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: October 4, 2022, 7:27 AM 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, 8:04 PM EDT

Tracking Hurricane Ian: Where could the storm hit next?

Another coastline known for its sensitivity to storm surge will feel Ian's wrath as the storm system looks to make another landfall.

While Ian made a slow crawl through central and northern Florida on Thursday as a tropical storm, its sights will soon be set on the coast of South Carolina -- specifically Charleston, which historically does not do well with storm surge.

This satellite image taken at 5:01 p.m. EDT and provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Ian, Sept. 29, 2022.
NOAA via AP

Ian regained strength Thursday evening as a Category 1 storm with winds of 75 mph as it makes its way north.

See the latest maps, projections and possible paths as Ian targets the Carolinas.

-ABC News' Julia Jacobo and Meredith Deliso

Sep 29, 2022, 7:51 PM EDT

Thousands evacuated from nursing homes, hospitals

As of Thursday afternoon, 45 nursing homes were evacuated across Florida -- impacting about 3,500 residents -- as were 115 assisted-living facilities, according to the Florida Health Care Association.

A staff member stands in a flooded hallway at HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla., Sept. 28, 2022.
Dr. Birgit Bodine via AP

Various containers and clothes soak up floodwater near debris at an area at HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla., Sept. 28, 2022.
Dr. Birgit Bodine via AP

Read more of our coverage here.

-ABC News' Mary Kekatos

Sep 29, 2022, 7:21 PM EDT

FAA closes Fort Myers airspace

The FAA has issued a temporary flight restriction order over Fort Myers, Florida, "to provide a safe environment for Hurricane Ian search."

The airspace will remain closed through Friday.

- ABC News' Sam Sweeney

Sep 29, 2022, 6:29 PM EDT

Punta Gorda issues boil water notice

Punta Gorda, Florida, issued a boil water notice Thursday in the wake of Hurricane Ian’s destructive path across Charlotte County, where at least six storm-related deaths were reported.

A tree felled by winds from Hurricane Ian blocks the road in downtown Punta Gorda, Fla., Sept. 29, 2022.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

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