CNN
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President Joe Biden mentioned Thursday that it’s time for the nation to tug collectively to assist these affected by Hurricane Ian as he sought to ship unifying remarks on the Federal Emergency Administration Administration’s headquarters in Washington.
“My message to the folks of Florida and to the nation in instances like this: America comes collectively. We’re gonna pull collectively as one group, as one America,” the President mentioned.
Biden mentioned that already “many households are hurting” and all the nation hurts with them.
“They’re questioning what’s gonna be left? What’s gonna be left once they get to go dwelling?” he mentioned. “Or even when they’ve a house to go to.”
Biden additionally introduced that these in Florida with out sufficient insurance coverage will probably be offered particular person help of $37,900 for dwelling repairs and one other $37,000 for lack of property, together with “every little thing from vehicle to a misplaced marriage ceremony ring.” He additionally warned Floridians to not go exterior “except you completely need to,” including that it’s each dangerous and impedes first responders from doing their job.
Biden mentioned that he intends to go to Florida and Puerto Rico, which continues to cope with devastation brought on by Hurricane Fiona. He added that he would meet with Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis when he surveys injury within the state “if he desires to satisfy.” Biden and DeSantis – who’ve criticized each other over quite a lot of points the years – spoke on Thursday over the cellphone for the second time in two days.
Ian got here ashore Wednesday in Florida as a Class 4 hurricane, making it one of many strongest storms ever to make landfall on Florida’s west coast. The storm has since weakened to a tropical storm with 70 mile per hour sustained winds, in accordance with the Nationwide Hurricane Middle.
In southwest and central Florida, which bore the brunt of the storm, survey crews reported collapsed buildings, flooding, downed energy strains and impassable roads early Thursday. Greater than 2.6 million clients had no energy Thursday morning, in accordance with PowerOutage.us, and a few consuming water techniques have damaged down fully or have boil notices in impact.
Biden on Thursday speculated that Ian “might be the deadliest hurricane in Florida historical past,” including that “the numbers are nonetheless unclear, however we’re listening to early stories of what could also be substantial lack of life.”
The full extent of devastation ensuing from the storm – together with the variety of hurricane-related deaths, the quantity of people that stay trapped and the variety of houses which have been destroyed – stays largely unknown.
One particular person’s dying was linked to the storm in Osceola County in central Florida, the county’s emergency administration director Invoice Litton advised CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Thursday morning. In accordance with Litton, the one that died was in hospice, and a explanation for dying was not given.
Roughly 5 persons are believed to have died in Lee County, the sheriff mentioned, and elements of a key bridge there from Sanibel and Captiva islands to Florida’s mainland have been washed out.
Many individuals are believed to wish rescuing in southwest Florida’s Fort Myers space, FEMA chief Deanne Criswell mentioned Thursday. The close by Naples space was equally slammed, with toes of water submerging streets, practically swallowing automobiles and speeding into the primary flooring of houses and companies.
The Coast Guard and Nationwide Guard have been “pulling folks off of roofs in Fort Myers” with plane Thursday morning, Coast Guard Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson advised CNN. Coast Guard crews have rescued at the very least 23 folks since Wednesday, the service mentioned.
