Hurricane Ian: 101 FL Deaths, Homes 'Unlivable', 430K Without Power

FLORIDA — Nearly one week after Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, more than 100 people are dead as search and rescue and power restoration efforts continue in hard-hit parts of the state.

More than 1,900 people have been rescued statewide since Monday, though it's unclear how many people remain missing. Meanwhile, state officials are working on compiling a list of the missing, according to a CNN report, and more than 430,000 people are still without power Tuesday.

• Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

Ian knocked out power to nearly 3 million customers across Florida when it roared ashore Wednesday, bringing with it 150 mph winds and devastating storm surge.

In Bonita Springs, Catalina Mejilla was still using a borrowed generator to keep her kids and their grandfather cool as they waited for their power to be returned.

"The heat is unbearable," Mejilla told The Associated Press. "When there’s no power ... we can’t make food, we don’t have gas."

Her mother has trouble breathing and had to go to a friend’s house who had electricity.

"I think they should give power to the people who are most in need," Mejilla said.

Related:

• 4,700 Gallons Of Water Headed To Hurricane-Devastated Areas
• Habitat For Humanity Collects Supplies For Hurricane Ian Victims
• SBA Opens Recovery Center In Tampa To Help With Federal Disaster Loans
• Pinellas Residents Impacted By Hurricane Ian Eligible For FEMA Help
• Help Available For Pasco County Residents With Hurricane Ian Damage

Florida Power and Light, among the state's largest electricity providers, had restored power to nearly 90 percent of its customers, the company said in a statement released Tuesday. Company officials said a crew of more than 21,000 had completed restoration in all regions of the state except Southwest Florida.

FPL officials said remaining customers without electricity should have services restored by the end of Friday. Meanwhile, Duke Energy said it planned to have all customers restored by Monday night with the exception of those who can't receive power because of damage or flooding.

Another major electricity provider in the hard-hit coastal region — Lee County Electric Cooperative — said Monday it expects to hit the 95 percent power restoration mark by the end of Saturday. That figure does not include barrier islands like Sanibel that are in its service area.

As of Monday, Ian's death toll increased to at least 101 people, according to a CNN report.

Fifty-four of those deaths occurred in Lee County, which includes Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said Monday. Twenty-four deaths were recorded in Charlotte County – up from 12.

Hurricane Ian also contributed to the deaths of eight people in Collier County, five in Volusia County, three in Sarasota County, two in Manatee County, and one each in Polk, Lake, Hendry, and Hillsborough counties, CNN reported Monday.

Four other people died in storm-related incidents as Ian churned into North Carolina.

Meanwhile, many Floridians are still taking stock of the damage and waiting on news from loved ones they're unable to reach.

Elizabeth McGuire’s family told CNN they last spoke with her Wednesday. They were unable to reach her but learned Friday she had been found dead in her Cape Coral home.

"One hundred blizzards will not cost you what one hurricane will cost you," Susan McGuire, who moved to Florida from Maryland, told CNN. "My husband’s business whipped out, my daughter is dead … I never had a blizzard take anything away from me."

Rescue Efforts Continue

As of Monday, more than 1,000 National Guard members had been sent to Florida barrier islands to expedite search and rescue efforts, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

As of 7 a.m. Monday, more than 1,900 rescues had been made, officials said.

It’s unclear how many people are unaccounted for following the storm. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie told CNN authorities are working to consolidate a list of the missing.

The state website for reporting missing persons related to Hurricane Ian is http://missing.fl.gov. If you need to report a missing person, fill out the form on behalf of “Someone Else.” You can also fill out the form on behalf of yourself if communications are limited. Safe and found persons can be reported safe at http://safe.fl.gov.

On hard-hit Sanibel Island, more than 1,000 people have been evacuated. Residents of the island are currently cut off from the mainland after Ian wiped out a section of the Sanibel Causeway. Nearly every house is damaged, Sanibel Fire Chief William Briscoe told CNN.

"There are a lot of places that are not livable. There are places off their foundation, and it’s very dangerous out there," Briscoe said. "There are alligators running around, and there are snakes all over the place."

During a Tuesday news conference, Sheriff Marceno praised residents for helping their neighbors. He also expressed thanks to "strangers coming in to help the county with urgent needs."

"It’s all hands on deck, folks," Marceno said.

Currently, access to Sanibel Island is restricted to approved contractors and residents and barges moving water and machinery to the island, Marceno said. Officials are working on setting up a temporary ferry service to transport residents to their homes to retrieve any belongings.

Pine Island was hit just as hard, Marceno said Tuesday. State transportation officials plan to build a temporary bridge for people to reach the island.

"It’s not going to be a full bridge, you’re going to have to go over it probably at 5 miles an hour or something, but it’ll at least let people get in and off the island with their vehicles," Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sunday.

Related:

• Beware Of Scams, Fraud In Wake Of Hurricane Ian, FL Officials Say
  
• More Than 200 Cows Die At Myakka City Dairy Farm During Hurricane Ian
  
• Rescued Kitten 'A Bright Spot' In A Dark Moment In Tampa's History

Ian Now A Nor'easter

Elsewhere, Ian's remnants weren’t done with the United States. The mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts received flooding rains while the storm’s onshore winds piled even more water into an already inundated Chesapeake Bay. Meanwhile, flooding was possible all the way to Long Island in New York.

Norfolk and Virginia Beach declared states of emergency, although a shift in wind direction prevented potentially catastrophic levels Monday.

Finally, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden plan to visit Florida on Wednesday.