Hurricane Ian: Revived storm pounds South Carolina as death toll rises to 27
Flooding continued in central Florida as storm barrelled through state before gathering strength
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A revived Hurricane Ian battered South Carolina, bringing heavy rains and flooded streets as the death toll in the US from one of its costliest storms climbed to 27.
The storm barrelled through western Cuba and raked across Florida before gathering strength in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean to curve back and strike South Carolina.
While the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone earlier on Friday, the agency warned river flooding will continue through next week across central Florida. Meanwhile, president Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for South Carolina.
The storm hit Florida as one of the most powerful hurricanes in the state’s history, with wind speeds nearly reaching Category 5.
Nearly 2 million people in Florida were left without power – and economic losses could amount to $120bn, according to an estimate.
Hurricane Ian death toll rises
IndependentTV has the latest on tropical storm Ian as it continues to wreak havoc across Florida.
Hurricane Ian death toll rises as 2.5 million left without power
Hurricane Ian has left at least five people dead and 2.5 million trapped at home without electricity, after battering Florida with 155mph winds as it made landfall late on Wednesday 28 September. The near-Category 5 hurricane ripped off roofs, flooded streets and homes, collapsed a bridge and damaged power lines. “We have received a major disaster declaration for nine counties, but we do expect more,” Florida governor Ron DeSantis said in a briefing on Thursday (29 September). In some areas emergency services are still waiting for winds to drop before response can begin. Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
Follow live: Traffic cam shows Tropical Storm Ian battering central Florida
As millions remain without power, warnings over generators
The National Hurricane Center has issued a warning to those using generators as more than 2.6 million people in Florida remained without power.
“Many residents in Florida are starting recovery in the aftermath of #Ian & many will use Generators to provide power,” the agency tweeted on Thursday.
“We want to stress these Generator safety tips. Unfortunately, many indirect fatalities in hurricanes have occured after the fact due to improper generator use.”
Live: Biden receives Hurricane Ian briefing at Fema
Watch as President Joe Biden receives an update on Hurricane Ian’s destructive path across Florida.
BREAKING: Charleston is ‘shutting down’ ahead of Hurricane Ian
The mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, is asking his city to shut down on Friday as storm Ian approaches.
“There will be water tomorrow in this city,” Mayor John Tecklenburg said.
No evacuations have been ordered in South Carolina, with Ian forecast to make landfall a second time on Friday along the state’s coast as a minimal hurricane.
Forecasters warn several feet of ocean water could surge into low areas along the coast, like Charleston.
The flooding could rival or even slightly exceed recent hurricanes.
Associated Press
Ian to bring ‘life-threatening’ flooding and storm surge to Georgia and Carolinas
The latest National Hurricane Center warning says that Ian is expected to bring “life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds across portions of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.”
The NHC said at 2pm ET that Ian is 275 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina, traveling 9mph with current maximum sustained winds of 70mph.
Major flooding at hotel at Universal Studios
Video of major flooding at a hotel at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, was posted by Spectrum News 13.
Clean up starts in parts of western Florida
Workers clean debris in front of a house after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Bartow, Florida
Scenes of destruction across Florida in wake of Ian
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