As Hurricane Ian continues to batter the state of Florida, US President Joe Biden said it could be "the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history."."The numbers are still unclear, but we're hearing early reports of what could be substantial loss of life," Biden said at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters on Thursday.."My message to the people of Florida and to the country is, it's at times like this America comes together," he said. "We're gonna' pull together as one team, as one America.".Biden approved federal disaster funds for nine Florida counties. The White House said Thursday more areas could be approved as storm's damage is assessed..Hurricane Ian hit Florida early Wednesday afternoon as a Category Four storm, days after it knocked out power in the US territory of Puerto Rico. It's snuffed power for 2.7 million people and trapped tens of thousands in their homes..Footage on Twitter showed devastation in cities on the state's west coast, with the cities of Fort Myers and Naples hit especially hard with flooding and high-speed winds. .The hurricane then travelled east across the state, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Parts of Orlando experienced flash flooding and washed out roadways, trapping many in their homes and in assisted living care facilities. Rescue operations continued throughout Thursday..A lack of electricity and cell phone service made it difficult for emergency crews to find and rescue people. The sheriff's office in Collier Country, which includes Naples, said portable towers for cell service are being brought into the county.."Chances are your loved ones do not have ability to contact you. We can tell you as daylight reveals the aftermath, it's going to be a hard day," they said..Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a Thursday press conference the Coast Guard rescued many people who were in their attics or on rooftops to escape the floodwaters. He said Florida is dealing with a "500-year flooding event."."We've never seen storm surge of this magnitude," DeSantis said. "The amount of water that's been rising, and will likely continue to rise today even as the storm is passing, is basically a 500-year flooding event.".Sheriff Carmine Marceno of Lee County, which was hit hard by Ian, said Thursday he believed the death toll would be "in the hundreds." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis later said that number had not yet been confirmed..The storm is now expected to travel northwest towards the US state of South Carolina on Friday. The governors of South and North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia have all declared states of emergency in preparation for the storm.."There will be water tomorrow in this city," said the mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg, who asked the city to shut down in preparation for Ian's approach.
As Hurricane Ian continues to batter the state of Florida, US President Joe Biden said it could be "the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history."."The numbers are still unclear, but we're hearing early reports of what could be substantial loss of life," Biden said at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters on Thursday.."My message to the people of Florida and to the country is, it's at times like this America comes together," he said. "We're gonna' pull together as one team, as one America.".Biden approved federal disaster funds for nine Florida counties. The White House said Thursday more areas could be approved as storm's damage is assessed..Hurricane Ian hit Florida early Wednesday afternoon as a Category Four storm, days after it knocked out power in the US territory of Puerto Rico. It's snuffed power for 2.7 million people and trapped tens of thousands in their homes..Footage on Twitter showed devastation in cities on the state's west coast, with the cities of Fort Myers and Naples hit especially hard with flooding and high-speed winds. .The hurricane then travelled east across the state, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Parts of Orlando experienced flash flooding and washed out roadways, trapping many in their homes and in assisted living care facilities. Rescue operations continued throughout Thursday..A lack of electricity and cell phone service made it difficult for emergency crews to find and rescue people. The sheriff's office in Collier Country, which includes Naples, said portable towers for cell service are being brought into the county.."Chances are your loved ones do not have ability to contact you. We can tell you as daylight reveals the aftermath, it's going to be a hard day," they said..Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a Thursday press conference the Coast Guard rescued many people who were in their attics or on rooftops to escape the floodwaters. He said Florida is dealing with a "500-year flooding event."."We've never seen storm surge of this magnitude," DeSantis said. "The amount of water that's been rising, and will likely continue to rise today even as the storm is passing, is basically a 500-year flooding event.".Sheriff Carmine Marceno of Lee County, which was hit hard by Ian, said Thursday he believed the death toll would be "in the hundreds." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis later said that number had not yet been confirmed..The storm is now expected to travel northwest towards the US state of South Carolina on Friday. The governors of South and North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia have all declared states of emergency in preparation for the storm.."There will be water tomorrow in this city," said the mayor of Charleston, John Tecklenburg, who asked the city to shut down in preparation for Ian's approach.
