Thousands of residents have been asked to evacuate parts of South Florida as Tropical Storm Nicole approaches the state&#8217;s east coast.
Mandatory evacuations are in place for two zones in Palm Beach County, with many other voluntary evacuations in place for those in the state&#8217;s barrier islands and low-lying areas.
&#8220;Palm Beach County is announcing evacuations for Zone A and B,&#8221; Palm Beach County Mayor Robert Weinroth said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. &#8220;This includes mobile homes, barrier islands, and low-lying areas.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/SkVIb6Nos8">https://t.co/SkVIb6Nos8</a>
&mdash; Palm Beach County (@pbcgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pbcgov/status/1590056880638169089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Palm Beach County <a href="https://discover.pbcgov.org/Lists/Newsroom/NewsDispForm.aspx?ID=4595&amp;RootFolder=%2FLists%2FNewsroom&amp;Source=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscover%2Epbcgov%2Eorg%2FPages%2Fdefault%2Easpx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remains</a> under a hurricane warning. Emergency shelters have been opened at several local public schools across the area.
&#8220;In anticipation of Tropical Storm Nicole, and consistent with all county offices, all county-operated parks, beaches and recreational facilities will be closed on Wednesday, November 9 and Thursday, November 10,&#8221; <a href="https://discover.pbcgov.org/Lists/Newsroom/NewsDispForm.aspx?ID=4597&amp;RootFolder=%2FLists%2FNewsroom&amp;Source=https%3A%2F%2Fdiscover%2Epbcgov%2Eorg%2FPages%2Fdefault%2Easpx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> the county.
Palm Beach County&#8217;s school district is closed through Wednesday, and Palm Beach Atlantic University will be <a href="https://www.pba.edu/campus-life/health-wellness/safety/hurricane-and-storm-updates.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">closed</a> through Friday.
Palm Beach County is not the only area shutting down due to the storm threat. Officials in Volusia County issued mandatory evacuations for people east of the Intracoastal Waterway.
&#8220;Storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is expected, possibly higher in some areas. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected, with peak amounts up to 8 inches of rain,&#8221; a Wednesday Volusia County <a href="https://www.volusia.org/news/news-releases.stml?portalProcess_dd_0_1_1=showPublicPosting&amp;calendar_entry_id=85786" target="_blank" rel="noopener">update</a> read. &#8220;The probability for Tropical Storm winds has increased with a small chance of hurricane force winds. Coastal Volusia can expect wind gusts up to 60 to 70 mph, with slightly decreasing intensity of winds further inland. Timing of the arrival of tropical force winds is about 3 p.m. today.&#8221;
Voluntary evacuations are also in place for <a href="https://www.sjcfl.us/Hurricane/index.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">St. Johns County</a>, including St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach, along with other counties along the eastern coast of the state.
Orlando International Airport, the state&#8217;s busiest airport, also announced on social media that it will shut down operations beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday due to expected weather concerns.
&#8220;We will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Nicole to determine the potential impact at MCO,&#8221; the account read. &#8220;We ask you to please continue to work with your airline directly in regards to your specific flights.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Operational Update &#8211; Tropical Storm Nicole Reminder: Today at 4 pm, commercial operations will cease at our airport. We&#39;ll continue to monitor the storm&#39;s path and we&#39;ll post updates as they become available. Please contact your airline for specific flight information.
&mdash; Orlando International Airport (@MCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/MCO/status/1590360488856068097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Many residents across Florida are still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which struck the Gulf Coast at the end of September. The storm devastated Fort Myers Beach, destroying the pier. The causeway to Sanibel Island was also destroyed.
Ian moved across the state and up the eastern side of Florida where it returned to hurricane strength and slammed into the Carolina coast. More than 100 people were killed in Florida and North Carolina during the hurricane.

Tropical Storm Nicole

Evacuations Announced In South Florida Ahead Of Tropical Storm Nicole

Florida

Hurricane

Natural Disaster

Severe Weather

President <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/joe-biden/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joe Biden</a> arrived in Fort Myers, Florida, on Wednesday to survey the damage caused by last week&#8217;s <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane-ian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Ian</a> — and a hot mic caught him delivering a spicy remark along with his promise of federal help.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden traveled to the Sunshine State after Ian&#8217;s high winds and devastating storm surge dealt billions of dollars in damages to Florida, with much of the devastation focused on the Gulf Coast near Fort Myers and the surrounding areas.
Digital strategist Greg Price captured video of the hot-mic moment and shared it in a tweet, which he captioned, &#8220;Biden says on hot mic: &#8216;No one f***s with a Biden &#8230;’”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Biden says on hot mic: &quot;No one fucks with a Biden&#8230;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Oo814Z8JY1">pic.twitter.com/Oo814Z8JY1</a>
&mdash; Greg Price (@greg_price11) <a href="https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1577741032707571715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Biden, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, could be seen shaking hands with Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy, who wore a bucket hat and sunglasses, and the audio first captured Murphy thanking Biden for making the trip.
&#8220;Thanks for everything,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Thanks for coming down, we appreciate it.&#8221;
The next few comments were unintelligible, but after a moment, Biden laughs, &#8220;No one f***s with a Biden.&#8221;
&#8220;You&#8217;re God damn right,&#8221; Murphy laughed.
&#8220;And you can&#8217;t argue with your brothers outside the house,&#8221; Biden replied then, to which the mayor said, &#8220;That&#8217;s exactly right, that&#8217;s exactly right.&#8221;
Critics were quick to suggest that there were a number of people who did, in fact, &#8220;f*** with a Biden,&#8221; taking to Twitter to provide examples.
&#8220;LOL, except OPEC, Saudis, Russia, China, and DJT,&#8221; @RDog861 tweeted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
LOL, except OPEC, Saudis, Russia, China, and DJT. <a href="https://t.co/CMKpGodnC3">https://t.co/CMKpGodnC3</a>
&mdash; R T (@RDog861) <a href="https://twitter.com/RDog861/status/1577746721085345792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Except the Taliban,&#8221; came from @JTlol.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Except the Taliban. <a href="https://t.co/iz6YfWWemP">https://t.co/iz6YfWWemP</a>
&mdash; jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) <a href="https://twitter.com/jtLOL/status/1577745434730283009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Except for China &#8230; and Russia &#8230; and Ukraine &#8230; And anyone else who paid them. But away from that, sure,&#8221; Jeff Carlson <a href="https://twitter.com/themarketswork/status/1577743473574191104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tweeted</a>.
&#8220;CCP, Russia, N Korea, OPEC &amp; inflation could not be reached for comment,&#8221; @LibertyLockPod remarked.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CCP, Russia, N Korea, OPEC &amp; inflation could not be reached for comment <a href="https://t.co/PyAUzBad8m">https://t.co/PyAUzBad8m</a>
&mdash; Liberty Lockdown w/ Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) <a href="https://twitter.com/LibertyLockPod/status/1577743233316274179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;Hunter’s entire laptop begs to differ,&#8221; radio host Vince Coglianese <a href="https://twitter.com/VinceCoglianese/status/1577742965426061317" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asserted</a>.
&#8220;If the White House and the Democrats actually let Biden the actual dude be president, he’d probably be hilariously popular — but that’s happened like 4 days in a basically miserable 600,&#8221; @CurtMills <a href="https://twitter.com/CurtMills/status/1577745892597067777" target="_blank" rel="noopener">added</a>.
Biden&#8217;s official remarks appeared to go a bit sideways as well — after saying that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) had done a good job in taking care off the state through the damaging storm, he embarked on a lengthy and rambling story about providing the state with telephone poles that could weather similar conditions.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Biden says DeSantis has done a “remarkable job” and then starts rambling about a telephone pole <a href="https://t.co/0hXHVuj02Y">pic.twitter.com/0hXHVuj02Y</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1577743689346170892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

President Biden Departs The White House To Visit Hurricane Recovery Efforts In Florida

‘No One F***s With A Biden’: President Delivers Spicy Remark Via Hot Mic In Florida

President Biden Delivers Spicy Remark Via Hot Mic In Florida

Biden Administration

Hurricane Ian

Joe Biden

More than 100 people have been confirmed dead in Florida as search and rescue crews continue their efforts following Hurricane Ian.
As of Tuesday, at least 102 people were reported as killed by the hurricane in Florida, with 55 in Lee County, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/04/us/hurricane-ian-florida-recovery-tuesday">according</a> to CNN.
“When you are walking around the ruins, it’s an apocalyptic scene,” Fort Myers Beach City Councilman Bill Veach told CNN. “You see a friend that you weren’t sure was alive or dead and that brings you joy. A joy that is so much more than the loss of property.&#8221;
Despite the tragic loss of life, the governor&#8217;s office has reported over 1,900 rescues as of Monday&#8217;s update by Governor Ron DeSantis (R). Many of the rescues included residents of Sanibel and Captiva Islands off the coast of Fort Myers involving residents who did not evacuate as the only bridge to the mainland was partially destroyed during the hurricane.
Tens of thousands of properties have been checked since the hurricane swept through central Florida, with over 45,000 properties noted in a Monday update.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve been to about every address. We believe that we have searched everything very quickly. Now we are going back for a second look,&#8221; Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida&#8217;s emergency management, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/florida-search-rescue-efforts-redoubled-aftermath-deadly-hurricane-ian-2022-10-03/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Monday.
&#8220;I am not saying we are not going to find anybody else. We may find other people,&#8221; he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Governor DeSantis Delivers an Update on Hurricane Ian in Cape Coral <a href="https://t.co/bghYBOWe6P">https://t.co/bghYBOWe6P</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1577054072326467586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Over 2.5 million Florida homes were without power due to the hurricane. As of Tuesday, about 391,000 homes and businesses remained without power. All customers who can receive power to their homes hoping to have electricity returned by Sunday, <a href="https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1dRJZMwPQRwGB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Schools in 13 counties remained closed as of Monday. Officials expect to return to classrooms in all counties by the end of the week.
In addition to numerous deaths in Florida, four deaths were reported in North Carolina on Monday.
“The storm has passed, but many hazards remain with downed trees, downed power lines and power outages,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper (D) shared in a <a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2022/10/01/storm-cleanup-and-power-restoration-underway-after-hurricane-ian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> on Monday. “We mourn with the families of those who have died and urge everyone to be cautious while cleaning up to avoid more deaths or injuries.”
The statement noted that the four deaths included two separate vehicle accidents related to Ian in Johnston County on Friday. Additionally, a 22-year-old in Martin County died Friday in a vehicle incident that led to drowning, while a 65-year-old in Johnston County died on Saturday after a generator was left running in a closed garage.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are expected to visit Florida on Wednesday to meet with state leaders and those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Fort Myers Beach

Hurricane Ian Death Toll Passes 100 In Florida

Death

North Carolina

Ron DeSantis

As Hurricane Ian decimated the Gulf Coast of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida">Florida</a> last week, a woman in Fort Myers swam to safety in 10-foot-deep waters with her three-month-old son swaddled in a blanket and secured in a car seat that she tucked inside a storage bin.
&#8220;Terrifying,&#8221; Callie Brown told <a href="https://www.ksbw.com/article/mainer-fl-tucks-baby-plastic-bin-survival-hurricane-ian/41506544">KSBW 8 Actions News</a>, which first reported her story. &#8220;The most terrifying thing I&#8217;ve ever gone through my entire life.&#8221;
Brown&#8217;s video footage shared with the local media outlet showed the vantage point from her attic, where she and her partner, Chad Duckwall, and their 3-month-old son Charlie took refuge as the Category 4 hurricane caused ocean waters and massive rainfall to batter Florida&#8217;s western coastline.
Brown said her &#8220;mom instincts&#8221; kicked in when she found a plastic storage tote filled with Christmas decorations that she immediately emptied before creating a safeguard for Charlie.
&#8220;He was such a little trooper.&#8221; Brown said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t even cry.&#8221;
While caring for her son, Duckwall found another storage bin he used for the family cat as they floated toward a neighbor&#8217;s house on higher ground for safety.
Brown said they were caught in the eye wall of the hurricane at the time of the escape, which produced up to 150-mile-per-hour winds causing debris to fly all around them.
Thankfully, she said, no one was hurt.
&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know if we were going to make it — to be totally honest,&#8221; Brown said. &#8220;I remember looking at Chad and just saying, &#8216;I don&#8217;t want to die. I don&#8217;t want to die.'&#8221;
The next day, they returned to their home to assess the damage caused by Florida&#8217;s fifth most powerful storm to hit the U.S. mainland, which brought 250-500mm (10-20 inches) of rainfall and storm surges of 12-15ft that drove 1.7 million people from their homes, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/03/hurricane-ian-cost-death-toll-florida">The Guardian</a>.
Brown and Duckwall hoped to salvage their belongings, but most of the stuff had been displaced or damaged, noting their couch landed on the kitchen counter, and the dining room table moved into the living room.
The family will stay with one of their relatives in a condo until they can rebuild and recover from the storm.
Brown told local media that they experienced Hurricane Irma in 2017, which she said they evacuated then for no reason and ultimately caused her to ignore the mandatory evacuation order.
Which she now regrets.
&#8220;I will never stay again,&#8221; Brown said. &#8220;I will absolutely evacuate — I don&#8217;t care if it&#8217;s a category 1, I&#8217;m not staying ever again for a hurricane. I never want to experience that again.&#8221;
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, reports show the storm has left 32 people dead in Florida and South Carolina, approximately 10,000 people are still considered missing, and could cost Florida up to $40 billion of insured losses.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said Hurricane Ian’s damage to Florida’s Gulf Coast communities was a “character-altering event.”
“There are entire communities — Fort Myers Beach no longer exists,” Rubio<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marco-rubio-hurricane-ian-damage-to-floridas-gulf-coast-a-character-altering-event"> said</a>. “I mean, it’ll have to be rebuilt. It’ll be something different. And even the structures that are standing — I was with the Coast Guard two days ago as we went overhead on it — even the structures that are standing have been damaged by water, probably uninhabitable and have to be razed.”

TOPSHOT-US-WEATHER-HURRICANE-IAN

Couple Rescues 3-Month Old Baby Using Storage Bin During Hurricane Ian

Marco Rubio

Mother Rescues 3-Month Old Baby Using Storage Bin During Hurricane Ian

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/hurricane-ian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Ian</a> could cost <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> up to $40 billion of insured losses, according to leading ratings agencies.
The storm system entered Florida on Wednesday, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-hurricane-ian-slams-into-florida-as-powerful-category-4-hurricane">tearing</a> through the western and central portions of the state at nearly the power of a Category 5 storm. With winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, Hurricane Ian regained speed on Friday before impacting <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/south-carolina" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Carolina</a>.
Fitch Ratings noted that insurance specialists in Florida have “suffered financial losses and diminished capital in recent years,” leaving them “vulnerable to large catastrophic events that generate losses in excess of reinsurance limits,” according to a <a href="https://www.fitchratings.com/research/insurance/florida-re-insurers-to-withstand-hurricane-ian-specialists-at-risk-29-09-2022">statement</a>. The company projects between $25 billion and $40 billion in insured losses — a figure that rivals the $36 billion of damage induced by Hurricane Ida last year and falls short of the $65 billion in losses caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
“Many insurers providing property coverage in the state experienced severe downturns in underwriting performance and capitalization levels in recent years despite no hurricane hitting the state since 2018,” Fitch explained. “This trend has forced a number of smaller insurers into liquidation, exacerbating the challenges for policyholders of finding private market homeowners insurance coverage. The hurricane is expected to worsen the reinsurance capacity crisis for insurers, potentially causing the exit of more Florida specialist companies.”
Florida produced $1.3 trillion in output last year, indicating that Hurricane Ian may inflict damage as high as 3% of the Sunshine State’s economy.
Floridians have reported nearly $1.5 billion in insurance claims as of early Monday afternoon, including claims from more than 143,000 residential property owners and 2,380 commercial property holders, according to <a href="https://www.floir.com/home/ian">data</a> from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Slightly more than 2% of the more than 186,000 claims have thus far been settled.
Meanwhile, DRBS Morningstar projected that the economic fallout from Hurricane Ian would likely exceed the $50 billion loss from Hurricane Irma in 2017. The firm also pinned insured losses between $25 billion and $40 billion.
“Given a storm path and intensity similar to Hurricane Charley and considering the substantial increase in population and property values in Southwest Florida, economic losses could potentially reach above $50 billion, which would be a record for a Florida-centric storm,” DRBS Vice President for Insurance Patrick Douville said in a <a href="https://www.dbrsmorningstar.com/research/403548/severe-damage-caused-by-hurricane-ian-showcases-challenges-of-insuring-property-in-florida">statement</a>. “Claims arising from Ian will support the trend of property risk in Florida being more and more expensive and difficult to insure.”
The Florida Disaster Fund has raised more than $21 million in financial assistance for residents as of Sunday, according to a <a href="https://www.flgov.com/2022/10/02/florida-response-to-hurricane-ian-continues-4/">press release</a> from the office of Governor Ron DeSantis (R). First responders have rescued more than 1,600 people, while roughly 42,000 linemen are responding to over 840,000 power outages. In areas such as Charlotte County and Lee County, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/millions-left-without-power-as-hurricane-ian-devastates-florida">power outage rates</a> sit near 60%.
Only 29% of individuals in the nine counties with a disaster declaration approved by the White House have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thousands-of-florida-households-facing-financial-ruin-in-wake-of-hurricane-ian">flood insurance</a>. Some portions of western Florida experienced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-were-incredibly-hard-hit-stunning-video-shows-submerged-houses-blown-out-bridges-following-hurricane-ian">storm surges</a> as high as 18 feet, causing difficulties for officials attempting rescue efforts.
U.S. Coast Guard Deputy Commandant Peter Gautier, who aided in the responses to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey, described Hurricane Ian as “up there” in terms of severity during an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-were-incredibly-hard-hit-stunning-video-shows-submerged-houses-blown-out-bridges-following-hurricane-ian">interview</a> with Fox News. “What we haven’t seen traditionally is the combination of massive storm surge from the wind-driven waves and water coming from the ocean and up into the rivers,” he said, likewise referencing “the historic amount of rain in such a short period of time.”

Top Ratings Agencies Reveal The Staggering Amount Hurricane Ian Could Cost Florida

Hurricane Ian Could Cost Florida Up To $40 Billion

Economy

South Carolina

Florida Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a> (R) said Sunday that he spent time on the ground handing out food and surveying the damage that Hurricane Ian inflicted on the state late last week.
The update&#8217;s from the governor come as there have already been <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/02/us/hurricane-ian-south-carolina-florida-repairs-sunday/index.html">76</a> confirmed deaths in Florida with entire communities completely wiped off the map from the massive storm surge and powerful winds.
The governor&#8217;s office noted that DeSantis suspended the state&#8217;s fuel tax to help ease the financial burden on residents and that he promoted debris removal in communities where it was deemed safe to return.
The governor&#8217;s office <a href="https://www.flgov.com/2022/10/02/florida-response-to-hurricane-ian-continues-4/">said</a> that the 42,000 lineman working in the state have already restored power to nearly 2 million homes and that they were still working to restore power to another 800,000+ accounts.
As of Sunday morning, more than 1,600 rescues have been made by more than 1,000 search and rescue team members spread out over the 14 impacted counties.
&#8220;The National Guard and the Coast Guard are landing helicopters on barrier islands to perform search and rescue,&#8221; the  governor&#8217;s office said. &#8220;Following Governor DeSantis’ authorization, over 5,200 Florida Guardsmen have been activated to State Active Duty for Hurricane Ian response operations. The Florida National Guard are supporting a total of 152 active missions.&#8221;
Hundreds of pallets of water, food, and ice have already been delivered to local communities in need, inculding more than 829,000 MREs and 3.8 million bottles of water.
&#8220;Worked with Florida Baptist Relief to distribute food and water to residents of Naples,&#8221; DeSantis wrote on Twitter. &#8220;@CaseyDeSantis and I have been encouraged by the outpouring of prayers and assistance for Floridians in need. Keep up the good work!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Worked with Florida Baptist Relief to distribute food and water to residents of Naples.  <a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CaseyDeSantis</a> and I have been encouraged by the outpouring of prayers and assistance for Floridians in need. Keep up the good work! <a href="https://t.co/hpikyg6QPw">pic.twitter.com/hpikyg6QPw</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1576625666552123392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I spent time passing out food and water with the <a href="https://twitter.com/FLGuard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLGuard</a> from one of our PODs in Lee County. We have PODs open to help those recovering from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIan</a>.   To find a POD near you, visit: <a href="https://t.co/Io8r6Bbog4">https://t.co/Io8r6Bbog4</a> <a href="https://t.co/EOPXJi2JKp">pic.twitter.com/EOPXJi2JKp</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1576608922261082112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We have resources on the ground and more on the way to help DeSoto County recover from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIan</a>. 
When the cameras go away, we will still be here to help rebuild. <a href="https://t.co/6Y088POeyZ">pic.twitter.com/6Y088POeyZ</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1576723858358693888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
DeSantis shared on Twitter the moment that he met a local woman who had her home destroyed by the storm.
&#8220;Today, I met with Marta, who had her house destroyed and was rescued by one of our high-water vehicles,&#8221; DeSantis tweeted. &#8220;Damage from #HurricaneIan flooding extends across the state, but our people are resilient.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today, I met with Marta, who had her house destroyed and was rescued by one of our high-water vehicles. 
Damage from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HurricaneIan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HurricaneIan</a> flooding extends across the state, but our people are resilient. <a href="https://t.co/1dNn4XKlcG">pic.twitter.com/1dNn4XKlcG</a>
&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1576345092196950017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane said on Sunday that he was disappointed that so many people got complacent with the storm and did not evacuate when they were supposed to.
“As soon as we saw the model shift northeast, we did exactly what we could to encourage people to” Ruane said. “I’m just disappointed that so many people didn’t go to shelters, because they’re open.”
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-uri="archive.cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/paragraph_E6E718BC-EA92-2920-B661-9920A050CC4C@published" data-editable="text" data-component-name="paragraph" data-analytics-observe="off">“I think the most important thing that most people need to understand is we opened up 15 shelters. During Irma there were 60,000 people in our shelters. There’s 4,000 people in the shelters right now,” Ruane continued. “Unfortunately, people did get complacent … As far as I’m concerned, the shelters were open, they had the ability, they had all day Tuesday, they had a good part of Wednesday as the storm was coming down – they had the ability to (go to a shelter).”

Ron DeSantis Gives Update On Hurricane Damage As Death Toll Surges

Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> was confronted over the weekend in response to controversial racial remarks that she made late last week about distributing aid related to natural disasters.
Speaking Friday afternoon in Washington, D.C., to leftist Priyanka Chopra at the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Leadership Forum, Harris <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kamala-harris-blasted-for-pushing-racist-policy-in-response-to-hurricane-damage">claimed</a>, “It is our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions and impacted by issues that are not of their own making.”
Harris&#8217; remarks come after Florida was battered late last week by Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful Category 4 hurricanes to ever hit the U.S.
“And so we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity, understanding not everyone starts out at the same place,” Harris continued. “And if we want people to be in an equal place, sometimes we have to take into account those disparities and do that work.”
White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates later said the vice president&#8217;s comments related to a general Biden administration policy of distributing &#8220;climate resilience&#8221; resources around the country.
The Republican National Committee&#8217;s Research channel tweeted out a video of Harris being confronted Saturday evening about her remarks when she attended the Phoenix Awards Dinner at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
A man asked Harris, &#8220;Vice President, can you clarify what you meant about equity for hurricane relief?&#8221;
Harris looked right at the man as he asked the question and then looked away and kept walking.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&quot;Can you clarify what you meant about ‘equity’ for hurricane relief?&quot;
Kamala Harris refuses to answer. <a href="https://t.co/abTJcjkJoJ">pic.twitter.com/abTJcjkJoJ</a>
&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1576735707799748608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Christina Pushaw, Director of Rapid Response for DeSantis’ re-election campaign, called out the Vice President last week after Harris made the remarks, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/desantis-campaign-nukes-kamala-harris-over-racial-remarks-about-natural-disasters">writing</a> on Twitter: “This is false.&#8221;
&#8220;@VP’s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified,” Pushaw tweeted. “FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background. If you need assistance visit disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.”
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/were-going-to-support-all-communites-fema-administrator-vows-to-help-everybody-after-vp-harriss-hurricane-relief-equity-comments">said</a> during a Sunday interview on CBS&#8217;s &#8220;Face The Nation&#8221; that the federal programs assisted everyone.
“[O]ur programs support everybody,” Criswell told host Margaret Brennan. “I would say I believe some of the things the vice president was talking about are the long-term recovery and rebuilding these communities to be able to withstand disasters, so they can have less impact. We’re going to support all communities. I committed that to (Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis), I commit to you right here that all Floridians are going to be able to get the help that is available to them through our programs.”
This article has been updated to clarify the Biden administration policy regarding aid related to natural disasters.

Kamala Harris

WATCH: Harris Confronted Over Controversial Remarks About Distributing Natural Disaster Aid

Harris Confronted Over Controversial Racial Remarks About Distributing Natural Disaster Aid

Racism

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-grapples-with-rising-death-toll-power-outages-as-ian-moves-on-to-carolinas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Ian</a> struck the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, September 28, wreaking havoc as it cut across the middle of the state.
While the system — which <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-hurricane-ian-slams-into-florida-as-powerful-category-4-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made landfall</a> just shy of a Category 5 storm — continued its trajectory into the Atlantic Ocean and back toward the continental United States, millions of Floridians were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/millions-left-without-power-as-hurricane-ian-devastates-florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left without power</a> as storm surges <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-were-incredibly-hard-hit-stunning-video-shows-submerged-houses-blown-out-bridges-following-hurricane-ian">flooded</a> infrastructure and residences.
The Sunshine State is, however, no stranger to hurricanes and other severe tropical weather. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a hurricane is <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/hurricane.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defined</a> as “a rotating low-pressure weather system that has organized thunderstorms but no fronts” and falls on a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">scale</a> between Category 1 and Category 5.
As reported by Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach, Hurricane Ian — with recorded winds of 150 miles per hour and pressure of 940 millibars — is tied for the <a href="https://twitter.com/philklotzbach/status/1575204991488299010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1575204991488299010%7Ctwgr%5Ed592c685fb56ba2dc642e3e5c95cf65ddd0e7892%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fwe-were-incredibly-hard-hit-stunning-video-shows-submerged-houses-blown-out-bridges-following-hurricane-ian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fourth most severe storm</a> to ever hit the state of Florida.
Here are the most severe hurricanes ever to strike the state of Florida.
<h3>Great Labor Day Hurricane — September 3, 1935</h3>
At the height of the Great Depression, the strongest hurricane recorded in American history hit the state of Florida.
Boasting winds of 180 miles per hour, the storm made landfall in the Florida Keys and <a href="https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/weather/2021/09/07/florida-hasn-t-seen-a-hurricane-more-intense-than-the-labor-day-hurricane-of-1935" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gradually progressed</a> along the western coast of Florida, leaving immense devastation in its wake. Though it was small, with a radius of roughly 15 miles, the storm managed to kill roughly 408 people.
At the time, the federal government had created a variety of initiatives to employ veterans of World War I, with several construction projects employing 700 former soldiers in the Florida Keys. Nearly half of the workers took a trip to Miami over the weekend of the hurricane, with few knowing the extent of the storm’s power. Among the deceased were 252 veterans, while 106 others were injured.
The hurricane occurred before the World Meteorological Organization began <a href="https://public.wmo.int/en/our-mandate/focus-areas/natural-hazards-and-disaster-risk-reduction/tropical-cyclones/Naming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">naming storms</a> in 1953, with lists for the Atlantic Ocean managed by the National Hurricane Center. The original lists included only female names, while the organization now retires the monikers of particularly devastating storms — such as Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Irma, and Hurricane Sandy.
<h3>Hurricane Andrew — August 24, 1992</h3>
The southern portion of Florida was impacted by Hurricane Andrew — one of the few storms in recorded history to make landfall as a Category 5.
The storm <a href="https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/hurricane-andrew-30-look-back-above" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began its path</a> in southern Miami-Dade county with sustained winds of 165 miles per hour. After leaving Florida, the system traversed the Gulf of Mexico and made a second landfall in Louisiana two days later.
“We have come a long way in advancing hurricane forecasts since 1992,” National Hurricane Center acting director Jamie Rhome <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/stories/hurricane-andrew-at-30-where-science-has-taken-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> last month upon the thirtieth anniversary of the storm. “Sustained investments in research, modeling, satellites, aircraft observations and forecaster innovation have led to a 75% improvement in hurricane track forecasts and a 50% improvement in intensity forecasts.”
Nevertheless, Hurricane Andrew destroyed over 50,000 homes and caused $26 billion in damage across the country — the most costly natural disaster in American history until Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005.
<h3>Hurricane Michael — October 10, 2018</h3>
In the panhandle of Florida, Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds raging at 161 miles per hour. The system <a href="https://www.weather.gov/tae/HurricaneMichael2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caused immense damage</a> throughout the region, particularly near Panama City Beach.
In some portions of the state, up to 14 feet of storm surge damaged beachfront properties and other structures. The hurricane cut two new inlets into St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, meaning that the attraction was no longer accessible by vehicle.
Hurricane Michael, which also impacted the southwestern part of Georgia at hurricane force, <a href="https://www.noaa.gov/media-release/hurricane-michael-upgraded-to-category-5-at-time-of-us-landfall" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caused</a> 16 deaths and over $25 billion in damages. The storm was the strongest on record to hit the panhandle of Florida.
<h3>Florida Keys Hurricane — September 10, 1919</h3>
For days, the Florida Keys Hurricane <a href="http://www.hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1910s/FloridaKeys/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gained strength</a> before tearing into the Keys as a Category 4 storm. Nearly every structure in the area sustained some degree of damage, while 10 ships in the Florida Straits were capsized, resulting in the loss of more than 500 lives.
After continuing its trajectory through the Gulf of Mexico for several more days, the Florida Keys Hurricane made another landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, as a Category 3 system. The storm surge damaged businesses in the downtown area and ports along the coastline, with up to 600 people losing their lives.
In today’s dollars, the storm caused $376 million in damage.
<h3>Hurricane Charley — August 13, 2004</h3>
Nearly two decades prior to Hurricane Ian, Hurricane Charley <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/learn/hurricane-ian-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ripped through</a> a nearly identical trajectory at a nearly identical strength.
The latter storm made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Cayo Costa Island, boasting winds at 150 miles per hour. Hurricane Charley, however, was smaller than Hurricane Ian, had a less severe storm surge, produced less rain, and moved through Florida at a much faster pace.
Hurricane Charley <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida/2019/08/13/remembering-hurricane-charleys-destruction-15-years-ago-today/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">killed</a> 15 people and caused between $16 billion and $23 billion in damage.

Satellite view of hurricane Dorian, year 2019

How Does Hurricane Ian Stack Up Against Florida’s Most Devastating Storms?

Readers Pass

After <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/hurricane-ian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Ian</a> wreaked havoc on Fort Myers, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a>, local pastor Tom Ascol expressed trust in Jesus Christ as his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/evangelical" target="_blank" rel="noopener">congregation</a> recovers from the damage.
Hurricane Ian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-hurricane-ian-slams-into-florida-as-powerful-category-4-hurricane">made landfall</a> on Wednesday, tearing through western and central Florida at nearly the strength of a Category 5 storm. With winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, the system was tied for the fourth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the Sunshine State.
Ascol wrote in a social media <a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0RmFEKB5JLEk8m7R3GHTuR2RNEir8PmzD9SKLHxefRjjZaUrPyBoNFWHgef7J2oVGl&amp;id=8371408">update</a> Thursday that although his family was safe, some members of Grace Baptist Church had lost their homes. He announced that efforts were underway to help each household.
“In the wake of such catastrophe it is easy to be disoriented by the traumatic experiences you have just lived through and the catastrophic loss that is evident everywhere,” he explained. “But God&#8217;s people, those who have tasted and know that He is good, who have experienced His grace in the salvation found in His crucified, risen Son, our Lord — Jesus Christ, we have many reasons to be filled with hope and even to rejoice.”
Ascol, a recent <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-southern-baptists-nominate-tom-ascol-voddie-baucham-to-leadership-to-combat-woke-drift-in-largest-protestant-denomination">candidate</a> for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention who ran on the platform of reversing the denomination’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-theologically-liberal-drift-conservative-pastors-endure-heavy-losses-at-southern-baptist-convention">leftward drift</a>, explained that church members and their neighbors have been working together to begin the recovery process. Though he and his wife were away from Fort Myers on a previously scheduled trip, Ascol coordinated efforts to keep congregants in touch with one another.
“In and through it all I was reminded of the Lord&#8217;s mercies,” he continued. “Very often these reminders came from the people with whom we were communicating. God kept babies safe. He kept first-responders strong enough to fulfill their duties &#8230; He gave wisdom to our governor and local officials. He displayed His power over His created world in ways that are undeniable for those who have eyes to see. The greatest meteorological minds could not precisely predict the track of the storm, much less control it. Our God displayed that He, and He alone, is God.”
Nearly 90,000 people reside in Fort Myers, according to data from the Census Bureau, while Lee County is home to nearly 800,000. Roughly 85% of businesses and residences were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-were-incredibly-hard-hit-stunning-video-shows-submerged-houses-blown-out-bridges-following-hurricane-ian">without power</a> as of Friday morning.
Ascol cited the words of Lamentations, a series of poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians: &#8220;But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
“As we start the long, arduous process of digging out, healing, and rebuilding, we will do so fully aware that we are not on our own. The Lord is with us. His mercies will sustain us. He is faithful.”
Winds had weakened to 65 miles per hour as of Thursday, rendering Hurricane Ian a tropical storm. According to a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/291500.shtml">forecast</a> from the National Hurricane Center, however, the storm has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-now-expect-ian-to-become-a-hurricane-again-storm-is-stubbornly-veering-off-course-and-speeding-up-agency-warns">remained more powerful</a> than initial estimates, threatening South Carolina and Georgia as winds gain speed and the system becomes “a hurricane again.”

Santa Fe, New Mexico

‘The Lord Is With Us’: Florida Pastor Shares Message Of Hope After Hurricane Ian Devastates His City

Florida Pastor Expresses Message Of Hope After Hurricane Ian Devastates His City

Christianity

Evangelicals

Florida Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/ron-desantis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ron DeSantis</a> (R) has provided an update on estimated fatalities as a result of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hurricane-ian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Ian</a> after Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during an interview Thursday morning that he believed hundreds of people had been killed.
Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday night as one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the state of Florida.
During an interview on ABC&#8217;s &#8220;Good Morning America&#8221; with host George Stephanopoulos, Marceno said that while he didn’t have “confirmed numbers,” the “fatalities are in the hundreds.” The sheriff added that he couldn’t provide a true estimate until each scene had been assessed.
&#8220;And this will be a life-changing event for the men and women who are responding,” Marceno stated. “They&#8217;re going to see things they&#8217;ve never seen before.&#8221;
Governor DeSantis pushed back during a press conference on the claim that hundreds of fatalities had been confirmed.
&#8220;None of that is confirmed,&#8221; DeSantis said. &#8220;I think what that is, is there were 911 calls for people saying, &#8216;Hey, the water is rising in my home. I&#8217;m going to go up in the attic. But I&#8217;m really worried.&#8217; Of course, those folks are now going to be checked on.&#8221;
&#8220;And so, I think you&#8217;ll have more clarity about that in the next day or so as they&#8217;re able to go to those locations and determine whether people need services or are able to be rescued,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;That number that was put out by Lee is basically an estimate of &#8216;Hey, these people were calling.&#8217; The water was rising on their home. They may not have ended up getting through. So, we&#8217;re obviously hoping that they can be rescued at this point,&#8221; DeSantis continued.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gov. DeSantis on Lee County Sheriff reporting that fatalities could be &#8220;in the hundreds&#8221; following Hurricane Ian: &#8220;None of that is confirmed.&#8221; <a href="https://t.co/r75yZnqI1J">pic.twitter.com/r75yZnqI1J</a>
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1575518898325176320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
During the earlier interview, Stephanopoulos pressed Marceno regarding how many people had died, to which Marceno, a Republican, responded: &#8220;So far, confirmed in the hundreds, meaning, that we are responding to events: drownings, again, unsure of the exact details because we are just starting to scratch the surface on this assessment.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Awful: Sherrif of Lee County, Florida, Carmine Marceno tells <a href="https://twitter.com/GMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GMA</a> that fatalities from Hurricane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ian</a> are &#39;in the hundreds&#39;.
Says there are thousands waiting to be rescued. <a href="https://t.co/6VXjWEDq1U">pic.twitter.com/6VXjWEDq1U</a>
&mdash; Moshe Schwartz (@YWNReporter) <a href="https://twitter.com/YWNReporter/status/1575450816613588992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Marceno was also <a href="https://www.news-press.com/story/weather/hurricane/2022/09/29/lee-sheriff-reports-likely-hurricane-ian-death-toll-in-hundreds-catastrophic-storm/10458558002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pressed</a> by local media to clarify his remarks after he told CNN that there were only five confirmed deaths in his county.
&#8220;Sheriff Marceno is dedicated to search and rescue and post-storm assessments. We will have to get back to you,&#8221; Sheriff’s Capt. Anita Iriarte, a spokesperson, said in response. &#8220;Search and rescue efforts are underway. We could have hundreds missing. As the days progress, the numbers will be clearer.&#8221;

DeSantis Provides Update On Prior Estimates Given On Hurricane Fatalities

A video posted on social media by law enforcement in Lee County, <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida">Florida</a>, showed massive devastation from <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/hurricane-ian">Hurricane Ian</a> throughout the area surrounding the coastal city of Fort Myers.
Hurricane Ian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-hurricane-ian-slams-into-florida-as-powerful-category-4-hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">made landfall</a> Wednesday on the Gulf Coast of Florida at nearly the strength of a Category 5 storm. With winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, the system was tied for the fourth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the Sunshine State.
On Thursday afternoon, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno shared footage depicting destroyed neighborhoods and infrastructure along the coastline. Homes and streets were flooded as some residences smoldered with fire, beachfront structures were reduced to scraps, and portions of bridges were entirely washed away or submerged.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
This morning Sheriff Carmine Marceno took a tour of Lee County to begin assessing damage caused by Hurricane Ian. We are devastated. Our hearts go out to every resident who is impacted. The Lee County Sheriffs Office is mobile and will stop at nothing to help our residents. <a href="https://t.co/S4OsB8ajRv">pic.twitter.com/S4OsB8ajRv</a>
&mdash; Carmine Marceno &#8211; Florida’s Law and Order Sheriff (@SheriffLeeFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheriffLeeFL/status/1575529164899340289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“We were incredibly hard hit. It came in as a strong, strong Cat 4, just a couple of miles an hour under a Cat 5,” Marceno said in a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/hurricane-ian-florida-updates-09-29-22/h_38435120d87dad249604741990bd557d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to CNN. “Today was the first day we were able to get back out and assess and begin that process.”
Lee County is home to nearly 800,000 people, according to <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/leecountyflorida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from the Census Bureau, and includes the city of Fort Myers, where nearly 90,000 people <a href="https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile/Fort_Myers_city,_Florida?g=1600000US1224125" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reside</a>. The region is a major tourism hub on the Gulf Coast.
According to <a href="https://poweroutage.us/area/state/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">data</a> from PowerOutage.US, roughly 89% of Lee County businesses and homes were without power as of Thursday afternoon. Lee County Electric Cooperative held repair personnel on standby to begin restoring the grid once Hurricane Ian passed. “The first priority is to repair any damage to the transmission system, because these high-voltage lines supply power from a generating plant to one or more distribution substations and serve tens of thousands of customers,” the company said on its <a href="https://www.lcec.net/reliability/storm-center?fbclid=IwAR1oo6Rc4TC4mljocF8xOhTG-idi3lxbEDxLyM82PI9FK0viR2BuYAaJLtM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>, advising customers to use backup generators until operators restore power.
<div id="attachment_443999" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-443999" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-443999" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1243597691-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />FLORIDA, USA &#8211; SEPTEMBER 29: A view of flooded and damaged area aftermath of hurricane in Fort Myers district of Florida, United States on September 29, 2022. Hurricane Ian is packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (241 kph), down slightly from 155 mph (249 kph) winds recorded just hours earlier. US authorities warned earlier on Wednesday that Ian is slated to bring mass devastation to parts of Florida as it barreled toward the southeastern state. At least 2.5 million Floridians are currently under some type of evacuation order as Hurricane Ian rapidly intensified into a major hurricane. Hurricane Ian is slated to bring mass devastation to parts of Florida as it barrels toward the southeastern state with winds nearing Category 5 status. (Photo by Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)</div>
Some portions of western Florida experienced storm surges as high as 18 feet, causing difficulties to officials coordinating rescue efforts. Primarily relying upon air support via helicopter, the Coast Guard has rescued <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/coast-guard-begins-rescue-operations-in-hurricane-struck-florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nearly two dozen</a> people in Florida as of Thursday morning, with more rescues anticipated throughout the day.
“The top priority … is saving lives,” Coast Guard Deputy Commandant Peter Gautier remarked during an <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6313019896112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Fox News. “In the days leading up to the storm’s landfall, the Coast Guard moved all its cutters, aircraft, and small boats out of the area so that we could be positioned to bring those back in. That’s happening right now as we speak.”
Gautier, who aided in the responses to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey, described Hurricane Ian as “up there” in terms of severity. “What we haven’t seen traditionally is the combination of massive storm surge from the wind-driven waves and water coming from the ocean and up into the rivers,” he said, likewise referencing “the historic amount of rain in such a short period of time.”
<div id="attachment_443998" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-443998" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-443998" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/09/GettyImages-1428696563-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />FORT MYERS FLORIDA &#8211; SEPTEMBER 29: Brenda Brennan sits next to a boat that pushed against her apartment when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mrs. Brennan said the boat floated in around 7pm. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)</div>
Winds had weakened to 65 miles per hour as of Thursday morning, rendering Hurricane Ian a tropical storm. According to a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/291500.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forecast</a> from the National Hurricane Center, however, the storm has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-now-expect-ian-to-become-a-hurricane-again-storm-is-stubbornly-veering-off-course-and-speeding-up-agency-warns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remained more powerful</a> than initial estimates, threatening South Carolina and Georgia as winds gain speed and the system becomes “a hurricane again.”
The agency issued a warning to both states as the system turns to the northwest on Saturday.

Hurricane Ian Slams Into West Coast Of Florida

‘We Were Incredibly Hard Hit’: Stunning Video Shows Submerged Houses, Blown-Out Bridges Following Hurricane Ian

Stunning Video Shows Devastation In Fort Myers Following Hurricane Ian

Weather

The U.S. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/coast-guard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coast Guard</a> has rescued nearly two dozen people in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> as of Thursday morning following the devastation from <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/hurricane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurricane Ian</a>, with more rescues expected throughout the day.
Hurricane Ian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-hurricane-ian-slams-into-florida-as-powerful-category-4-hurricane">made landfall</a> Wednesday on the state&#8217;s Gulf Coast at nearly the strength of a Category 5 storm. With winds exceeding 150 miles per hour, the system was tied for the fourth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the Sunshine State, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/philklotzbach/status/1575204991488299010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1575204991488299010%7Ctwgr%5Ece820ce40e8433581c5d655e7582e860e3dc2457%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fbreaking-hurricane-ian-slams-into-florida-as-powerful-category-4-hurricane">data</a> from Colorado State University meteorologist Philip Klotzbach.
Coast Guard Deputy Commandant Peter Gautier remarked during an <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6313019896112">interview</a> with Fox News that personnel have already rescued 23 people.
“The top priority… is saving lives,” Gautier explained. “In the days leading up to the storm’s landfall, the Coast Guard moved all its cutters, aircraft, and small boats out of the area so that we could be positioned to bring those back in. That’s happening right now as we speak.”
“We expect that to grow as the day goes on,” he added, noting that the Coast Guard is primarily relying upon helicopters while local law enforcement officers use shallow boats.
Multiple regions of Florida over which the storm has passed — including Hardee County, DeSoto County, and Lee County — are experiencing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/millions-left-without-power-as-hurricane-ian-devastates-florida">power outage rates</a> approaching 100%. More than 2.5 million homes and businesses in the state were left without electricity on Thursday morning as utility companies began work to repair the state’s grid. Most outages are concentrated in central Florida, with minimal outages in the western part of the state and some outages in the Miami area.
Some portions of western Florida experienced storm surges as high as 18 feet, presenting difficulties to officials attempting to coordinate rescue efforts. “You start by eyeball. You do a very quick search from the air, and you look and see folks on roofs who need assistance,” Gautier said of the rescue process. “We need to cross-reference streets which aren’t recognizable when communities are flooded.”
Gautier, who aided in the responses to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey, characterized Hurricane Ian as “up there” in terms of severity. “What we haven’t seen traditionally is the combination of massive storm surge from the wind-driven waves and water coming from the ocean and up into the rivers,” he said, also referencing “the historic amount of rain in such a short period of time.”
As of Thursday morning, winds had weakened to 65 miles per hour, rendering Hurricane Ian a tropical storm. According to a <a href="https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/291500.shtml">forecast</a> from the National Hurricane Center, however, the storm has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-now-expect-ian-to-become-a-hurricane-again-storm-is-stubbornly-veering-off-course-and-speeding-up-agency-warns">remained more powerful</a> than initial estimates, threatening South Carolina and Georgia as winds gain speed and the system becomes “a hurricane again.”
“Ian has stubbornly gone east of the track forecast for the past couple of days and has moved back over water faster than expected,” the agency said. “A mid-level shortwave rough moving southward across the southern United States should turn Ian northward overnight and north-northwestward on Saturday.”
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) <a href="https://www.flgov.com/2022/09/28/governor-ron-desantis-issues-updates-on-state-preparedness-for-hurricane-ian-6/">announced</a> that he requested complete disaster reimbursement from the federal government to ensure that Florida can “quickly move forward into response and recovery.” The state government has mobilized 42,000 linemen, 7,000 National Guardsmen, and 179 aircraft to handle the hurricane response.

Menu