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:
Ian’s eyewall moving on shore
Hurricane Ian’s eyewall is moving on shore.
The powerful Category 4 storm is set to bring catastrophic storm surge, winds and flooding.
Sanibel Island has reported sustained winds of 58 mph with a wind gust reaching 75 mph.
Over 2,000 flights canceled
The airports in Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale are leading the world in flight cancellations Wednesday morning.
Over 2,000 flights have been canceled within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday.
Another 1,600 flights are already cancelled for Thursday.
The Tampa International Airport will remain closed through Thursday.
-ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway and Sam Sweeney
Hurricane-force winds approaching Florida coast
Hurricane-force winds are approaching the coast of Florida near Sanibel Island, which is 23 miles from Fort Myers.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell stressed Wednesday the danger of water as Hurricane Ian approaches.
She urged Floridians to never drive through floodwaters, noting a car can be carried away in just a few inches of water.
“From coastal storm surge to inland flooding, the majority of the state of Florida is in Ian’s crosshairs,” she said.
18 feet of storm surge possible
Up to 18 feet of dangerous storm surge is forecast along Florida’s Southwest coast, including Englewood, Bonita Beach and Charlotte Harbor.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned Tuesday that her biggest concern with Ian was storm surge.
"In 2018, when Hurricane Michael impacted the Florida Panhandle, there were five recorded fatalities as a result of storm surge,” she noted.
'We hear your calls': Sheriff
Lee County has received more than double the number of 911 calls it typically receives amid Hurricane Ian, according to Sheriff Carmine Marceno, as first responders have suspended their emergency response during the major storm.
"We hear your calls and are aware that Hurricane Ian was a powerful and devastating weather event," Marceno said in a social media post Wednesday evening. "We want to get to you. We want to save you. As soon as safely possible, our assets are ready to deploy to come to your aide."
Ben Abes, Lee County's public safety director, said current conditions, including flooding, make it "impossible" for first responders to go out. He said the county is tracking 911 calls and prioritizing them once first responders are able to act after the hurricane passes.
"We are aware of a number of calls of people who are stranded due to high water," he said during a press briefing Wednesday evening. "This is a scary situation. We urge you not to panic."
Lee County, which is home to hard-hit Fort Myers, Sanibel and Bonita Beach, issued a countywide curfew Wednesday evening due to the storm that is in effect until further notice.