Ian downgraded to post-tropical cyclone as it lashes Carolinas; Florida officials report more deaths

In an replace with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday morning, Florida Division of Emergency Administration Director Kevin Guthrie introduced extra fatalities from Hurricane Ian.

He informed reporters that there was one confirmed dying reported in Polk County.

Within the hard-hit Charlotte County, 12 reported fatalities have been unconfirmed.

In Collier County, there have been eight unconfirmed deaths.

Guthrie famous that the state was nonetheless processing a few different “conditions,” together with one the place human stays had been discovered.

He additionally warned about carbon monoxide points, though noting he was not saying there had been carbon monoxide deaths.

The governor introduced that greater than $12 million in donations had been raised following Hurricane Ian’s devastation.

“Fairly, uh, fairly unbelievable that that is occurred,” he remarked, including that donations assist FEMA to “be a bit bit extra nimble.”

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell mentioned 13 counties in Florida have been designated for particular person help as restoration and reduction efforts are underway.

The variety of clients reported with out energy on Friday morning dropped under the two million mark, though DeSantis famous that 99% of Hardy County was with out energy, in addition to 85% of Charlotte and Lee Counties.

A water important break in Lee County, he mentioned, left residents there with out water.

The governor mentioned that scenario was a “prime precedence” and that the Military Corps of Engineers was working to evaluate that scenario.

As well as, the DeSantis mentioned that greater than 10,000 residents – out of over 20,000 which have been contacted by the state – who had crammed out a shelter in place survey on floridadisaster.org had responded as “protected.”

The state expects extra responses on Friday and there’s now a standalone web site to let relations know you are protected: lacking.fl.gov.

As rescuers proceed to work, DeSantis mentioned that they’d reached greater than 3,000 houses in essentially the most impacted areas, with over 1,000 rescue personnel positioned up and down the shoreline.

The governor’s workplace later confirmed to Fox Information that there had been not less than 700 rescues.

FDOT had cleared over 1,100 miles of roadway and the governor mentioned that visitors was flowing out of the world and was “higher than anticipated so quickly.”

800 bridges have been inspected and reopened, however DeSantis famous that Sanibel Bridge can be a rebuild venture.

The bridge had breaks in a number of elements.

Six well being care amenities had been evacuated in southwest Florida after points with water or energy for an prolonged time period.

DeSantis mentioned that folks have been working across the clock to have the ability to serve their constituents and communities.

“And, we respect the dedication. We respect the perseverance. We all know that there is lots of troublesome days forward, however they’ve actually finished an ideal job of standing up for the folks of their neighborhood,” he concluded.