Manage the consequences for some, anticipate for others. Although Hurricane Ian left considerable damage during its violent passage through Florida on Thursday, where it claimed at least 19 lives according to CNN, the United States already expects to see significant damage on the East Coast this Friday. The storm, re-categorized as a hurricane Thursday night, continues to strengthen and now threatens Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
According to the latest estimates from the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, the winds inside the hurricane are now reaching 140 km/h.
“Ian is expected to cause life-threatening flooding, storm surge and high winds tomorrow, this Friday, editor’s note, in the Carolinas,” the Center warned in a tweet.
The hurricane is expected to hit the East Coast early Friday, the same source said, adding that southern Virginia could also be affected.
The east coast is getting ready
Given these forecasts, the States concerned are already beginning to take measures to better protect their populations. “Heavy rainfall can be expected across the state and dangerous storm surge can be expected in low-lying coastal areas,” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said earlier.
“If you haven’t already planned for all eventualities, now is the time to do so,” he also told a news conference.
In particular, the governor suggests that residents plan to take shelter on higher ground, less prone to flooding. According to the same source, local agencies are also preparing to open emergency shelters to better respond to the force of the hurricane.
In Georgia, the same anticipation: Although the state believes it can “avoid the worst case scenario,” top officials are urging people to be prepared for tornadoes and subsequent flooding. The entire North Carolina coast is also expected to see the hurricane. After the major power outages in Florida -3.6 million homes were affected-, the state foresees similar consequences.
2.2 million homes are still without electricity
For its part, Florida is just beginning to recover from Hurricane Ian on Friday. Already, to better manage reconstructions, curfew measures are decreed at the local level: this is the case in Collier County to prevent looting and robberies from occurring during the night, according to the Washington Post.
“There are still many unknowns to deal with with rising waters, debris on roads, and many people have evacuated their homes and businesses,” the county police said on their Facebook page.
“We don’t want criminals to take advantage of our residents and our businesses at one of the most vulnerable times of their lives.”
According to a new tally from the site PowerOutage, which lists data on power outages in the United States, 2.2 million homes are still without power as of Friday morning.
This Thursday, during a press conference, the governor of Florida prepared an initial assessment of the damage caused by the hurricane, and declared to expect the worst. “We absolutely expect mortality,” he said. For his part, President Joe Biden feared this Thursday that he was dealing with “the deadliest hurricane in Florida history.”
Source: BFM TV
