The Florida National Guard is among several federal and state agencies aiding in response efforts after Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm on Florida’s western coast late Wednesday afternoon. The Florida National Guard announced Wednesday that it has 4,611 Guardsmen activated and ready to help with search and rescue operations, route clearance, aviation and law enforcement support and communication and humanitarian support, including distributing food and water to those in need.
Read More »DeSantis briefs the state on devastation, recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian
Hurricane Ian on Wednesday battered Southwest Florida, and as the storm continued its wrath on the east coast as a tropical storm, Gov. Ron DeSantis shed light Thursday morning on the destruction discovered so far.
Read More »Ian leaves behind a swath of flooding before pushing offshore Thursday
Major Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa shortly after 3 PM Wednesday and more than twelve hours later, it is still bringing flash flooding to central Florida before an eventual exit along the east coast.
Read More »The Point, Sept. 29, 2022: Hurricane Ian devastates Southwest Florida as one of the most powerful storms to hit the state
The storm made landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph wind speeds.
Read More »People trapped, hospital damaged after Ian swamps SW Florida
One of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States barreled across the Florida peninsula overnight Wednesday, threatening catastrophic flooding inland, the National Hurricane Center warned.
Read More »Preparing livestock amid Hurricane Ian
Livestock owners preparing for Hurricane Ian have three major concerns: identification, sheltering and power. Livestock can be identified by using ear tags or by spraying numbers onto the cattle using a can of nontoxic spray. Because most barns are not built to withstand hurricane winds, many area farms will leave their cows to weather the storm in open fields. Another concern is keeping power on so well water can be pumped for the livestock to drink.
Read More »Gov. Ron DeSantis details the state’s emergency response plan to power outages and rescues
On Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis detailed Florida’s emergency response plan for Hurricane Ian. Over 10,000 first responders are on standby. Some 42,000 linemen are also on standby to restore power to the 1.7 million people who have currently lost power. 911 call centers are down in Lee, Hendry and Glade counties and those calls are being rerouted to nearby counties. DeSantis urges people to stay safe indoors even if it is clear because many hurricane deaths happen after the storm, due to hurricane hazards.
Read More »Gainesville grocery stores struggle to keep up with demand ahead of storm
Gainesville grocery stores are struggling to keep up with rising demand for supplies like water and toilet paper. While necessities are being restocked as quickly as possible prior to Hurricane Ian’s arrival, it is unclear how late stores will remain open. As of noon Wednesday, several locations still have water …
Read More »The Point, Sept. 28, 2022: What Floridians should expect as Hurricane Ian makes landfall
The storm was upgraded to a Category 4 hurricane overnight.
Read More »Life-threatening storm surge possible as Major Hurricane Ian makes landfall Wednesday
Ian is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, flooding rains, strong winds, and even the risk of tornadoes as it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast Wednesday.
Read More »