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 30, 2022, 9:27 AM EDT

1.9 million customers still without power in Florida, governor says

There are 1.9 million customers are still without power in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference Friday.

The hardest hit area is Hardee County, in central Florida, where 99% of customers are without power. Electricity has been restored to 15% of Lee and Charlotte counties, where Ian had knocked out power entirely. Eighty percent of DeSoto County is also without power.

Power company crew trucks drive on a flooded street on their way to help communities impacted by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, FLa., Sept. 29, 2022.
Marta Lavandier/AP

DeSantis said over 42,000 linemen and associated personnel are on the ground, working to restore power.

Lee County is also entirely without water after the storm caused a water main break, DeSantis said.

Sep 30, 2022, 8:20 AM EDT

Coast of the Carolinas seeing tropical storm force winds

Tropical storm force winds are lashing much of the coast of the Carolinas before Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall. Life-threatening storm surge and hurricane conditions are expected by Friday afternoon.

Still over water, Hurricane Ian has reached maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Ian on Sept. 30, 2022 at 8:01 EST.
NOAA/GOES/AFP via Getty Images

Power outages have already begun, with 11,750 South Carolina customers and 8,095 North Carolina customers without electricity.

-ABC News' Max Golembo and Jianna Cousin

Sep 30, 2022, 7:46 AM EDT

As flooding begins Charleston police urge 'only essential travel'

Hours before Hurricane Ian is expected to make landfall in South Carolina, Charleston police are urging "only essential travel" and announcing road closures.

Corey Fields, with the city of Charleston, cleans a storm drain as effects from Hurricane Ian are felt, Sept. 30, 2022, in the Battery of Charleston, S.C.
Alex Brandon/AP

"We are experiencing flooding in many of our usual locations and implementing road closure procedures. We expect additional closures throughout the day," police said in a tweet.

As the rain and wind pick back up, Hurricane Ian is roaring towards the Carolinas with major concern for a life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding.
1:17

South Carolina braces for direct hit as storm regains strength

As the rain and wind pick back up, Hurricane Ian is roaring towards the Carolinas with major concern for a life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding.
ABCNews.com

Sep 30, 2022, 6:48 AM EDT

Flash flood warning issued for Charleston, South Carolina

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for the Charleston metro area until noon on Friday.

The NWS says that heavy rain and tide will continue to increase and cause life-threatening conditions and flash flooding.

-ABC News' Max Golembo

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