In Cuba it has already left great destruction and at least two dead. Now on its way to Florida, hurricane "Ian" has picked up speed and is only just below the highest hurricane category. US authorities warn that there is still a risk of death for days.
US authorities have warned of the dangers of Hurricane Ian, which is heading for the Florida coast. The hurricane is deadly, even in the days after it made landfall, said FEMA director Deanne Criswell. Large parts of the state are expected to be affected by the expected storm surges on the coast, flooding in the interior of the country and massive rainfall. The water masses are extremely dangerous, warned Criswell.
The hurricane had increased significantly in strength on its way towards Florida and, with wind speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, is only just below the threshold for the highest hurricane category. The storm in the Gulf of Mexico is still classified as a hurricane in the second highest category four out of five, according to the US Hurricane Center.
"Ian" will reach the mainland south of the city of Tampa during Wednesday. The director of the National Hurricane Center, Ken Graham, emphasized that it will probably take 24 hours after arriving on land for the hurricane to pass over Florida. That means 24 hours of heavy rain. In parts of Florida, 50 to 60 centimeters of rain are expected in a very short time. Even if the hurricane pulls away, there is still a risk of debris, broken power lines and the like. US President Joe Biden emphasized that the federal government is ready to provide all possible help to authorities in Florida and the affected communities - before the storm, during it and for the necessary construction afterwards. He also warned that the hurricane was life-threatening. Biden urged residents of the affected areas to follow the advice of local authorities.
Florida's governor Ron DeSantis has prepared the population in his state for severe damage from the approaching hurricane "Ian". "This is a big, strong storm," DeSantis said in the morning (local time) in the Florida capital, Tallahassee. "He'll do a lot of damage." Large-scale power failures and damage to infrastructure and communication lines are to be expected.
There are evacuation instructions for 2.5 million people. DeSantis said the hurricane could develop into a category five hurricane before it makes landfall. People would have to be prepared for large amounts of water and rain. The Republican politician predicted that the next day or two would be "very ugly" until the hurricane passed over Florida. "It's going to be a tough track."
Criswell said the region expected to be affected by the storm had not experienced a hurricane like this in around 100 years. It is important that people who have not lived in the southeastern state for long and have little experience with hurricanes take the matter seriously. Experts are also concerned that in the past few decades the region has been built closer and closer to the water. Floods could damage or destroy many buildings.
The US Department of Defense said more than 3,200 members of the Florida National Guard have been activated, with another 1,800 standing by if needed. In case of doubt, another 2,000 national guardsmen could come from other states. Florida has positioned soldiers and equipment at bases across the state in preparation for deployment to storm-hit areas, a ministry spokesman said in Washington. The National Guard can take care of clearing streets and help with search and rescue operations. DeSantis said more than 30,000 utility technicians are also on hand to fix lines and get people powered up again as quickly as possible. Most of them come from other US states.
Foothills of the hurricane had already reached the city of Key West, the southernmost point of Florida, during the night. Images of flooded streets and meter-high waves could be seen on social networks. "Ian" made landfall in Cuba on Tuesday as a category three of five hurricane. In the province of Pinar del Río, which was particularly hard hit, two people died after their houses collapsed, the Cuban government said. The power went out nationwide. Because of the power outages and disruptions to Internet and telephone connections, information from the particularly affected areas in Cuba only gradually reached the public. Photos painted a picture of great destruction: they showed debris in the streets, houses under water, trees uprooted, houses covered and streets flooded. "The damage is great, although not yet statistically recorded," wrote President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Twitter after a visit to Pinar del Río province.
