Networks like CNN report fatalities in southwestern and central Florida after the hurricane
Preliminary death toll from destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian in Florida rises to at least 15according to several US media such as CNN, which has made a balance this Thursday based on information from local authorities, although the state governor, Ron DeSantis, said today that “mortality” is expected, without giving figures.
According to CNN, in southwestern and central Florida at least 15 people have been reported dead so far due to the hurricane. In Charlotte County, where the town of Punta Gorda is located, there were “at least eight or nine deaths,” CNN said. citing a local official, Commissioner (Councilman) Joseph Tiseo, who deals with the fifth district of this county. Charlotte County is located on the west coast of Florida and very close to the area where Ian made landfall on Wednesday with a Category 4.
It is also “believed” that about five people died in Lee County, adjoining Charlotte and where Fort Myers is located, where it seems from the images that the greatest flooding and loss of homes occurred. Lee’s sheriff, Carmine Marceno, said on social media that they are “devastated” by Ian’s fallout. Marceno conducted an aerial tour of Lee County Thursday morning to begin assessing the damage caused by Ian and showed images with extensive structural damage and flooding throughout the area.
Sarasota County (west) reported two hurricane-related deaths for its part, Sheriff Kaitlyn Perez told CNN, adding that her office had no additional details on where the deaths occurred or information on the people who lost their lives. On the other hand, a person who was in palliative care died in Osceola County (central Florida), according to CNN, citing the director of Emergency Management, Bill Litton. In addition, one of the possible victims is a 72-year-old man from the town of Deltona, northeast of Orlando, who perished early Thursday morning after falling into a canal while emptying his pool in the midst of heavy rain, according to the police. Volusia County Police, in central Florida.
At a news conference Thursday night from Tallahassee, the state capital, DeSantis said: “We expect mortality, but the figures will arrive over the next few days“. This same day, in the town of Punta Gorda, on the west coast of Florida, one of the most affected areas, DeSantis was optimistic about the prompt arrival of aid from other states, but did not offer information on deaths directly caused by the cyclone.
On the other hand, insured material loss estimates range “widely” between $30 billion and $50 billion, as projected by catastrophe risk modelers such as Fitch Ratings. This excludes claims to the National Flood Insurance Program, according to the Sun Sentinel. Property and casualty insurers operating in Florida are now beginning “the massive effort” to assess the damage left by Hurricane Ian across southwestern and central Florida between Wednesday and Thursday. Accurate damage estimates may not be available for days, the same local media reported.
After being downgraded to a tropical storm, Ian became a hurricane again this Thursday in the waters of the US Atlantic on its way to Georgia and the Carolinas, states that it now threatens with floods, storm surges and strong winds, after leaving much of the country devastated. Florida.