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:
Hurricane Ian now Category 1 storm
Ian continues to gradually weaken as it moves across the Florida Peninsula, now a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained winds down to 90 mph. The storm is moving to the north-northeast at 8 mph, and the center is currently about 70 miles south of Orlando.
While Ian is weakening, it's still bringing widespread dangerous weather impacts across the state.
-ABC News' Dan Peck
Flash flood emergency issued in west-central Florida
A Flash Flood Emergency has been issued for parts of Sarasota, Manatee, Desoto, Hardee and Highlands counties in west-central Florida, with other areas experiencing life-threatening flash flooding.
Between 12 to 19 inches of rain has already fallen in the area.
-ABC News' Daniel Peck
Lee County sheriff: Reports of buildings compromised and vehicles floating
As Hurricane Ian makes its way across Florida, counties are assessing the devastation left by the storm.
In a Wednesday night press conference, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said that Ian hit the county extremely hard.
Marceno said he'd gotten reports of compromised homes and businesses and of vehicles floating into the ocean.
Officials said part of Fort Myers, which is in Lee County, was "decimated" by Hurricane Ian.
Marceno said residents are in need, and the county will respond to emergency calls once it's safe.
-ABC News' William Gretsky
Ian continues to gradually weaken, winds at 100 mph
Hurricane Ian continues to gradually weaken as of 10 p.m. ET, with maximum sustained winds now down to 100 mph. The storm is moving to the north-northeast at 8 mph, and its center is currently about 80 miles south of Orlando.
The Florida Peninsula continues to experience dangerous weather impacts, including strong wind gusts, torrential rain and persistent storm surge in some areas.
Areas of relentless heavy rain will continue to bring the threat of dangerous flash flooding in some areas. This threat becomes even more dangerous during overnight hours.
-ABC News' Dan Peck
Some Florida residents begin evacuating ahead of Ian's landfall
Some Florida residents have begun evacuating their homes as Hurricane Ian approaches.
People are seeking shelter ahead of the storm, which is currently forecast to make landfall as a Category 4 hurricane sometime Wednesday afternoon.
Ian remains a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph as of Tuesday might.
It’s moving north-northeast at 10 mph and the center is located about 180 miles south-southwest of Punta Gorda, Florida.
There have been multiple tornado warnings in the area over the past few hours. A large tornado was reported on the ground in southern Broward County, near Davie, at around 7:30 p.m. ET.
-ABC News’ Daniel Peck