Ian hit Florida’s Gulf Coast as a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale – the second highest – with winds of 240 km/h, causing flooding and the destruction of homes.
Florida officials said at least 27 people died due to the hurricane. Many deaths have occurred from drowning, including a 68-year-old woman who was dragged into the sea by a wave and a 67-year-old man who fell into the water invading her home.
More than 10,000 people are missing. Authorities believe most of them are in bunkers or without electricity. Thousands more are trapped in their homes and are holding the ransom.
Damage caused by the hurricane in the United States is estimated at tens of billions of dollars. Some roads were flooded or closed due to fallen trees. About 1.7 million homes were left without electricity.
US President Joe Biden approved the declaration of emergency and urged the public to heed the warnings of local officials. The approval allows the federal government to deliver resources to affected locations.
On Thursday, Biden said the federal government will cover “100%” of the rescue efforts to save lives, as well as the costs of cleaning up all the damage caused by the hurricane. It will also cover most of the cost of rebuilding public buildings such as schools and fire stations.
Authorities on alert
After Florida, the eye of the hurricane hit the South Carolina coast on Friday with winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour, where it flattened the Georgetown quay. After losing its intensity, Ian is expanding to North and South Carolina and Virginia this Saturday. The US National Hurricane Center warned that the danger of storms, flooding and strong winds remains.
In North Carolina, Democratic Governor Roy Cooper urged residents to prepare for heavy rains, strong winds and possible power outages.
Before reaching America’s shores, the hurricane passed through Cuba and dropped three motorcycles earlier in the week. Much of Cuba’s territory was almost completely paralyzed by the lack of electricity, water and telecommunications.
Ian crossed the western tip of the island with category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, leaving a trail of destruction with heavy rains and winds of up to 200 kilometers per hour.
source: Noticias
