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.


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Ian now 75 mph Category 1 hurricane, expected to become tropical storm later this morning

As of the 2 a.m. ET advisory this morning, Ian continues to maintain its hurricane status.

However, it has weakened to a 75 mph Category 1 hurricane and is expected to become a tropical storm later this morning before emerging off of Florida’s east coast.

Ian’s new track will be issued and updated again at 5 a.m. ET.

-ABC News' Riley Winch


2.3 million customers without power, Florida providers say

Florida's electric providers said more than 2.3 million customers were without power at about 2 a.m. local time.

Florida Power & Light, the state's largest provider, reported more than 1.1 million outages for its 5.7 million customers.

“Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic winds will mean parts of our system will need to be rebuilt -- not restored,” the company said on Twitter late Wednesday. “Be prepared for widespread, extended outages as we are assessing the damage. We are already at work restoring power where we can do so safely.”

-ABC News’ Keith Harden


Portions of Fort Myers under up to 4 feet of water

Portions of Fort Myers are under up to 4 feet of water, the city said late Wednesday night, and residents are being told to stay inside as first responders try and assess the damage from Hurricane Ian.

"We need to ensure that the roads are clear so that our first responders and our assistance crews can go out there and help everyone that needs us," the city wrote on Twitter. "PLEASE, please, please stay inside."


Jacksonville airport cancels all flights Thursday

Jacksonville International Airport has canceled all flights for Thursday and the terminal will be closed.

-ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway


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.

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.