In the Aftermath of Hurricane Ian that hit Florida last week, the death toll has risen to 68 while leaving over 700,000 customers without power.
What’s more?
According to reports, 61 deaths occurred in Florida, while four people died in North Carolina. And another three people died in Cuba. Also, of the four deaths recorded in North Carolina, two were storm-related car crashes.
In case you missed it
On Thursday, Florida was hit with what one could easily describe as the worst hurricane in the state’s history. Hurricane Ian invaded the state with strong winds, life-threatening and catastrophic flooding.
In certain areas of the state, water levels surged so high that they reached rooftops. The water level rose as high as 12 feet. Orlando, in central Florida, broke its 24-hour rainfall record with 12.49 inches of rain.
On Friday, Hurricane Ian made a landfall in South Carolina as a Category 1 storm, carrying a dangerous storm surge of 4 – 7 feet.
What they are saying
Speaking on recovery plans, Deanne Criswell, an administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said that the state is a long way from recovery as there were so many people impacted by the flood.
- She added that emergency officers are thoroughly searching every house to account for everyone hit by the storm.
What you should know
Florida has approximately experienced 500 tropical or subtropical cyclones, but 121 hurricanes since 1851. Storms have hit Florida more than any other state in the US, resulting in the deaths of over 10,000 people and a loss of over US$216.1 billion in damage (2018). About one-third of those storms hit Category 3 or above.