Hurricane Ian Updates: 'Largely Unscathed' Tampa Airport to Reopen Friday (2024)

• After being briefly downgraded to a tropical storm, Hurricane Ian was once again declared a hurricane at a Category 1 level by Thursday evening.
• An estimated 2.5 million customers were still without power Thursday evening in Florida, while much of the southwestern portion of the state was hit by catastrophic flooding.
• Videos posted online show entire homes appearing to float down streets after being torn away from their foundations by the storm's surging floodwaters.
• President Joe Biden declared that a major disaster exists in Florida on Thursday, ordering federal aid to support recovery efforts.
• Ian is thought to be one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the U.S.

Live updates have ended.

07:05 PM EDT

'Largely Unscathed' Tampa Airport to Reopen Friday

Tampa International Airport "did not sustain any serious damage" during Hurricane Ian and is preparing to reopen at 10 a.m. ET on Friday.

The airport closed on Tuesday ahead of the storm's arrival. Tampa Bay was initially expected to bear the brunt of the storm, but the hurricane made landfall further south along Florida's west coast.

"We feel very lucky to have come out on the other side of this largely unscathed and are eager to restart operations after such a fraught and anxious week," Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano said in a Thursday press release.

Another airport executive told the Tampa-based television news station WFLA-TV that damage assessments revealed some roof leaks but no significant damage.

Tampa International warned that Friday is expected to be a busy travel day and encouraged passengers to arrive at the airport two hours before their anticipated flight departure time.

As airport staff prepared Tampa International to resume operations on Friday, Orlando International Airport shared an update on social media Thursday morning that said its reopening time will depend upon how quickly a full damage assessment can be completed. Orlando International's Thursday morning update said the airport anticipated reopening "sometime" on Friday but had not provided an exact time by Thursday evening.

06:45 PM EDT

Search and Rescue Teams Already Deployed in NC

Some search and rescue crews have already been deployed in North Carolina in anticipation of Hurricane Ian's arrival.

The hurricane, which was downgraded to a tropical storm for several hours on Thursday before returning to Category 1 hurricane strength by about 5 p.m., is expected to make landfall along the coast of South Carolina. The National Weather Service predicted Hurricane Ian will bring "life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds" to North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia after first landing in and traveling across Florida.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Wednesday and encouraged North Carolina residents to pay close attention to the weather on Thursday.

Cooper said during a Thursday afternoon press conference that search and rescue teams had already been deployed across the state by Thursday evening, according to The Herald Sun.

In an updates thread on Twitter, Cooper said he also activated 80 of the state's National Guard troops to assist in North Carolina's response to the hurricane.

06:20 PM EDT

'Don't Be a Statistic,' SC Governor Warns

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster warned residents to "be careful" and "don't be a statistic" as his state prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Ian.

The storm, which was downgraded to a tropical storm for most of Thursday before reaching hurricane force again Thursday afternoon, is expected to make landfall in South Carolina on Friday at about 8 a.m. ET, McMaster said during a Thursday afternoon press briefing. With high tide occurring at about noon on Friday in Charleston, McMaster said officials are aware there will be "a lot of water" in the area.

The state is prepared for the hurricane's arrival, McMaster said, adding that the "real danger" is "human error."

"We know that we can handle this if we use our heads and follow the rules," McMaster said. "Be careful, be smart. Don't be a statistic, and we'll do just fine."

06:00 PM EDT

Aerial Footage Shows Devastation in Lee County

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno shared aerial footage on social media Thursday showing the extent of Hurricane Ian's impact on Lee County in southwestern Florida.

The video, which Marceno posted on Twitter, was filmed during an aerial tour Marceno took Thursday morning so he could assess the damage caused by the storm.

Over the course of 1 minute and 32 seconds, the video shows smoke rising from some buildings along the water's edge. Debris coats the landscape in other parts of the county, where buildings appear to have been destroyed or washed away in the floodwater. The video also shows significant damage along the Sanibel Causeway, which connects Sanibel Island to the rest of Lee County.

"We are devastated," Marceno's tweet said. "Our hearts go out to every resident who is impacted."

Marceno said his office "will stop at nothing" to assist Lee County residents as hurricane recovery efforts begin.

05:40 PM EDT

Rescues Exceed 500 in Charlotte, Lee Counties

More than 500 people were rescued in Charlotte and Lee counties by Thursday afternoon following Hurricane Ian's arrival in Florida one day earlier.

A search and rescue update provided by the Florida Division of Emergency Management said rescue totals for the two counties topped 500 from the time rescue operations began early Thursday morning through 2 p.m. ET.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said search and rescue efforts began at about 1 a.m. local time on Thursday, with "dozens" of rescues made during those early hours. Among those participating in rescue efforts were an urban search team, the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard troops from Florida and neighboring states, and local law enforcement officers, according to DeSantis' office.

Search and rescue operations are "ongoing" as the state's hurricane response continues, the state emergency management division said.

05:20 PM EDT

Ian Returns to Hurricane Strength

Hurricane Ian reached Category 1 hurricane strength once again Thursday afternoon after weather experts downgraded it to a tropical storm several hours earlier.

Ian was a Category 4 hurricane when it made landfall in Florida Wednesday afternoon but was downgraded as the storm made its way across the state. By 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said the storm had once again become a hurricane. The storm's maximum sustained windspeed was cited as 75 miles per hour.

Following its path through Florida, the NHC said Hurricane Ian is next "taking aim" at North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The hurricane is expected to bring "life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds."

05:00 PM EDT

Orange County Search and Rescue Efforts Ongoing

Emergency crews and law enforcement officials headed out across Orange County in Florida on Thursday in the wake of Hurricane Ian to conduct search and rescue efforts, which were ongoing as of Thursday afternoon.

The Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) posted several videos on social media showing deputies walking through floodwater and riding in high-water rescue vehicles as they traveled the county looking for residents in need of assistance. In one photo, four members of the OCSO's emergency response team could be seen wading through waist-deep floodwater while assisting with evacuation efforts in the Orlo Vista area.

"Deputies are knocking on doors and searching for anyone who wants to leave their home because of flooding," the OCSO wrote in one tweet. "Water in many places is waist deep."

The sheriff's office also shared a video filmed inside a high-rise rescue vehicle, from which the driver was broadcasting instructions on how people nearby who needed help could be evacuated.

Throughout Thursday morning and into the afternoon, the OCSO shared images of rescued residents and their pets after deputies had helped them to the safety of the high-water rescue vehicles.

The Florida National Guard, the Orlando Police Department and Orange County Fire Rescue also sent personnel on search and rescue missions throughout the day and posted some photos and videos of those efforts on their social media pages.

04:32 PM EDT

Officials Warn of Wild Animals in Floodwaters

Officials are urging residents in areas impacted by Hurricane Ian to be safe amid continued flooding.

Beside the risk of drowning or encounters with downed power lines, Florida authorities also warn of encounters with wild animals lurking in the floodwaters.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said alligators, snakes and other wildlife may be seen in floodwaters.

"Keep them at a distance and give them space" the FWC said in a tweet.

"The best way people can stay safe and help wildlife under storm conditions is to be alert and give wildlife their space," FWC said. "People should not attempt a wildlife rescue during or after a hurricane or tropical storm if that would place them in a potentially dangerous situation."

The FWC also asked residents to call them if they see any abandoned manatees.

Florida Poison Control told residents to watch out for hidden snakes and insects when cleaning up debris from Hurricane Ian.

04:01 PM EDT

Photos Show Destruction of Storm

Communities across southwestern Florida woke up Thursday to flooding and massive destruction in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Homes were flooded, marinas full of boats have been overturned and debris from homes and business are scattered from beaches to downtowns.

Hundreds of trees were topples by the high winds. Tree limbs fell onto homes and knocked down power lines across the area.

Crews are working to clear the debris and restore power to the over two million costumers experiencing outages.

City streets remain flooded as the life-threatening storm surge recedes.

Entire residential areas, especially mobile home communities, are demolished.

Search and rescue crews have been working since the early hours of the morning.

Crews wadded through several feet of water to pick up residents, including families with small children, on boats and transport them to safety.

03:34 PM EDT

Video Shows Transformer Exploding Near Reporter

A video clip shared online by WFLA-TV in Tampa showed a transformer exploding behind one of the station's reporters early Thursday morning.

The reporter and a photojournalist were preparing to go live in the Riverview area when the station's camera caught a sudden burst of light from a transformer as it exploded. Sparks flew from the explosion, and the shot briefly went dark in the pre-dawn light before another explosion followed.

The station said its news team filmed "several" transformers exploding.

Further south in Charlotte County, a reporter with WOFL-TV shared footage of a lighting store that was destroyed as Hurricane Ian passed through the area. The reporter identified the store, located in Port Charlotte, as Light Ideas. The footage showed tons of debris outside the building, exploded store windows and most lighting pieces inside completely destroyed or damaged.

03:02 PM EDT

Tampa, St. Pete-Clearwater Airports to Reopen

Two Florida airports are set to reopen after Hurricane Ian has passed over the west coast of the state.

Tampa International Airport will reopen at 10 a.m. om Friday, Sept. 30.

Airport maintenance and operations staff inspected the airfield and facilities Thursday morning. The airport did not sustain any serious damage during the storm.

Staff and aircrafts removed ahead of the storm will return to the airport tomorrow morning. All parking lots, the rental car center and TSA security check points will be operational.

The airport advises travelers to expect high volume of passengers and to allow at least two hours before their flight departs.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport terminals and parking lots will also reopen Friday morning.

No significant damage was reported at the airport after the facility underwent an assessment to reopen.

02:30 PM EDT

Buccaneers to Play in Tampa Bay on Sunday

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers said Thursday the team's Sunday home game against the Kansas City Chiefs will proceed as scheduled following earlier concerns that the game would need to be moved due to Hurricane Ian.

Earlier this week, the Tampa Bay team temporarily relocated to Miami to use the Dolphins' practice facilities as the hurricane approached Florida. While storm projections initially suggested Tampa Bay would receive the brunt of the hurricane's force, a change in the storm's trajectory meant the area was "spared the most damaging consequences of this powerful storm," the Buccaneers said in a statement released on Thursday.

"We have informed the NFL, after consulting with local and state agencies, that we are ready to play Sunday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium as originally scheduled," the team's statement said.

01:58 PM EDT

Biden Signs Law to Protect FEMA Reservists

President Biden signed a new law that will offer more protection for FEMA reservists.

The "Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act of 2021," or the "CREW Act," grants employment protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to FEMA reservists who deploy to major disaster sites, the White House said in a statement.

Biden said this law will ensure FEMA reservists have the same job protections as military reservists.

With this law, FEMA reservists can focus on the mission without worrying if they will lose their day job or receive any other job penalties, Biden said.

He said the hope is that this new measure will encourage more civilian reservists who will make FEMA and America "stronger."

Before making remarks at FEMA headquarters this afternoon, Biden took a moment to thank the FEMA personnel in the room.

"You're doing a hell of a job," he told them.

01:46 PM EDT

Biden Plans to Meet With DeSantis in Florida

During public remarks delivered Thursday afternoon about Hurricane Ian's impacts on Florida, President Joe Biden said he plans to visit the state and meet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis once conditions improve.

Speaking at FEMA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Biden said he spoke with DeSantis earlier Thursday and has spoken with the Republican governor "four or five times already" since the hurricane started moving in.

Biden thanked the emergency crews who have already begun conducting search and rescue operations and said that, "When the conditions allow it, I'm going to be going to Florida to thank them personally, so that we don't get in the way."

In response to a reporter who asked whether Biden plans to meet with DeSantis, Biden said he will "meet with anybody who's around."

"The answer is yes," Biden added.

Before concluding his remarks, Biden was again asked about his communication with DeSantis, who is viewed by many political experts as a possible challenger for the presidency in 2024.

"He complimented me, he thanked me for the immediate response we had. He told me how much he appreciated it, said he was extremely happy with what's going on," Biden said. "This is not about anything having to do with our disagreements politically. This is about saving people's lives, homes and businesses."

01:21 PM EDT

Biden Ensures Puerto Rico Will Not Be Forgotten

While the country is focused on the devastation Hurricane Ian left behind in Florida, President Biden ensured Puerto Rico that it will not be forgotten.

Biden said the federal government is committed to the people of Puerto Rico and to the recovery of the island in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona.

"We're not going away. I am committed to you and the recovery of the island and will stand by you for however long it takes," Biden said.

The president said he intends to visit Puerto Rico.

01:16 PM EDT

Biden 'Grateful' for Search and Rescue Teams

President Biden said search and rescue efforts in Florida have been underway since dawn.

"In face of danger, search and rescue crews started first thing this morning," he said at FEMA headquarters.

Biden said there have been 16 rescue helicopters and 18 rescue boats and crews deployed in southwest Florida.

The president said he is "grateful" for the brave men and woman of the Coast Guard and National Guard who are embarking on these dangerous missions.

01:06 PM EDT

Biden Says Reports Indicate 'Substantial Loss of Life'

President Joe Biden says early reports indicate there may be "substantial loss of life" in Florida as a result of Hurricane Ian.

"This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history," Biden said Thursday afternoon while delivering remarks from FEMA headquarters.

The number of fatalities resulting from the hurricane is "still unclear," Biden said, and dangers from the hurricane are ongoing as it continues making its way across the state after making landfall Wednesday afternoon.

12:49 PM EDT

Charlotte County Confirms Six Fatalities

Officials say there are confirmed fatalities in Charlotte County, Florida.

There are six confirmed deaths in the county amid the flooding and destruction from Hurricane Ian, Charlotte County Commissioner Christopher Constance told CNN Thursday.

He said he learned of this casualty report during a morning briefing, but had no other details to share. It is unknown at the time the cause of deaths or if they were related the storm.

Constance also said the county is experiencing issues with running water and several shelters had to be evacuated due to storm damage.

County officials urge residents to be safe and stay off the roads, as "deadliest time of a hurricane happens post-storm."

Charlotte County is currently under a boil water notice, in effect until further notice.

12:44 PM EDT

WATCH: Biden on Latest Response to Florida

President Joe Biden will soon provide an update on the latest federal response efforts to areas ravaged by Hurricane Ian.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) briefed Biden on the impacts from Hurricane Ian and response efforts at noon today, according to a White House schedule.

Biden is set to deliver remarks at 12:45 p.m. ET from Washington, D.C. Watch live here or below:

12:40 PM EDT

Orange County Nursing Home Evacuated

Rescue crews conducted an emergency evacuation of a skilled nursing facility in Orange County, Florida, Thursday morning amid concerns about rising floodwater levels.

Orange County Fire Rescue shared multiple videos of the evacuation effort on Twitter. In the videos, crews could be seen sloshing through floodwater that appeared to deepen as they approached the facility, called Avante at Orlando. Some vehicles parked in the facility parking lot showed the floodwater reaching about halfway up their tires.

Several emergency vehicles were seen in the video parked along the road outside the facility parking lot. Shuttles were also seen waiting on the road to load facility residents as emergency crews rolled them through the parking lot. It was not immediately clear how many residents were evacuated.

Shortly after 10 a.m. ET, Orange County Fire Rescue tweeted another video showing emergency crews' jackets flapping in the wind.

"Winds appear to be picking up as crews work quickly to safely evacuate Avante at Orlando nursing home," the department wrote.

12:20 PM EDT

Volusia County Man Died of Apparent Drowning During Storm

Volusia County officials are urging residents to be safe during the storm after confirming the county's first Hurricane Ian-related death.

The Volusia County Sheriff confirmed that a 72-year-old man from Deltona died Wednesday night after he went outside during the storm to drain his pool.

Deputies responded to a home on Poinciana Lane near Lake Bethel around 1 a.m. after the victim's wife reported he disappeared after heading outside, the sheriff's office said in a report.

"While searching for him, deputies found his flashlight, then spotted the victim unresponsive in a canal behind the home," the report said.

After deputies pulled him from the water, they performed CPR until paramedic arrives. Unfortunately, the victim could not be revived. Officials said he died of an apparent drowning.

The sheriff's office said the initial investigation indicated the victims used a hose to drain the pool down a hill into a 30-foot-wide canal. There was a steep decline into the water that was "extremely soft and slippery due to the heavy rain."

Volusia County officials are urges residents to stay safe and avoid going outside during the storm. Roads and bridges are closed due to flooding, downed trees and high winds.

Tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain is expected in the area through the weekend.

A "common sense curfew" is in effect across the county. It has been extended until 7 a.m. Friday.

"Please stay indoors and off the roads for your safety and for the safety of all our first responders," the sheriff's office said.

12:00 PM EDT

Over 2.6M Customers in Florida Without Power

More than 2.6 million customers in Florida were without power midday Thursday, according to PowerOutage.US.

The data compilation website said 2,617,257 customers throughout the state were without power as of 11:44 a.m. ET. Most of the outages were reported along the southwestern coast of Florida, close to where Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday. Data showed nearly all power customers in Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee and Highlands counties were experiencing outages, as were most customers in several surrounding counties.

Before the hurricane hit, DeSantis said more than 42,000 linemen were ready to step up to assist with power restoration efforts across the state once it was safe to do so.

Florida Power & Light Company, which PowerOutage.US cites as providing power to more than 5.7 million of the more than 11.1 million customers the website tracks throughout Florida, posted power assessment and restoration updates on its Twitter account in the wake of Hurricane Ian's arrival. The company said its employees were on the job early Thursday morning after working on assessment efforts overnight. "We are working around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible," one of the company's tweets said.

11:33 AM EDT

South Carolina Under Hurricane Warning

Tropical Storm Ian is expected to strengthen again to a hurricane as it moves further north towards the South Carolina coast.

The National Hurricane Center issued a Hurricane Warning for the entire coast of South Carolina.

AccuWeather meteorologists warn the storm could strengthen to a Category 1 hurricane.

Hurricane-force winds are expected across the South Carolina coast beginning Friday. Flooding is also expected in the eastern part of the state through the end of the week.

The National Weather Service (NWS) station in Charleston, SC forecasts two to five feet of storm surge, minor to moderate coastal flooding and high risk of rip currents at beaches Thursday ahead of Ian's landfall in South Carolina.

11:16 AM EDT

FEMA Says 9 Lee County Hospitals Are Without Water

At least nine hospitals in Lee County are without water Thursday, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell said Thursday.

Criswell told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that she received reports that Lee County's water has been disrupted.

She said there are hospitals that "have no water."

"We know there's nine hospitals in Lee county that the state is looking at right now to determine whether or not we're going to be able to get water restored to them." she said.

Otherwise, Criswell said those hospitals will need to be evacuated.

11:03 AM EDT

Nearly 2,000 U.S. Flights Canceled

Nearly 2,000 flights in the U.S. have already been canceled this morning, as several Florida airports remain closed due to Hurricane Ian.

There were 1,987 cancellations within, into, or out of U.S. Thursday by 10:45 a.m. ET, according to Flight Aware. The flight tracking website also listed 987 other flights within, into, or out of U.S. have been delayed.

Orlando International Airport topped the list with the most cancellations, with 415 canceled out of the airport and another 413 headed to Orlando canceled. The airport suspended commercial operations at 10:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, ahead of Ian's landfall. Operations will continue to be "halted" Thursday, the airport said this morning.

"A damage assessment is taking place throughout our airport and facilities," an airport tweet says. "All roads leading into Orlando International Airport are closed due to flooding at this time."

Tampa International Airport is listed as having the second most cancellations this morning. The website shows 189 flights headed to Tampa were canceled and another 189 out of Tampa were also canceled.

Tampa International also remains closed Thursday.

"Damage assessments are underway at our facilities," the airport tweeted Thursday morning. "We are closely coordinating our reopening with the FAA, TSA, airlines, and other partners based on roadway safety, facility readiness, and required staffing."

The airport plans to provide a reopening date later today.

10:46 AM EDT

Fort Myers 'Devastated' by Flooding, Storm Surge

Damage assessments are underway in the Fort Myers area Thursday morning after Hurricane Ian ripped through the area.

Storm surge knocked around docked boats. Some were destroyed and others were pushed up against a causeway or into coastal homes. There was also substantial damage to docks and other coastal structures.

The streets remain flooded Thursday. Some areas received over a foot of rain in just 24 hours and Fort Myers clocked wind speeds of 100 mph Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Water levels remain high and debris from knocked down trees and roofs are still scattered across the downtown area, according to local reporters.

Search and rescue efforts are underway in Fort Myers and the rest of Lee County.

The Coast Guard and National Guard were "pulling people off of roofs" in Fort Myers with aircrafts Thursday, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson told CNN. He said air crews have rescued at least 13 people between Fort Myers and St. Petersburg since Wednesday

Florida Ron DeSantis said the impacts of this storm are "historic."

"We've never seen a flood event like this we've never seen a storm surge of this magnitude," he said, adding that the flooding and storm surge will "end up doing extensive damage to peoples homes."

DeSantis said Fort Myers was especially "devastated" by the hurricane.

10:16 AM EDT

Lee County Sheriff Estimates 'Hundreds' of Fatalities

Lee County may have "hundreds" of fatalities amid the destruction of Hurricane Ian, the county's sheriff said Thursday.

"So while I don't have confirmed numbers, I definitely know fatalities are in the hundreds," Sheriff Carmine Marceno told "Good Morning America."

He said there are "thousands of people" waiting to be rescued. Marceno said he cannot give a "true assessment" until his teams are on the scene to assess the situation. Unfortunately, teams are unable to access many areas.

"We're accessing the bridges, seeing what's compromised and what's not," he said. "And this will be a life-changing event for the men and women who are responding. They're going to see things they've never seen before."

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis clarified this figure from Lee County. During a press briefing Thursday morning, DeSantis said he is aware of two unconfirmed fatalities that officials don't know are linked to the storm.

"Our assumption is it likely is," he said.

DeSantis said the number put out by Lee County is an estimate based off of 911 calls police received from people who had water rising on their home and "may not have ended up getting through."

09:47 AM EDT

Storm Surge Wipes Away Part of Sanibel Causeway

A section of the Sanibel Causeway was swept away by Hurricane Ian.

The causeway is the only way to get to and from Sanibel and Captiva Islands from the Florida mainland by car.

The strong storm surge from Ian wipes away an approximately 50 to 60 foot section of the causeway. Local reporters said this is part of the A section on the first portion of the bridge.

During a press briefing Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the Sanibel Causeway and Pine Island Bridge are "not passable and they are going to require structural rebuilds."

It is unclear how many people remain on the barrier island.

09:08 AM EDT

National Weather Service Issues Hazard Warning

The National Weather Service (NWS) has given advice on how to remain safe after Tropical Storm Ian, previously a Category 4 hurricane, has passed.

The federal agency tweeted: "Hurricane dangers remain ever after the storm. Watch out for downed power lines and damaged buildings. Avoid floodwaters as they can hide a variety of dangers, and never drive through them, as it doesn't take much to sweep your car away."

This was accompanied by a graphic urging Floridians not to enter damaged buildings; approach downed power lines or go through flood water.

It said: "Do not enter a damaged building until local authorities say it's safe. Leave your home if there's shifting or unusual noises. If you smell gas, get outdoors immediately and call 911.

"Stay far away from damaged power lines, whether they're fallen to the ground or are dangling overhead."

The NWS also urges those in effected areas not to work or drive through floodwaters, because: "They can contain harmful bacteria, chemicals, sharp objects, live wires and reptiles/other animals. It only takes 12 inches of fast-moving water to sweep a car away."

08:08 AM EDT

More Than 2.5 Million Floridians Have Lost Power

The number of Florida customers without power has increased to 2.59 million, according to the PowerOutage.US website.

This is out of a maximum of just over 11 million customers who are recorded by the site.

A number of counties in southwestern and central Florida have near 100 percent blackouts, with Hardee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Lee, Highlands and Okeechobee the worst hit.

In Orange County, which includes Orlando, about 170,000 people are without power out of a total of 633,000.

On Twitter, energy company Florida Power & Light said some of its infrastructure needs to be rebuilt after Hurricane Ian struck.

They said: "Hurricane Ian's catastrophic winds will mean parts of our system will need to be rebuilt – not restored.

"Be prepared for widespread, extended outages as we are assessing the damage. We are already at work restoring power where we can do so safely."

08:04 AM EDT

New Flash Flood Emergency Declared for Sanford, Lake Mary, and Heathrow

A new National Weather Service (NWS) "flash flood emergency" warning has been issued for a number of areas in eastern Florida, including Sanford, Lake Mary, and Heathrow.

The warning said: "This is a particularly dangerous situation! Water rescues and life threatening flash flooding is occurring. Seek higher ground now if in or around this area."

The NWS warning will remain in force until 8.15 am EDT later this morning.

Another NWS flash flood emergency remains in place for Little Weikiva, with "the river level now reportedly above the previous record level."

Anyone in this area is instructed to "seek higher ground" to guard from "a particularly dangerous situation." This emergency declaration remains in place until 8.45am EDT.

Separately, an NWS flash flood warning remains in place for Pine Hills, Kissimmee and Apopka until 9.30am EDT. Orlando is covered by another flash flood warning until 8.15am EDT.

07:59 AM EDT

President Biden Declares Major Disaster Across Florida

President Biden has declared that a "major disaster exists in the State of Florida," due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian, and has "ordered Federal aid" to support relief efforts.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the declaration had been signed overnight.

The declaration said: "Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Ian beginning on September 23, 2022, and continuing.

"The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota.

"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster."

Funding will also be made available to local government and some non-profit organizations to deal with "debris removal" in nine counties, as well as "emergency protective measures statewide."

Thomas J. McCool has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for relief efforts.

07:05 AM EDT

Ian Downgraded to Tropical Storm

Ian has been downgraded from a Category 1 hurricane to a Tropical Storm by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), meaning it has maximum sustained winds of between 39-73 miles per hour.

This is a big fall from Wednesday afternoon, when Ian crashed into Florida's west coast as a Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 150 miles per hour.

However, the storm remains very dangerous, with the NHC warning: "There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge today through Friday along the coasts of northeast Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.

"Tropical storm force winds are expected to spread northward across northeastern Florida, Georgia, and the Carolina coasts through Friday."

More "life-threatening catastrophic flooding" is expected in central Florida today, with "considerable flooding" forecast for "northern Florida, southeastern Georgia and eastern South Carolina" until the end of this week.

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