At Least 12 Dead From Hurricane Ian In Florida—And Numbers Expected To Rise

Topline

The death toll in Florida from Hurricane Ian has risen to at least 12, according to various reports from local officials , while authorities believe “hundreds” more could have died, potentially making it one of the deadliest in Florida’s history.

Hurricane Ian ravaged central Florida and the Gulf Coast this week, bringing flooding, intense winds … [+] and storm surges.

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Key Facts

Although federal and state officials have not released an official death toll, Charlotte County Commissioner Christopher Constance told MSNBC there have been six reported fatalities in the Gulf Coast county just north of where Ian made landfall on Wednesday—he later confirmed a seventh death.

Sanibel city officials confirmed the deaths of two more people in the barrier beach town that faced heavy flooding and heavy storm surge.

A 72-year-old man on Florida’s Atlantic Coast died while draining his swimming pool during the storm, the Volusia County office of public affairs announced in a press release Thursday.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office confirmed at least two more people died in the Gulf Coast county, which includes the city of Venice, another area that was pummeled by floodwaters during the storm, a local ABC affiliate reported.

On Thursday, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told ABC’s Good Morning America the slow-moving storm killed “hundreds” of people in his county where it made landfall, but it remains unconfirmed.

In a FEMA press conference Thursday, President Joe Biden said Ian could be the “deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history,” with “substantial loss of life.”

Tangent

The federal Consumer Product Safety Commission cautioned residents against using back-up power generators that can be “extremely dangerous” and “kill you in minutes” as a result of carbon monoxide exhaust, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents to avoid downed power lines and standing water. A rescue and recovery effort has already begun, Marceno said, but “thousands” are still waiting to be rescued, including in areas that rescue units were not able to access.

Key Background

Two people were killed in western Cuba after Ian brought devastating winds, floodwaters and storm surge to the island Tuesday, state media reported. One day later, Ian made landfall again on a Gulf Coast barrier island outside Cape Coral shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday. More than 2.5 million people lost power as the storm ripped through the state, unleashing widespread flooding, 12-foot storm surges and maximum sustained winds of 150 mph at the time of landfall. The cities of Sanibel, Cape Coral and Fort Myers, near where the storm made landfall, were some of the hardest hit areas, with reports of flooding, downed trees and telephone poles and ravaged buildings. In a press conference Thursday morning, DeSantis said cities were “inundated and devastated,” while all bridges to Pine Island failed and a 50-foot section of the causeway bridge to Sanibel Island collapsed, stranding residents who ignored mandatory evacuation orders. On Thursday, the White House approved DeSantis’ request for a major disaster declaration, opening up funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

What To Watch For

Ian intensified back into a hurricane Thursday evening as it shifted northward toward the South Carolina coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. All of South Carolina’s coastline as well as the northeastern stretch of Georgia’s coastline are under hurricane warnings. Forecasters predict hurricane-force winds in the area early Friday and “significant flooding” through the end of the week. Total rainfall of four to eight inches is possible in parts of North Carolina, Virginia, northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee, meteorologists at AccuWeather predict. The Federal Aviation Administration warned Thursday the storm is likely to cause more airport closures, flight delays and cancellations as it approaches South Carolina—several Florida airports were closed on Wednesday and Thursday, including the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, Tampa International Airport and Melbourne Orlando International Airport.

Crucial Quote

DeSantis said in a press conference Thursday night “we absolutely expect” to hear more storm-related deaths as first responders continue rescue efforts through central Florida.