At least 2.5 million Florida residents were ordered to evacuate as they expected strong storm surge, strong winds and flooding.
stone. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Residents of Florida rushed to board up their properties, put valuables on higher floors and flee the coming Hurricane Ian, which they fear will destroy all of Cuba And the terrible storm of energy on May 11 will leave tens of millions of people behind. Their properties were drained of energy as catastrophic winds and flooding hit the state’s west coast on Wednesday.
“There’s nothing you can do about pure disaster,” said Vinod Nair, who drove Tuesday from the Tampa area to the Orlando resort area with his spouse, son, dog and two kittens in search of shelter. “We live in a high-risk area, so we thought it would be best to evacuate.”
Nair and his family are among at least 2.5 million Florida residents who will need to be evacuated in anticipation of strong storm surge, high winds and heavy rain. Buoyed by the beautiful and comfortable offshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Ian gained strength Tuesday as a Category 3 storm after plowing through a prized tobacco-growing region in western Cuba.
The National Hurricane Center predicts Ian is likely to be a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane, with winds of up to 209 km/h before roaring along Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday afternoon. Florida’s hurricane strength was effectively predicted before the storm’s eyewall moved inland.
“It’s a huge storm, and when it’s available, it’s going to whip up a lot of water,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in Sarasota. is a coastal metropolis of 57,000 people along the storm’s projected path. “This is a life-threatening storm surge,” he warned at a news conference.
Ian’s progress over the Gulf slowed, allowing the hurricane to become wider and more powerful. In addition to Tampa and St. Petersburg, hurricane warnings for about 350 kilometers in the state include Fort Myers and St. Petersburg, which could be the first direct hits from a major hurricane since 1921.
At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Miami’s Nationwide Hurricane Middle noted that a storm surge warning had been issued for the Florida Keys. The storm was moving north-northeast about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Naples, Florida. Most winds were around 193 km/h (120 mph) with stronger gusts.
Forecasters mentioned that if it peaked at high tide, the storm surge could reach 12 feet (3.6 meters). Rainfall in excess of 18 inches (46 cm) is possible near the landing zone.
Gil Gonzalez does not accept any probability. He boarded the windows of his Tampa home with plywood and laid sandbags to prevent flooding. Before evacuating, he and his spouse filled the car with bottled water, flashlights, cellphone batteries and a tent.
“We store all our valuable property upstairs in a good friend’s home,” Gonzalez said.
Tampa, St. Petersburg and Key West airports are closed. Disney World and SeaWorld theme parks in Orlando were closed before the storm.
A pair of Britons on holiday in Tampa were hit by a storm at an animal shelter. Glyn and Christine Williams, from London, have been ordered to leave their cottage near the sea as an evacuation has been ordered. They may not be able to get flight accommodation due to airport closures.
“Sadly, all the resorts are full or closed, so it looks like we’re going to be in one of the many shelters,” Kristin Williams said.
Her husband insists that all things are positive. “You understand, you need to slide,” Green Williams said. “So we’re pretty proud of what we’re doing.”
Hurt swathes of Florida are expected to be damaged as Tropical Storm Ian’s winds travel 140 miles (225 kilometers) from its middle. Flash flooding is possible across the state, and parts of the East Coast are at risk of possible storm surge as Ian’s band approaches the Atlantic Ocean. The storm’s tactics also prompted warnings of remote tornadoes.
In the meantime, uncertainty remains about the exact location of the touchdown.
Florida Energy and Mild warned those supporting Ian’s choice to spend days without energy. As a precaution, a large number of residents have been evacuated from some Tampa-area nursing facilities, and hospitals have also transferred some patients.
Parts of Georgia and South Carolina could experience Friday’s heavy rain and some coastal flooding by Saturday. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp preemptively declared a state of emergency and ordered 500 National Guard soldiers to respond if needed.
Before turning to Florida, Ian made landfall in Cuba’s Pinar del Rio province early on Tuesday, battering sustained 125-mph winds that wreaked havoc on the island nation’s world-famous tobacco belt.
Local government broadcaster TelePinar, which reported that the main hospital in the city of Pinar del Rio was devastated, tweeted pictures of collapsed ceilings, widely thrown pellets and fallen wood. No deaths were reported. Some walked out of the affected spaces with their children, while buses attempted to evacuate others through flooded streets. Others choose to leave behind their shattered possessions.
“It’s horrible,” said 49-year-old Pinar del Rio resident Yusimi Palacios from her dilapidated residence. “But that’s where we live, and I just begged the Cuban Revolution to help me with a roof and a mattress.”
Related News employees hug Christina Mesquita in Havana, Cuba; Cody Jackson in Tampa, Florida; Freida Frisaro in Miami; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; Seth Borenstein in Washington and New York Bobby Caina Calvan.
Hurricane Ian: Expected to make landfall in Florida Wednesday afternoon