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Hurricane-ravaged Florida, Carolinas face daunting recovery

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Hurricane-ravaged Florida, Carolinas face daunting recovery


MIAMI, Oct 2 (Reuters) – The largely innocuous however soggy remnants of Hurricane Ian drifted via Virginia early on Sunday, leaving of their wake storm-ravaged residents in Florida and the Carolinas going through a catastrophe restoration anticipated to price tens of billions of {dollars}.

The storm’s toll on human life additionally was anticipated to rise as floodwaters receded and search groups pushed farther into areas initially reduce off from the skin world, searching for stranded survivors and the stays of anybody who might have perished.

Not less than 50 storm-related deaths have been confirmed since Ian crashed ashore Florida’s Gulf Coast with catastrophic pressure on Wednesday as a Class 4 hurricane, packing most sustained winds of 150 miles (240 km) per hour.

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Florida accounted for the majority of fatalities, with 35 tallied by the sheriff’s workplace in coastal Lee County, which bore the brunt of the storm when it made landfall, and 11 different deaths reported by state officers in 4 neighboring counties.

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North Carolina authorities stated at the very least 4 extra folks had been killed there. No deaths had been instantly reported in South Carolina, the place Ian made its second U.S. landfall on Friday.

Chugging over land since then, Ian has diminished into an ever-weakening post-tropical cyclone, with the Nationwide Hurricane Heart (NHC) lifting all remaining watches and warnings associated to the fading climate system by Saturday night.

The NHC stated heavy extra rainfall was attainable throughout parts of West Virginia and western Maryland into Sunday morning, whilst “main to document flooding” was forecast to proceed in central Florida.

WASHED AWAY

As the complete scope of devastation got here into clearer focus days after Ian struck, officers stated a few of the heaviest harm was inflicted by raging wind-driven ocean surf that rushed into seaside communities and washed buildings away.

Satellite tv for pc photographs from the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed seashore cottages and a motel that lined the shores of Florida’s Sanibel Island had been demolished by storm surges. Though most properties appeared to nonetheless be standing, roof harm to all was evident.

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Surveys from the bottom confirmed that the barrier island, a preferred vacationer getaway that was residence to some 6,000 residents, was left totally devastated, from its infrastructure to its famously idyllic aesthetic character.

“It is all simply utterly gone,” Sanibel’s metropolis supervisor, Dana Souza, stated. “Our electrical system is just about destroyed, our sewer system has been broken badly and our public water provide is beneath evaluation.”

The island’s hyperlink to the mainland was severed by breaches to Sanibel’s causeway bridge, additional complicating restoration efforts, Souza stated.

After waning to a tropical storm by the tip of its march throughout Florida to the Atlantic, Ian regained hurricane power and pummeled coastal South Carolina on Friday, sweeping ashore close to Georgetown, north of the historic port metropolis of Charleston, with sustained winds reaching 85 mph (140 kph).

Quite a few roads had been flooded and blocked by fallen bushes whereas a lot of piers had been broken in that space.

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Whilst they confronted a staggering quantity of utility repairs and particles removing, authorities had been busy trying to find the lacking.

As of Friday, some 10,000 folks had been reported unaccounted for in Florida, in keeping with the state’s emergency administration director. He stated lots of these would seemingly prove have merely been displaced and unreachable on account of energy and telephone outages.

On Sanibel, crews had been simply making their approach to the hard-hit east finish of that island on Saturday, “so our scenario is that we’re nonetheless within the search-and-rescue mode,” town supervisor, Souza stated.

Metropolis officers had been conscious of practically 300 households who failed to go away the island because the storm approached and whose whereabouts and well-being had been now being checked, he stated.

About 996,000 companies and houses remained with out energy as late Saturday night time in Florida alone, the place greater than 2 million prospects misplaced electrical energy the primary night time of the storm.

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In central Florida, heavy flooding from rain-swollen rivers and runoff appeared way more intensive than wind harm.

Insurers braced for between $28 billion and $47 billion in claims from what might quantity to the most expensive Florida storm since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, in keeping with U.S. property knowledge and analytics firm CoreLogic.

Learn extra:

Maps-Hurricane Ian batters the Gulf Coast

Drone video reveals boats washed ashore in Hurricane Ian’s wake

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A Florida city rebuilt after one hurricane endures one other

Hurricane hunter says Ian’s eyewall flight was ‘worst I’ve ever been on’

How hurricanes trigger harmful, harmful storm surges

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Reporting by Brad Brooks in Miami and Fort Myers; Extra reporting Jonathan Drake in Charleston, S.C.; Kanishka Singh, Sharon Bernstein, Makini Brice, Maria Alejandra Cadona and Juby Babu; Writing by Steve Gorman; Enhancing by Kim Coghill

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.

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Florida deputy 'fighting for his life' following crash that killed 2 colleagues

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Florida deputy 'fighting for his life' following crash that killed 2 colleagues


A Florida deputy is “fighting for his life” Friday after being critically injured in a “horrific accident” that claimed the lives of two of his colleagues, officials say. 

Deputy Ignacio Diaz of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was struck Thursday on the shoulder of Southern Boulevard by a female driver who was trying to pass a vehicle on her right, according to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Diaz, along with Cpl. Luis Paez and Deputy Sheriff Ralph Waller, had been conducting traffic enforcement in the area. 

“She overcompensated, got off the road and then struck all three of the motor officers, at which time all three went airborne in different directions,” Bradshaw said. 

“Hopefully he is going to make it,” Bradshaw added regarding Diaz. “It’s a bad crash. We are jointly investigating this with Florida Highway Patrol.” 

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FLORIDA SHERIFF BREAKS UP ALLEGED MASSIVE CHECK FRAUD CONSPIRACY 

Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Ignacio “Dan” Diaz, who was critically injured Thursday after being hit by an SUV while conducting traffic enforcement. (Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office)

Bradshaw said the accident happened after one of the officers made a traffic stop and then “could not get his motorcycle started, so he thought he had a dead battery. 

“So he called the other two over to help him move the bike off the road. They were all three on the grassy area on the shoulder of the road, and they were going to wait for another PBSO vehicle to come with some battery cables,” he continued. 

The female driver, who did not appear to be impaired and was traveling in a zone with a 55-mph speed limit, suffered minor injuries in the crash, the sheriff said. 

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Paez and Waller were airlifted to a hospital, where “they worked on them for as long as they could there,” but “they were injured so badly they just weren’t going to make it,” according to Bradshaw. 

2 KENTUCKY POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DURING TRAFFIC STOP ON CAR REPORTED STOLEN 

“Law enforcement, public safety and the military are the only professions when you leave the house and kiss your family goodbye, that might be the last time, and here’s the example of it,” Bradshaw said. “When a deputy dies, a piece of the community dies with them. It’s tough.” 

The sheriff, who also called the accident “horrific,” said Diaz underwent surgery and is now in critical but stable condition in a local hospital’s ICU. 

“This is our hero, Deputy Ignacio ‘Dan’ Diaz, currently fighting for his life. Deputy Diaz joined PBSO in 2004 and has been a valued member of our Motor Unit for over 10 years. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for him and his family during this incredibly difficult time,” the sheriff’s office wrote on its Facebook page. 

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“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our brothers, honor their memory, and support their families during this devastating time,” it added in a post announcing the deaths of Paez and Waller. 

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office motorcycles

Motorcycles belonging to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

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As of Friday, it appears no charges have been filed following the accident. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 



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How 80-year-old crosswording juror caused a mistrial in Florida Home depot murder case

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How 80-year-old crosswording juror caused a mistrial in Florida Home depot murder case


A Florida judge has granted the defense team’s motion for a mistrial in the Home Depot murder case because of an “unhinged juror.” 

After more than five hours of deliberations earlier this week, an Escambia County judge called a mistrial for Shelia Agee, who is accused of helping her son kill the mother of his child at a Pensacola Home Depot store last year. 

“A particular juror has not treated this case during the evidence with the seriousness that they should have, that has apparently continued during deliberations,” Judge Coleman Robinson told WKRG.

The problems reportedly began when juror Sallie Sue Smith was caught with a crossword puzzle during testimony, according to WEAR News 3.

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MOTHER CHARGED AFTER ‘INCOMPREHENSIBLE’ TEXTS REVEAL SHE HELPED SON PLAN DEADLY FLORIDA SHOOTING: POLICE

Keith Agee, 20, and his mother, Sheila, were allegedly texting about his plans to kill Brooklyn Sims at The Home Depot in Pensacola. (Escambia County Sheriff’s Office)

On Tuesday, Smith was found working on a crossword puzzle during witness testimony. The next day, she was found using another crossword puzzle during deliberation.

Smith told WEAR News that the puzzle “helped her focus,” and denied any threatening behavior in the jury room.

“It was me,” Smith told WEAR News. “Well, I didn’t know it was a bad thing. I do that when I concentrate and I’m listening. You couldn’t see the bench or witness stand very well cause it was dark. But I could hear it… That’s just the way I do. I just do that and I had no idea and then when they told me I wasn’t supposed to do it, I stopped. And then, today, when I went into the jury room, I had another crossword puzzle.”

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Other jurors also later shared concerns about their safety during deliberations with Judge Robinson. 

GEORGIA SENATOR SEEKS DEATH PENALTY FOR LAKEN RILEY’S KILLER, CALLS ON ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STEP IN

Sheila Agee mugshot

Sheila Agee, 50, is facing charges in the shooting death of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims after allegedly helping her son plan the attack. (Washington County Jail)

“It is just a single piece of paper with a crossword puzzle printed on one side and not sure what’s on the other side,” said Robinson. “…I cannot ever recall a juror doing a crossword puzzle during a trial.”

Judge Robinson later questioned each juror, calling them in, one by one, and asked if they felt safe to continue after concerns were relayed to him by security. 

Nearly 20 witnesses took the stand, while it took prosecutors less than two days to rest their case against Agee. However, due to the jury’s issues, the trial was “hindered beyond repair.” 

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Smith didn’t say what her decision was on a verdict, but denied any threatening behavior to WEAR News.

“We retired to the jury room and started to deliberate,” Smith said. “It became obvious to me right away that I was in the minority of one versus 11 other people… At first, it started out reasonable. A lot of shouting, and I can shout, too.”

“I do have a loud voice, but I was being shouted down by a lot of people,” Smith added.

KILLER MOM SUSAN SMITH DENIED PAROLE 30 YEARS AFTER DROWNING SONS

Keith Agee mugshot

Keith Agee, 20, is charged with homicide and aggravated battery in the shooting death of 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims. (Escambia County Jail)

Agee, 51, was charged with principal to first-degree premeditated murder after police discovered text messages allegedly showing her help plan the shooting death of the mother of her son’s child, 18-year-old Brooklyn Sims, who was also Sheila’s co-worker.

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Her son, Keith Agee, 20, was arrested by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the deadly Aug. 11, 2023 shooting of Sims.

“According to text messages, it’s clear that Keith Agee’s mother, Sheila Agee, knew and participated in the plan to kill Brooklyn Sims. Additionally, text messages between mother and son highlight the mother’s involvement in helping locate the victim,” the ECSO previously wrote on Facebook.

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The department released the alleged text messages between the mother and son on its Facebook page, claiming they took place right before Sims was shot and killed.

“The murder itself is unbelievable, but to know the mother knew about it and helped coordinate it is incomprehensible,” Sheriff Chip Simmons said previously via Facebook.

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The case is expected to be back in court on Feb. 5.

“Another jury will have to come back and listen to the evidence in front of another jury where hopefully, those certain members will follow common sense, will follow the law, will treat their fellow jurors with decency and appropriateness. And will reach a verdict, whatever that may be, that is a fair and just verdict for both sides,” Robinson said.

Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this report. 



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Snowcat Ridge returns with Florida’s winter wonderland for holiday season

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Snowcat Ridge returns with Florida’s winter wonderland for holiday season


Looking for a winter wonderland that isn’t too far from home? Snowcat Ridge in Dade City officially opens for the season on Friday. 

Despite the state’s tropical landscape, Snowcat Ridge brings a unique alpine snow park and gives visitors a chance to experience snow and winter activities without leaving Florida. 

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The park’s centerpiece is a massive 60-foot-tall snow tubing hill with runs extending up to 400 feet, where families can zoom down on tubes while surrounded by snow. 

READ: Top destinations people dream of traveling to for the holidays

“So this year, what we really wanted to do was focus on what people said they enjoy most—the Christmas aspects of the park. So I said, ‘okay, let’s really do the Christmas thing,’” said Winston McDaniel with Snowcat Ridge. 

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Guests can also build snowmen, create snow angels and engage in snowball play inside the park’s 10,000-square-foot Arctic Igloo. The facility also has cutting edge snow-making technology to maintain snowy conditions. 

There’s also a cozy lodge for guests to grab hot chocolate and winter treats. 

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“It’s just about really doubling down on what it means to spend family time here at Christmas,” said McDaniel. 

MORE: After 112 years, ‘Operation Santa’ still accepting letters

In the evening, the slopes at Snowcat Ridge transform into a colorful LED light display, illuminating the snow and creating an unforgettable atmosphere for guests. 

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For more information on the park and its hours of operation, visit snowcatridge.com. 

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