Hurricane Ian updates: Florida death toll climbs

Lee County, which encompasses Fort Myers, accounts for most of the fatalities.

ByJulia Jacobo, Teddy Grant, Kevin Shalvey, Emily Shapiro, Melissa Gaffney, Meredith Deliso, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, and Stephanie Guerilus
Last Updated: September 29, 2022, 12:03 PM EDT

The remnants of Ian are charging up the East Coast on Saturday after making landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in South Carolina on Friday afternoon.

The monster storm made its first U.S. landfall on Wednesday on Florida's west coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, shredding homes with ferocious winds topping 150 mph. Florida's death toll has climbed to at least 81, according to information from local officials.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed. All times Eastern.
Sep 29, 2022, 12:03 PM EDT

Tampa International Airport to reopen 10 a.m. Friday

Tampa International Airport announced it will resume commercial operations on Friday at 10 a.m. after shutting down due to Hurricane Ian.

Although an inspection of the airfield and facilities determined the airport did not sustain any serious damage during the storm, reopening Friday will give the airport and its partners, including the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration and airlines, time to take necessary steps to resume business safely, the airport said in a statement.

This includes bringing back aircraft and staff that had been removed ahead of the storm.

The airport had suspended operations at 5 p.m. on Tuesday ahead of Ian's landfall.

-ABC News' Amanda Maile

Sep 29, 2022, 11:50 AM EDT

Coast Guard air crews rescue 7 people in Ft. Myers, Tampa areas

U.S. Coast Guard air crews rescued seven people in four separate rescue missions Wednesday night, Petty Officer Ayla Hudson told ABC News.

Damaged homes and debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla.
Wilfredo Lee/AP

The rescues occurred in the Fort Myers and Tampa areas, Hudson said. The Coast Guard's search and rescue missions are still ongoing.

-ABC News' Victoria Arancio

Sep 29, 2022, 11:13 AM EDT

Hurricane warning issued for entire coast of South Carolina

The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for the entire coast of South Carolina. A hurricane watch had been in place for the entire state earlier.

Now a tropical storm, Ian is expected to become a hurricane again Thursday night before making landfall near Charleston, South Carolina, on Friday morning or early afternoon.

Ian currently has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, just 4 mph from returning to hurricane strength.

Sep 29, 2022, 10:51 AM EDT

Hillsborough County, including Tampa, lifts evacuation order

After conducting initial safety assessments, Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise has removed the evacuation order in place.

A pickup truck drives around fallen debris and palm trees in the Ybor City neighborhood ahead of Hurricane Ian making landfall on Sept. 28, 2022, in Tampa, Fla.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images

After hosting more than 8,000 evacuees across 47 shelters, the county is preparing to conclude its sheltering operations or transition shelter availability for evacuees who continue to need assistance.

"Residents whose homes have been damaged are encouraged to find a safe place to stay. That place might be with family, friends, or at a nearby hotel," the county said in a statement.

The county also urged residents heading home to drive with caution, not to drive through obstructions or standing water and to stay away from downed power lines.

-ABC News' Alexandra Faul

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