September 29, 2022 Hurricane Ian updates

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Travis Caldwell, Kelly McCleary, Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Maureen Chowdhury, Elise Hammond and Seán Federico O'Murchú, CNN

Updated 1:30 a.m. ET, September 30, 2022

What we're covering

The latest: Storm system Ian has intensified to a Category 1 hurricane as it heads toward South Carolina, according to the National Weather Service. The storm made landfall along the southwestern coast of Florida as a powerful Category 4 hurricane Wednesday.
Fatal impact: At least 19 people have been reported dead so far due to the storm. Search and rescue efforts are underway in the worst-hit areas of Florida.
The conditions: The extremely dangerous conditions that Ian unleashed — including catastrophic floods and life-threatening storm surges — will continue as the storm moves toward Georgia and South Carolina.
Tracking Ian: You can track the storm's path here or sign up for email alerts from CNN meteorologists here.
In the storm’s path? Bookmark CNN’s lite site for fast connectivity. Sigue nuestra cobertura en vivo en español aquí.

CNN’s live coverage of Hurricane Ian can be found here.

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6:00 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

It's 6 a.m. in Central Florida. Here's the latest as Tropical Storm Ian moves north

Ian remains a dangerous tropical storm as it carves its way through central Florida Thursday morning with winds of 65 mph and higher gusts.

Ian first made landfall in southwestern Florida as a devastating Category 4 hurricane Wednesday afternoon and weakened overnight. It is now expected to exit the state through Florida's northeast coast on Thursday and approach the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina on Friday.

The storm has left catastrophic damage in its wake. In addition to hurricane-force winds, storm surges have slammed into coastal communities and torrential rains brought dangerous flooding that left some residents trapped in their homes.

Here are the latest developments:

Many residents are without power: More than 2.5 million customers in Florida have lost power as of Thursday morning, mostly in the state's southwest and central regions, according to outage tracker PowerOutage.us. Multiple counties in southwestern Florida are reporting near-total blackouts due to damage sustained, and the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area has also been heavily affected.
Central Florida is inundated with rainfall: The area has already received total rainfall amounts of 8 to 12 inches and an additional 2 to 4 inches are expected. Heavy rain will continue to produce life-threatening flash flooding.
Southern Florida no longer under weather warnings: Hurricane and tropical storm warnings across southern Florida have been dropped as the storm moves farther north, according to the National Hurricane Center. Water levels along the state's west coast are also continuing to subside.
Southeastern states prepare for Ian's arrival: Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina are bracing for the storm's impact, with all four governors declaring states of emergency.

5:37 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Fire rescue teams in Lee County begin answering calls for assistance as storm subsides

From CNN's Rebekah Riess

Fire rescue crews in Estero, a town in southwestern Florida's Lee County, has started to clear streets and respond to calls for help that they were unable to answer during the storm, according to the town's fire department.

“We began clearing roadways and evacuating those that needed help,” Estero Fire Rescue said in an update.
“Please help us by staying off the roadways. We will be getting help from multiple agencies tomorrow and throughout recovery and they need to make sure the roads are safe, trees are removed and wire(s) aren't down. It is still very dangerous out there.”

Multiple first responder and law enforcement agencies have reported being unable to answer emergency calls as massive floods restricted access to those in need.

6:32 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Ian weakens to a tropical storm, still expected to produce substantial storm surge and rain

From CNN's Robert Shackelford and Travis Caldwell

Ian has weakened to a tropical storm with winds of 65 mph and higher gusts, according to the 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Ian is still expected to produce strong winds, heavy rains, and storm surge across portions of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas over the next 3 days, the center said.

A storm surge warning is in effect for the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, as well as areas stretching from the Flagler-Volusia County line in Florida north to the South Santee River in South Carolina. Portions of the Gulf Coast also remain under storm surge threat.

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for much of Florida's Gulf Coast, from north of Bonita Beach up to Indian Pass along the Panhandle.

Areas stretching from Boca Raton to Cape Lookout, North Carolina, also face a tropical storm warning, as does Lake Okeechobee. Some isolated hurricane-force winds may still occur.

6:35 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice in Miami and talk about Hurricane Ian's impact

From CNN's Ben Morse, Wayne Sterling and David Close

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles watches the action during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, on September 25 in Tampa, Florida. (Alex Menendez/AP)

After relocating due to Hurricane Ian and practicing in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, players and coaching staff for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoke about the effect the storm has had on them and their families, and expressed their well-wishes to those impacted by the storm.

"First of all, our thoughts and hearts go out to everybody in Tampa that's still there, hoping that they recover well and it doesn't hit them very hard," Bucs head coach Todd Bowles told reporters.

Running back Leonard Fournette, who was born in New Orleans, remembered the impact and devastation Hurricane Katrina had when it hit the Gulf Coast in 2005 and took the lives of 1,833 people.

"I've been through Katrina, as a kid," Fournette said. "I know how severe and serious it is ... I just thank God that we got out there and we're just praying for the families up there in Tampa."

Read more about the contingency plan to move Sunday's game in Tampa to Minnesota here:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice in Miami and talk about Hurricane Ian impact

4:38 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Punta Gorda's water system is empty and boil water notices are in effect, city says

From CNN's Rebekah Riess

The Punta Gorda city water system is empty and boil water notices are in effect following the impacts of Hurricane Ian, according to an update from city officials late Wednesday.

The water system is "pumping at a rate of over 13 million gallons per day and cannot keep up,” the city said.

A fill station is being set up for residents at the city’s water plant, and the system will be restarted once damaged pipes are repaired, the update said.

Punta Gorda is the county seat of Charlotte County, which is reporting more than 90 percent of its customers without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

6:38 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Local rescue teams are sidelined by dangerous conditions as trapped residents call for help, officials say

From CNN's Jamiel Lynch, Amanda Musa and Amy Simonson

Rescue and emergency response missions have been delayed in some heavily-impacted parts of Florida because of risky storm conditions, state and local officials said.

In Charlotte County, Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller said Wednesday night that emergency response teams there will not be able to answer calls for help "until the hazards conditions end." Officials hopes to resume responses Thursday morning.

Other counties have been inundated with emergency calls, with the Collier County Sheriff's Office saying they are in "triage mode."

"We are getting a significant number of calls of people trapped by water in their homes,” the office said in a statement Wednesday.

“Some are reporting life threatening medical emergencies in deep water. We will get to them first. Some are reporting water coming into their house but not life threatening. They will have to wait. Possibly until the water recedes."

First responders in Fort Myers are now out surveying the damage, according to the Fort Myers Fire Department early Thursday morning.

“Crews have reported back with debris in the roadways, flooding, electrical lines down, power poles in the roads, traffic lights out, disabled vehicles, and building collapses,” the department said, asking for residents to remain indoors.

Gov. Ron DeSantis cautioned in a press conference Wednesday that 911 calls may not be answered right away in some areas.

“Local first responders will deploy as soon as it’s safe to do so,” DeSantis said, adding, “By and large until the storm passes, they are not going to go into a situation for rescue and put their own folks at risk."

3:35 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

High waters flood TV news station in Fort Myers

From CNN's Dave Alsup

Floodwaters from Hurricane Ian inundated the set and newsroom at Fort Myers-based CNN affiliate WINK TV.

WINK Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt posted on social media, “Storm surge got into WINK, flooded out our entire set and newsroom in Fort Myers. Lost power and I was unable to continue broadcasting on tv and radio.”

An update on the station's website indicated its newscast went off air during the brunt of the storm Wednesday afternoon.

“Storm surge and a flood brought by Hurricane Ian has interrupted the WINK News broadcast. The power went out just before 5 p.m., but anchors Lois Thomas and Chris Cifatte and Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt continued to broadcast on Facebook for a period of time,” according to the station's website.

“We are like everybody else,” said Tom Doerr, director of local news and content at WINK News. “We are experiencing the same difficulties like everybody else.”

3:17 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Considerable flood threat continues for areas of Florida

From CNN's Mike Saenz

Flash flood warnings have been extended until 4:45 a.m. ET for parts of Osceola County and adjacent Orange County, Florida, the National Weather Service in Melbourne said early Thursday.

In the Orlando metro area, law enforcement reports flooding due to heavy rain. The area has already received a total rainfall of 8 to 12 inches and an additional 2 to 4 inches are expected. Heavy rain will continue to produce life-threatening flash flooding.

When driving, “be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding” the National Weather Service says.

Remember: "turn around, don't drown" when encountering flooded roads.

3:00 a.m. ET, September 29, 2022

Hurricane and tropical storm warnings discontinued for southern Florida

From CNN's Robert Shackelford and Mike Saenz

Hurricane and tropical storm warnings across southern Florida have been dropped as Hurricane Ian moves farther north, according to an update from the National Hurricane Center.

The storm remains at Category 1 with sustained winds of up to 75 mph.

”Further weakening is expected for the next day or so, but Ian could be near hurricane strength when it moves over the Florida East coast later today,” the National Hurricane Center said.

The center of the hurricane is about 55 miles south-southeast of Orlando and is moving toward the northeast at 9 mph, approaching northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.