Hurricane Ian moving up East Coast
Ian is at hurricane status once more as the tropical storm ploughs towards the Carolinas on the southeast US coastline on Friday.
South Carolina, which is subject to major flood warnings, strong winds and a “life-threatening storm surge”, is where the hurricane is expected to make landfall on Friday afternoon.
President Joe Biden has issued an emergency declaration for South Carolina ahead of time as the National Hurricane Center warns of Ian’s strengthening over the Atlantic.
In Florida, rescue operations have been taking place after unprecedented flooding from one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the United States. It remains unclear how many people are exactly missing.
Thousands of people are stranded across the state and some 2 million people remain without power, in damage and economic losses that could amount to as much as $120bn, according to one estimate.
Nearly 2 million Floridians still without power
Almost 2 million customers in Florida are still in the dark, two days after Hurricane Ian made landfall near Fort Myers, according to poweroutage.us.
Power outages are concentrated in the band across the southwestern to central part of the state where Ian stretched, and heaviest in the Gulf Coast counties that got a direct impact.
In Lee and Charlotte counties, which saw the worst hit, more than 80 per cent of customers are still in the dark. In Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, homes to cities like St Petersburg and Tampa around the bay, a little less than 20 per cent of customers are without power.
Thousands of electrical workers are working to get power restored, and electricity is slowly starting to come back to some areas – earlier, at least 2.6 million customers were without power.
But the damage in some areas, like Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, is extremely severe, which could mean officials need longer to get power and utilities running again.
Charleston braces for storm impact
A steady stream of vehicles left the South Carolina city of Charleston on Thursday as Hurricane Ian approached.
People have been advised to seek higher ground as a 7ft storm surge was forecast for the South Carolina coastline.
As Meg Kinard reports, storefronts in Charleston were sandbagged to ward off high water levels:
A revived Hurricane Ian is bearing down on South Carolina’s coast and the historic city of Charleston, with forecasters predicting a storm surge and floods
Storm starts to show up in South Carolina
The National Weather Service has recorded a 66 mile per hour (106 kilometre per hour) wind gust on a beach just south of Charleston, SC and a 74 mph (119 kph) – meaning hurricane-force – wind gust on a buoy offshore.
Conditions in South Carolina and nearby areas of Georgia and North Carolina are expected to deteriorate over the day as Hurricane Ian makes its second landfall in the US.
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Charleston airport cancels flights
While Myrtle Beach airport says it will remain open, flights have been cancelled at Charleston International Airport as winds pick-up on Friday morning.
The airport said ahead of Ian’s landfall that it would close if wind speeds reached 40mph or more – which forecasts appear to suggest is already the case.
The airport’s website lists more than a dozen flights cancelled, as per FlightRadar24.
Meanwhile at Myrtle, airport officials said ahead of Friday that “As critical infrastructure, MYR does not close. Airlines may elect to delay/cancel flights during inclement weather. To check the status of your flight, please contact your airline.”
Cancelled flights from Charleston airport on Friday
(FlightRadar24)
Why you shouldn’t linger in hurricane floodwaters
ICYMI: As Hurricane Ian slammed Florida with wind speeds over 150mph, multiple people have shared videos of themselves swimming through floodwaters. We’re here to tell you why you shouldn’t do the same.
Amber Raiken has the story:
Multiple parts of Florida were left underwater due to Hurricane Ian this week
Windy scenes at Myrtle Beach airport before closure
Planes were seen delicately landing at Myrtle Beach airport on Thursday as wind speeds pick up before the arrival of category one Hurricane Ian on Friday.
In one video shared on Twitter, a Spirit airlines flight was seen swaying as the aircraft landed in South Carolina.
Both Myrtle Beach International Airport and Charleston International Airport are expected to delay flights on Friday when Ian hits, but may not close completely, airport officials say.
Where to donate to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian
ICYMI: Non-profit organisations have opened up relief funds to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian.
You can find a list of places where you can donate in the article below”
Florida governor Ron DeSantis described hurricane as a ‘500-year flood event’
Landfall could be between Charleston and Myrtle Beach
Weather forecasts are trying to predict where the category one storm will make landfall in South Carolina on Friday as Ian approaches with wind speeds of 85mph.
According to WBRC News meteorologist Matt Daniel, Ian could make landfall anywhere between the city of Charleston and Myrtle Beach on Friday afternoon.
Warnings of a storm surge and major flooding are in place for the South Carolina coastline.
Aerial photos capture Hurricane Ian devastation on Florida coast
Thousands are stranded in Florida while more than 2.6 million people are without power. Ian downgraded to a tropical storm - but forecasters warn danger has not passed.
Thousands are stranded in Florida while more than 2.6 million people without power. Ian downgraded to tropical storm - but forecasters warn danger has not passed
