Hurricane Ian: 47 FL Dead, Damage Over $100B, DeSantis Warns Looters

FLORIDA — At least 47 people in Florida are dead as search and rescue efforts following Hurricane Ian enter a third day Saturday. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis has a message for potential looters: Florida is "a Second Amendment state," so "don't even think about it."

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

Seventy-two hours after what is now ranked as one of the top five worst hurricanes ever hit the state, crews are working to restore power to 1 million homes and businesses, down from 3 million shortly after the storm hit.

Significant river flooding is expected to continue across parts of central Florida into next week as Ian continues to make its way up the East coast, according to the National Hurricane Center; Ian likely caused "well over $100 billion" in damage, according to numbers from one firm; and World Central Kitchen is in Florida to help feed hard-hit communities in the wake of the storm.

Hurricane Ian's death toll rose to 54 deaths in total confirmed, including at least four in North Carolina and at least three in Cuba, The Weather Channel reported Saturday. The sheriff in Lee County confirmed that at least 35 people have died there. This, plus 12 other confirmed deaths statewide brings the Florida death toll from Ian to at least 47.

Several new deaths attributed to the storm include a 62-year-old woman who died after suffering injuries and drowning when a tree fell on a mobile home, a 54-year-old man who was found trapped in a window after drowning, and a female who was found tangled in wires under a residence in Lee County, according to The AP.

Authorities are warning the death toll will likely climb once search crews move beyond emergency rescues. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie described one submerged home as an example.

"The water was up over the rooftop, right, but we had a Coast Guard rescue swimmer swim down into it and he could identify that it appeared to be human remains. We do not know exactly how many," Guthrie told The AP.

As of 7 a.m. Saturday, more than 1,100 people had been rescued from flooded areas, according to the Florida governor's website.

Authorities are watching rivers and creeks as the National Hurricane Center predicts major flooding will continue into next week across parts of central Florida

Ian unleashed more than 17 inches of rain on some places in Florida, swelling lakes, ponds, and rivers beyond their banks and into homes.

Ian's rainfall also exacerbated the effects of storm surge on Florida's east coast. In New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, a combination of surging tides and more than 15 inches of rain sent one creek up nine feet in 12 hours, USA Today reported. Meanwhile, in Port Charlotte, a 14-mile stretch of Interstate 75 was closed in both directions late Friday because of the massive amount of water overflowing from the Myakka River.

In the end, Ian likely caused "well over $100 billion" in damage, including $63 billion in privately insured losses, according to the disaster modeling firm Karen Clark & Co., which regularly issues flash catastrophe estimates.

If the numbers are true, that would make Ian at least the fourth costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

As search and rescue efforts continue, World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization backed by celebrity chef Jose Andres, is in Florida to help feed first responders and residents. The group began mobilizing chefs in affected areas on Thursday.

"World Central Kitchen's Relief Team has set up a kitchen in Tampa, where sandwiches and hot meals are being produced," a representative for the organization told ABC News.

According to a tweet by Andres, the organization has distributed more than 60,000 meals in various places throughout the state.

Boil water notices have been issued in more than 20 counties following Hurricane Ian. State officials are monitoring and maintaining a comprehensive statewide list of notices for Floridians to access online.

Finally, during a Friday news conference, Gov. DeSantis said officials are concerned about maintaining "law and order" during cleanup and search and rescue efforts.

"Don't even think about looting," DeSantis said. "Don't even think about taking advantage of people in this vulnerable situation."

DeSantis also said that people hoping to "ransack people's homes" should keep in mind: Florida is a Second Amendment state.

"I can tell you in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody's home," he said. "And I would not want to chance that if I were you given that we're a Second Amendment state."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.