FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) – People kayak down streets that were passable a day or two ago. Hundreds of thousands of people without electricity. National Guard helicopters on a mission to rescue residents still stranded on Florida’s barrier islands.
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Days after Hurricane Ian left a trail of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, the danger remained and in some places even worsened. It was clear that the road to destruction after the huge storm was going to be long and arduous.
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Plus, Ian isn’t leaving yet. The storm dumped downpours on Virginia on Sunday and authorities warned of the risk of severe flooding along the coast starting Monday.
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Ian’s remains drifted out to sea and formed a northeastern front that was supposed to drain even more water onto the already flooded Chesapeake Bay. The system could cause the worst coastal flooding in the Hampton Roads area, Virginia in 10-15 years, said Cody Poche, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
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The island city of Chincoteague declared a state of emergency on Sunday and strongly recommended the evacuation of residents in some areas. North Carolina’s east coast and northern Outer Banks were also expected to be affected.
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At least 68 deaths have been confirmed, 61 in Florida, four in North Carolina and three in Cuba.
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As the death toll rises, Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said the federal government is willing to offer extraordinary help, focusing primarily on the victims in Florida, who have suffered the brunt. of one of the strongest storms ever to land in the United States. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were due to visit the state on Wednesday.
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Flooded roads and broken bridges leading to the islands have left many people isolated due to limited cell phone service and a lack of basic services such as water, electricity and the internet. Authorities have warned that the situation is not expected to improve in many areas for several days because all the rain that has fallen has nowhere to drain.
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Fewer than 620,000 homes and businesses in Florida were still without electricity Sunday night, down from a peak of 2.6 million.
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Criswell told Fox News Sunday that the federal government, including the Coast Guard and the Department of Defense, has begun organizing “as many search and rescue assets as I think we have ever put together before.”
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However, recovery will take time, said Criswell, who visited the state on Friday and Saturday to assess the damage and speak with survivors. He warned that there is still danger from the interruption of power lines in areas with standing water.
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More than 1,600 people were rescued statewide, according to the state emergency management agency.
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Rebecca Santana in Ft. Myers; Brendan Farrington and Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahasse; David Fisher in Miami; Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia; and Richard Lardner in Washington contributed to this report.
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