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As post-tropical cyclone Ian continues to weaken near the Virginia-North Carolina border, the National Hurricane Center warns that “major to record” river flooding could continue through next week in areas of Florida.
Heavy rain and gusty winds will impact portions of the Mid-Atlantic region and New England coast Saturday, the National Weather Prediction Center said, and “limited flash, urban, and small stream flooding” is possible across the central Appalachians and southern Mid-Atlantic this weekend, according to the NHC.
Here’s what we know right now:
Deaths: At least 45 people have been killed after Hurricane Ian tore through Florida from Wednesday through Friday.
This is the current CNN death toll by county in Florida:
- Lee County: 16
- Charlotte County: 12
- Collier County: 8
- Volusia County: 4
- Sarasota County: 2
- Lake County: 1
- Manatee County: 1
- Polk County: 1
Power outages: About 1.7 million customers are still without power in four states, including more than 1.2 million in Florida alone. More than 337,000 customers in North Carolina have lost power, mostly in the central region of the state. In South Carolina, about 57,000 customers are without power along the northeast part of the state. In Virginia, more than 91,000 customers have lost power.
A spokesperson for Florida Power & Light said it could take weeks to restore power in Florida’s hardest-hit southwestern areas.
Damage:
This week, Ian left a trail of destruction felt most intensely in Florida’s southwestern coastal communities, including Fort Myers and Naples. Tampa, Orlando and cities along Florida’s northeastern coast were also impacted by downpours, flooding and high winds.
“I made it about two-thirds down the island and I’d say 90% of the island is pretty much gone,” Fort Myers Beach Town Councilman Dan Allers said. “Unless you have a high-rise condo or a newer concrete home that is built to the same standards today, your house is pretty much gone.”
Sanibel and Captiva islands have been cut off from the mainland after parts of a causeway were obliterated by the storm.
See striking before-and-after images here.
Storm surge also set records for the highest water levels ever observed in multiple locations, such as Fort Myers and Naples.
Radar estimates suggest well over 12 inches of rain fell in just 12 to 24 hours in a wide swath from Port Charlotte to Orlando. In some of the hardest-hit locations, Hurricane Ian produced 1-in-1,000-year rainfall, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Authorities in South Carolina began cataloging damage on Pawleys Island, a coastal town roughly 70 miles north of Charleston. The biggest concern there, according to the mayor, is how to remove debris so the island can be safe again.
“It was a Category 1 hurricane, but we experienced tremendous storm surge today, probably beyond what most people anticipated,” Mayor Brian Henry told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Friday.
Recovery: As residents go back to homes that in some cases have been splintered or flooded out due to the storm, hundreds of rescues have taken place as federal, state and local crews work to help recovery efforts.
The US Coast Guard has rescued more than 275 people in Florida, according to Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, and hundreds of additional rescues were being performed by teams from FEMA and local and state agencies. But post-storm conditions remain a huge challenge, he told CNN on Friday.
“We’re flying and we’re operating in areas that are unrecognizable. There’s no street signs. They don’t look like they used to look like. Buildings that were once benchmarks in the community are no longer there,” he said.
In a speech Friday at the White House, President Biden said it could take years for some places to rebuild. “We’re just beginning to see the scale of that destruction,” he said.
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