. Rainfall near the area of landfall could top 18 inches (46 centimeters). “If you are in any of those counties it is no longer possible to safely evacuate. The area is popular with retirees and tourists drawn to pristine white sandy beaches and long barrier islands, which forecasters said could be completely inundated. 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). [Hurricane Ian](/hub/hurricanes) rapidly intensified as it neared landfall along Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday morning, gaining top winds of 155 mph (250 kph), just shy of the most dangerous Category 5 status.

The Category 3 storm was 95 miles from Naples, on Florida's Gulf Coast, early Wednesday. It knocked out power to all of Cuba after making landfall Tuesday.

Rain totals of 6 to 8 inches were forecast for much of the Florida Keys and South Florida. "It was apocalyptic," he said. A foot to 18 inches was expected for the central and northeastern parts of the state, the hurricane center said. The storm, which had sustained winds of 120 mph and a projected storm surge of up to 12 feet in some areas, was forecast to strengthen overnight, the National Hurricane Center said. Storm surge flooding was already occurring early Wednesday across the lower Florida Keys, the center said. The Category 3 hurricane was moving northeast Tuesday night at 10 mph over the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to pass west of the Florida Keys before it slams into a stretch of coastline between Naples and Tampa on Wednesday,

Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified off Florida's southwest coast Wednesday, gaining top winds of 155 mph. Forecasters said the Fort Myers area could be ...

One tornado damaged small planes and a hangar at the North Perry Airport, west of Hollywood along the Atlantic coast. He boarded the windows of his Tampa home with plywood, laid down sandbags, and with his wife, packed their car with bottled water, flashlights, battery packs for their cellphones and a camp stove before evacuating. And "it will really increase the amount of storm surge." Hotels along the coast either filled up or closed down, and with flights canceled, some tourists planned to join locals at emergency shelters. Ian went from 120 mph to 155 mph in three hours, the second round of rapid intensification in the storm's life cycle. "It's time to hunker down and prepare for the storm," DeSantis said. Damaging winds and rain lashed the state, and forecasters said the heavily populated Fort Myers area could be inundated by a storm surge of up to 18 feet. "With the higher intensity you're going to see more extensive wind damage. "You can't do anything about natural disasters," said Vinod Nair, who drove inland from the Tampa area Tuesday with his wife, son, dog and two kittens, seeking a hotel in Orlando, where only tropical-storm force winds were expected. Ron DeSantis said early Wednesday, stressing that people in Ian's path along the coast should rush to the safest possible shelter and stay there. The area is popular with retirees and tourists drawn to pristine white sandy beaches and long barrier islands, which forecasters said could be completely inundated. Ian was centered about 60 miles west-southwest of Naples at 10 a.m., swirling toward the coast at 10 mph.

Crews were working through the night to restore power. “It's a process that is going to take a while,” the head of the Electrical Union told state ...

The economy has been hobbled in part by the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic and in part by new U.S. “Aid is already pouring in from all over the country.” sanctions imposed by the Trump administration and partially maintained by the Biden administration. “The damages are great, although they have not yet been accounted,” he tweeted. Failures appeared in the western, central and eastern links. A man in a different municipality died when a roof collapsed.