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:
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
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 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.
Ian to be at least Category 1 hurricane when it hits South Carolina
Ian is expected to be at least a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds when it makes its third landfall near or north of Charleston, South Carolina, Friday, in the late morning or early afternoon.
Ian, currently a high-end tropical storm with winds up to 70 mph, is moving off the east-central coast of Florida, currently 40 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral. The storm is forecast to regain hurricane strength in the next 12 hours.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect for the entire coast of South Carolina. Charleston already had almost 2 foot storm surge Thursday as Ian gets closer, and storm surge is forecast up to 7 feet.
The storm surge combined with up to 10 to 12 inches of rain is extremely concerning as the area floods easily.
-ABC News' Melissa Griffin
Biden says Ian may be deadliest storm in Florida history
President Joe Biden said officials are hearing early reports of what may be a substantial loss of life due to Hurricane Ian, he said at a press conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters Thursday.
"This could be the deadliest storm in Florida history. The numbers we have are still unclear, but we're hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life," Biden said.
Biden also promised support to state and local officials as officials assess the damage caused by the storm, saying the federal government will cover the entire cost of clearing debris and of rebuilding public buildings like schools and state fire stations. The government will also be providing support to people with destroyed or damaged homes.
Ian strengthens as winds grow to 105 mph
Hurricane Ian continued to intensify Monday night, with maximum sustained winds now at 105 mph.
The hurricane is about 105 miles east-southeast of the western tip of Cuba, which is expected to see significant wind and storm surge impacts soon.
The storm is expected to become a major hurricane overnight or Tuesday morning.
-ABC News' Melissa Griffin