After the devastating hurricane “Ian”, the number of victims increases, especially in the US state of Florida. About 80 deaths have been reported so far, according to local authorities. At least 42 people were killed in Lee County alone, where ‘Ian’ made landfall with winds of up to 150 mph. Fort Myers was also badly hit, as can be seen in the drone video above.
The hurricane largely lost strength over the weekend. Foothills caused rain on the east coast of the US as far as New York. Before weakening, Ian had hit the South Carolina coast as a category one of five hurricane, triggering storm surges. The TV footage showed completely flooded streets and a partially destroyed pier.
This state has been spared death, said Governor Henry McMaster. Power went out for more than 500,000 homes in South and North Carolina and Virginia, in part because falling trees cut the pipes. In North Carolina, even with weak winds, “Ian” still took four lives, according to Governor Roy Cooper.
Reconstruction in Florida likely to take years
“Ian” made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a level four of five hurricane. It left devastation and flooding in the southern state. The authorities emphasized that reconstruction will take months and sometimes even years. On Sunday, water levels in some central Florida cities continued to rise, as FEMA civil defense chief Deanne Criswell said on US television.
Rescue and clearance efforts continued in the affected areas of Florida. The Coast Guard has rescued more than 300 people with helicopters, some from roofs and trees, and more than 80 pets. In all, more than 1,100 people were found alive, Governor Ron DeSantis said. President Biden expressed deep fear on Thursday, saying, “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history.”
After Florida, “Ian” first went out to sea, regained his strength and reached the South Carolina coast on Friday with wind speeds of around 140 kilometers per hour. A few hours later, winds eased to about 60 miles per hour, removing the cyclone from being classified as a hurricane.
„Ian“ changed direction and destroyed Fort Myers
Given the high death toll in Lee County, questions have been raised as to whether the evacuation order was issued too late. Sheriff Carmine defended the approach on Sunday: The hurricane had changed its route and had only become clear the day before that it would hit Fort Myers instead of Tampa.
There was also a discussion about whether expensive reconstruction in areas with severe storms made sense in the long term. Fema chief Criswell said strict building codes are needed for buildings to withstand the forces of nature. Fort Myers mayor Kevin Anderson told CBS that new buildings largely survived the hurricane.
US President Joe Biden is in Florida on Wednesday to get an idea of the damage. The White House had announced it would support those affected without flood insurance with up to $40,000.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
