Hurricane Preparation
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1499240
8 • HURRICANE PREPARATION GUIDE • 2023 By CURT ANDERSON Associated Press Hurricane Ian briefly reached maximum Category 5 status before weakening to a Category 4 storm as it blasted ashore in September 2022 in Southwest Florida, even- tually causing over $112 billion in damage in the U.S. and more than 150 deaths directly or indirectly, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported. The report, which NOAA releases for all major tropical storms, also says Ian was the costliest hurricane in Florida history and the third-costliest ever in the U.S. as a whole. In addition to Florida, Ian impacted Georgia, Virginia, the Carolinas and Cuba before it fell apart Oct. 1. The NOAA report elevates Ian to one of the most powerful tropical cyclones on record as a Category 5 with winds esti- mated at 161 mph on Sept. 28 after passing by the Dry Tortugas islands. Although it later weakened to a Category 4 storm when it struck Florida later that day with winds of 150 mph, the storm is now on the list of deadly monsters such as Camille, Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Wilma and Michael. In addition to the winds, Ian produced major storm surge across the southwestern Gulf coast of Florida. For example, the peak storm surge at hard-hit Fort Myers Beach was between 10 and 15 feet above ground level. At nearby Sanibel, the surge was as high as 13 feet. "Ian made landfall in a region extremely vulnerable to storm surge," the NOAA report says. "In southwestern Florida, the catastrophic storm surge and wind left a huge swath of complete destruction." Storm surge drowning was the leading SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives in a swamp boat to survey storm damage and flooding in North Port. SUN PHOTO BY ELAINE ALLEN - EMRICH Days after Hurricane Ian hit, North Port experienced flooding in the North Port Estates area prompting Gov. Ron DeSantis to tour the area. It's the most flooding he said he saw in all the places he visited. N O A A : IAN WAS CAT 5 before weakening at Florida landfall