Hurricane Ian updates: Florida death toll climbs

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

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, 5:11 PM EDT

At least 9 dead in hurricane

At least nine people have now been reported dead in Florida due to Hurricane Ian.

Charlotte County Commissioner Chris Constance confirmed there are six fatalities in that county. Constance said this is the worst storm damage he has ever seen.

Two deaths have also been confirmed in Sarasota County.

One death was recorded in Volusia County when a 72-year-old man trying to drain his pool was washed away by floodwaters.

-ABC News' Will Gretsky

Sep 29, 2022, 4:41 PM EDT

Hundreds rescued from flooding across Florida


More than 500 people have been rescued in Charlotte and Lee counties since rescue operations began Thursday morning, Florida's Division of Emergency Management said. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing in those two counties.

There have been about 350 people rescued so far in Orlando, officials said. Among those were 106 people rescued from an Avante Group nursing home.

The city received 14 inches of rain from the storm, according to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, overflowing lakes and flooding neighborhoods in the inland city.

Residents are rescued from floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 29, 2022.
John Raoux/AP

The U.S. Coast Guard had rescued more than 30 people over the last 24 hours, according to Adm. Linda Fagan.

"We live in these same communities that we're now responding to and supporting," Fagan told ABC News. "The Coast Guard workforce is really at its best in times like these, as we respond as an immediate, first-response agency."

Orange County firefighters help people stranded by Hurricane Ian, Sept. 29, 2022 in Orange County, Fla.
Orange County Fire Rescue's Public Information Office via AP

FEMA Urban Search and Rescue teams are also assisting in search and rescue efforts, checking homes and gathering information on buildings hit by Hurricane Ian, Jeremy Edwards, FEMA press secretary, told ABC News.

Search and rescue teams from Ohio, Indiana and Texas are searching and surveying the Tampa Bay area, while two teams from Virginia are in Punta Gorda, according to Edwards.

-ABC News' Victoria Arancio

Sep 29, 2022, 4:05 PM EDT

Lee Health evacuating 3 of 4 hospitals due to lack of running water

Lee Health, the Florida-based health care system, has evacuated patients out of three of its four hospitals because they don't have running water due to Hurricane Ian, Dr. Larry Antonucci, president and CEO, said in a video statement Thursday.

“At the present time, our structures and facilities are in good shape. They’ve weathered the storm well, but our infrastructure is challenged in the way of our water supply and power,” Antonucci said.

Lee Health is working with the Agency for Health Care Administration in Florida and local emergency management to arrange for the evacuations of patients to other hospitals outside of Lee County, which includes Fort Myers.

-ABC News' Alexandra Faul

Sep 29, 2022, 3:20 PM EDT

Disney World to begin phased reopening Friday

Disney World, which was shut down Wednesday and Thursday, will begin a phased reopening on Friday, according to the resort.

The theme parks and Disney Springs will begin reopening "as we assess the impact of Hurricane Ian on our property," Disney tweeted.

The entrance to the Walt Disney theme park is seen as the park is closed as Hurricane Ian bears down on the state in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., Sept. 28, 2022.
John Raoux/AP

The exact opening hours will be released later Thursday, Disney said.

More than a foot of rain has already fallen in the Orlando area with some light rain still ongoing. Hundreds of people have been rescued from flooding in the city.

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