Hurricane Ian Death Toll in Florida Reaches 47, Thousands of Floridians Struggle for Gas and Basic Needs
At least 73 people were believed to have died in Florida because of Hurricane Ian, with four more deaths in North Carolina, according to an NBC News count early Sunday. However, the Associated Press had a lower death toll of 47 in Florida from the storm.
Numerous individuals died, and hundreds of thousands of residents were still without power and other necessities because of the hurricane's destruction in Florida. It was estimated that repairing the damages would cost billions of dollars.
First responders rushed in looking for survivors or bodies of those who died in the 150 mph winds and torrential rain of the Category 4 hurricane that resulted in significant flooding. Authorities said that an elderly couple was among those who died as their oxygen machines stopped working due to a power outage.
General Daniel Hokanson, who oversees the National Guard, said they have already rescued more than 1,000 survivors as of Sunday morning. Hour-long queues for gas and thousands of people still trapped in shelters were among the eerie post-apocalyptic sights in Florida.
The New York Post reported that the U.S. Coast Guard maintained rescue attempts on Florida's barrier islands by organizing boat evacuations when road access was shut off.
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Biden Administration Ready to Help Hurricane Ian Victims in Florida
Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell said the federal government is ready to assist the victims. Criswell noted that they will give special attention to those in Florida who have been the hardest hit by one of the biggest storms to hit the United States.
The state will be visited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on Wednesday. Many individuals became isolated due to flooded roads, damaged bridges to barrier islands, bad cellphone reception, and a shortage of basic services like internet, electricity, and water.
The amount of rain that poured also had nowhere to go because waterways were overflowing, and officials warned that the condition in many locations would not get better for a few days, The Associated Press reported.
"We worry a lot about the direct impacts from the storm itself as it is making landfall, but we see so many more injuries and sometimes more fatalities after the storm," Criswell said. "People need to stay vigilant right now. Standing water brings with it all kinds of hazards - it has debris, it could have power lines," she added.
Red Cross Sends Help to Hurricane Ian Victims in Florida
Hurricane Ian's death toll was believed to be 54: Florida had 47, North Carolina had 4, and three in Cuba. The National Hurricane Center issued a flash flood warning as the weakened storm traveled north Sunday. It was forecasted to pour rain on portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and southern Pennsylvania.
Due to Hurricane Ian's damage in Florida, the Red Cross is now working to ensure people facing unimaginable destruction have a safe place to stay, food to eat, and comfort.
In some of the hardest-hit areas where people can get to them, the organization has many response vehicles moving around to give out water, ready-to-eat meals, and other essential supplies. The organization said they would send more help to reach hard-hit areas as conditions improve.
In total, 39 Red Cross shelters were used by more than 3,400 persons in Florida. The organization has also given over 41,000 meals and snacks to needy persons. Moreover, volunteers are also replacing eyeglasses, prescription medications, or critical medical equipment like wheelchairs and canes.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
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