LIVE – Hurricane Ian: Florida affected by “catastrophic flooding”, 2 million homes without electricity

LOCATION POINT IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

The situation remains very difficult in a very large number of Florida counties, said LCI correspondent in Tampa, in southwest Florida, Axel Monnier. Until then, the emergency services did not prefer to intervene, for lack of being able to access the sites and because of the danger. But many fire trucks have now taken over the streets of the city.

More than 300 ambulances will be sent by the federal government, along with medical teams, offering food and water, while more than 5,000 National Guardsmen have been sent as reinforcements. The hurricane may weaken, the consequences could still be strong. Residents in the area are advised to stay at home for the next few hours.

COLD SWEAT

An engineer from the US Oceanic and Atmospheric Observation Agency and his team flew into the heart of Hurricane Ian to study it. On his Twitter account, Nick Underwood shared a video showing the device shuddering, jostled by numerous turbulences.

“When I say it was the most difficult flight of my career, I really mean it. I had never seen the bunks come off like this. There was coffee everywhere. I have never felt such a lateral movement”, he wrote, calling on the population to “stay safe”.

“I’ve flown through storms for the past six years. This flight into Hurricane Ian aboard Kermit was the worst I’ve ever been on. I’ve never seen so many flashes in my eye,” he had insisted in a previous message, in the caption of a photo of the eye of the hurricane lit up, as in broad daylight. The photo was actually taken at night, and is therefore lit by lightning.

PICTURES

Some shots collected by CNN, during or after the passage of Hurricane Ian. Two million homes are now without electricity in Florida.

IAN BECOMES A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE

Previously classified in category 4, out of the 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, Ian is now in category 3 but remains destructive, according to the American National Hurricane Center (NHC)

FORT MYERS IN THE HEART OF HURRICANE

A reporter for The Weather Channel captured Hurricane Ian as it swept through the town of Fort Myers. More than 1.5 million homes are without electricity.

A 3 METER FLOOD AT FORT MYERS

According to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the flood could sometimes exceed 3 meters. In the city of Fort Myers, flooding is so severe that some neighborhoods look like lakes.

HIGH WINDS AT PUNTA GORDA

On these images filmed by this amateur meteorologist, it is possible to see the power of the winds which beat down in the streets of this city of Florida. Peaks of up to 241 km/h have been recorded.

FORT MYERS FLOODS

According to this specialized journalist from Weather Channel, the images that we see on the video are those of a camera placed 1.80 m high in a street in Fort Myers, and about to be submerged.

A MILLION HOMES WITHOUT ELECTRICITY

Already more than a million homes are without electricity in Florida, which has just reached Hurricane Ian, category 4.

A VERY POWERFUL HURRICANE

With winds over 150 miles per hour (241 km/h), Hurricane Ian already ranks 5th among the most violent hurricanes that have hit the American coasts.

FLOODS

The MSNBC television channel broadcasts these images of already flooded streets in the locality of Naples (Florida), where cars seem to be on the verge of being completely submerged.

REPORTAGE

TF1’s special correspondent was in Fort Myers a few hours before Hurricane Ian landed in this region of southwest Florida.

RECORD WATER LEVELS

Ian is generating record water levels, already surpassing those of Hurricane Irma, which caused more than $100 billion in damage to Florida in 2017.

ON CHARLEY’S TRAJECTORY

Hurricane Ian seems to be taking the same trajectory as its predecessor Charley in 2004, but seems more powerful, analyzes Météo France forecaster Etienne Kapikian. Charley had caused the death of 29 people in Florida, directly or indirectly.

IN THE EYE OF THE CYCLONE

Seconds above the eye of Hurricane Ian as it makes landfall in Florida.

IAN REACHES FLORIDA

The National Hurricane Center has announced the arrival on Florida soil of Ian, classified as category 4 and considered very dangerous. The hurricane reached the American coasts at the level of the locality of Cayo Costa, with winds of more than 230 km / h

MIAMI

The French consulate in Florida, based in Miami, is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Ian.

IN CUBA

Before reaching Florida, the hurricane had already passed over Cuba, causing considerable damage in the west, and cutting off electricity throughout the island.

“CATASTROPHIC” FLOODS

Hurricane Ian caused “catastrophic” flooding as it approached Florida, where the Coast Guard began operations to find 23 migrants missing offshore.

Carrying sustained winds of up to 250 km / h and even “stronger” gusts, the hurricane “causes marine submersion, winds, and catastrophic flooding in the Florida peninsula”, estimates the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in its latest newsletter.

SARASOTA, FIRST DAMAGE

First AFP photographs from the coastal city of Sarasota as Category 4 Hurricane Ian is about to make landfall in Florida.

EVACUATIONS

Hours before Hurricane Ian landed in Florida, residents of the most threatened areas fled by the thousands.

MIGRANTS DISAPPEARED AT SEA

The US Coast Guard is beginning operations to find 23 missing migrants after their boat sank off Florida, where Hurricane Ian is about to make landfall, Border Patrol announced.

“Four Cuban migrants swam to shore after their boat sank due to bad weather. The Southeast Sector Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue operation for 23 individuals,” the tweet read. Miami Sector Border Patrol Chief Walter Slosar.

“HISTORICAL” STORM

Hurricane Ian is already causing “catastrophic sea flooding, winds, and flooding” in Florida, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said in its latest bulletin.

The impact of the Category 4 hurricane is imminent on the west coast of the Florida peninsula, with the country’s weather services warning that the storm will be “historic”.