Hurricane Ian’s death toll climbs to 65 in Florida

Lee County in Florida – which includes Forth Myers, among other cities - reported about 35 deaths on Saturday following the passage of Hurricane Ian, bringing overall death toll to 65.

According to CNN and based on reports, Charlotte County reported 12 deaths, Collier County (8), Volusia County (5), Sarasota County (2), and one in Lake, Manatee and Polk counties.

Lee Administrative Subdivision Sheriff Carmine Marceno said on Facebook that he intended to release the information as soon as he can, but that there is a process, as “family members must be informed properly.”

Marceno also reported that the Lee County made from 600 to 700 rescues.

Previously, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deanne Criswell considered the Lee County among the most hit by the cyclone, although damage in communities has not yet been quantified.

Joe Biden’s administration declared a state of emergency for Florida and North Carolina and ordered federal assistance to supplement recovery efforts in cyclone-damaged areas.

FEMA is focusing on search and rescue operations, debris removal, power and water restoration, and resource distribution, the CNN reported.

The U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson said that some 4,000 people have been assisted in Florida in the last three days.

At the same time, the forces continue in the field reconnaissance on the island of Sanibel, on the west coast of Florida, which eyewitnessed how Ian ravaged luxurious hotels, boats, businesses and left people and their pets trapped at homes.

Meanwhile, the Sarasota County city of North Port continues to experience flooding of more than six feet in some areas.

“Some of our main roads are impassable even as the water recedes, and there are landslides. So we have a long recovery period,” noted Fire Chief Scott Titus.