Hurricane Ian, downgraded to Category 1, makes landfall in South Carolina

First modification: 09/30/2022 – 20:58

Ian made landfall in South Carolina. He did it near Georgetown, according to the National Hurricane Center. The agency assured that the hurricane now has maximum sustained winds of 140 km / h.

Its passage near South Carolina had already caused flooding and powerful gusts of wind hit the city of Charleston. The passage of Hurricane Ian, now downgraded to category 1, left its streets empty. Meteorologists forecast rain of up to 20 centimeters and expected a high tide.

The National Hurricane Center also warned of a “life-threatening storm surge.”

“Hurricane Ian is accelerating towards the coast of the Carolinas. The danger of a life-threatening storm surge within the storm surge warning areas is coming soon,” the NHC wrote on its Twitter account.

Earlier, in Charleston, authorities asked citizens to get off the roads and the city’s international airport was closed.

Charleston County spokeswoman Kelsey Barlow said it’s “too late for people to come to shelters. The storm is here. Everyone should take shelter, stay off the roads.” The official added that a storm surge of more than seven feet is expected, in addition to the midday high tide that could bring another six feet of water, causing massive flooding.

But Charleston is not the only city where the alarms have gone off. The hurricane warning extended from the Savannah River to Cape Fear, with flooding likely in the Carolinas and southwestern Virginia.

Forecasters say the storm is on track to hit North Carolina later, so Gov. Roy Cooper urged residents to prepare for torrential rain, high winds and possible power outages.

Charleston in high danger of flooding

Before the arrival of the eye of the hurricane, Charleston already had heavy rains. Users on social networks showed videos of completely flooded streets and cars covered by rain.

According to a 2020 study cited by the AP, Charleston is “particularly at risk,” with 90% of residential properties being “vulnerable to storm surge flooding.”

Destruction, deaths and disappearances: Ian’s epilogue in Florida

Ian hit the state of Florida especially hard. A category four hurricane made landfall there on Thursday afternoon.

President Joe Biden assured this Friday that the destruction in Florida by Hurricane Ian is probably one of the worst in the history of the United States.

“We are just beginning to see the scale of that destruction. It is likely to be among the worst in the nation’s history,” the president said. He also promised to help rebuild Florida.

Authorities have confirmed the death of at least nine people in the United States, but have assured that the number could rise rapidly as relief agencies continue their search. Florida, for its part, confirmed the death of one person.

In addition, as announced by Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, at least 21 people have died in the state, but he assured that some of these reports are still being processed by local medical examiners who will determine if the deaths are related or not with the disaster and therefore remain unconfirmed.

The hurricane also left heavy material losses, demolishing homes and businesses, ripping homes off their slabs, and demolishing waterfront businesses. On Thursday, two million people were left without electricity.

Meanwhile, the rescue teams continue to advance in the rescue and search of people. It is estimated that some 10,000 people are missing. But many of them were likely in shelters or without power, Guthrie said, adding that he expected the number to drop “organically” in the coming days.

For his part, the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, gave details about the work of the lifeguards. According to the official, they have already visited 3,000 homes in the most affected areas.

“The response was very, very quick,” he said. And he added: “I think that answer made a difference.”

Fort Myers, one of the most affected areas after Ian

Fort Myers was left desolate after the passage of the hurricane. Fallen trees, broken docks, flattened businesses and destroyed houses punctuate the landscape.

One of its inhabitants, William Goodison, recounted for AP how he lived through the hurricane.

“I don’t know how anyone could have survived there,” he says, looking at the rubble of a mobile home park in Fort Myers Beach. She lived there for 11 years.

His house, like that of at least 60 people in that sector, was totally destroyed.

Emergency teams continue to search for people in that city, removing trees and debris. Many people were unable to call for help due to power outages.

With Reuters and AP