Hurricane Ian swept across Florida and the Carolinas last week as a Category 4 hurricane. Ian left a trail of devastation and left millions without water or power. The death toll continues to rise day by day. According to CNN, the death toll in Florida is up to 100 people. More than 1,500 people were rescued from areas of strong flooding. Many people are returning to their homes to find them partially or completely destroyed with the looming cloud of rebuilding rolling in.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the total cost of damages in Florida will cost up to 100 million dollars. Homes and many businesses were destroyed by the extreme flooding and intensity of the storm. According to ABC news, a storm surge from the Gulf of Mexico in Fort Myers impacted homes three miles from the gulf. It has left many homes flooded and without power. Residents of Sanibel Island, a small island off the coast of Fort Myers, had to be rescued by helicopter and many people still have to be rescued.
The impact of Ian can be seen in pictures of homes on the ocean that are destroyed, and businesses that once thrived are in ruins. Many are waiting for power and water to come on before they can start repairing homes.
In a White House briefing on Thursday, Sept. 30, President Biden said, “FEMA is registering people directly to be able to get help. They’re setting up disaster recovery centers in shelters all across the state so we can get survivors registered for the help they need as quickly as they can possibly get it.” Biden also added that utility workers from many other states are helping many Floridians get power back on.
Biden traveled to Florida on Wednesday to meet with Florida governor Ron Desantis to see the damage and deliver remarks to Floridians. In his remarks, Biden said, “Today we have one job and only one job, and that’s to make sure the people of Florida get everything they need to fully, thoroughly recover.”
Nov. 30 marks the end of the hurricane season; while the rebuilding process begins in Florida, many are hoping that Ian was the last of the hurricanes to hit the US this year.