September 29, 2022 Hurricane Ian updates

Recording flooding is already happening in central and northern Florida due to Hurricane Ian as torrential rainfall swells area rivers, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The flood waters are expected to rise further, as well as stretch well beyond the state’s borders in the coming days.

Currently there are 15 river gauge locations in Florida at or above flood stage, nine of those are at major flood stage, and three have reached all-time records. 

For most of these locations it will take at least 3 to 5 days before water levels return below major flood stage, and one week before they return to "normal levels". 

Nearly 50 locations along dozens of rivers spanning 8 states are expected to reach flood stage, according to CNN analyses of NOAA and USGS flood forecasts.

As Ian moves up the East Coast widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches are expected from Savannah, Georgia to Ocean City, Maryland, with isolated higher amounts of 6 to 8 inches possible.

At least 2,617,257 Florida energy customers are still without power, according to the tracker PowerOutage.us.

In Hardee County, nearly 100% of customers are without power.

In Lee County, which includes Fort Myers and Cape Coral, and Charlotte County, home to Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, about 89% of all customers are in the dark.

In DeSoto County, which includes the city of Hernando, about 92% of customers lost power.

High floodwaters can be seen surrounding homes in US Coast Guard photos from a flight over Sanibel Island, which is located southwest of Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

Portions of the Sanibel Causeway, which connects the island to the mainland, have been washed away, according to aerial video from CNN affiliates.

The US Coast Guard has already performed 28 rescues since they went out in the early hours of the morning today, looking for people who may be in distress, Rear Adm. Brendan McPherson, a US Coast Guard commander, told CNN Thursday.

Most of these were along the coast from Fort Myers to St. Petersburg, he said, adding that Fort Myers rescues were both maritime rescues as well as roof rescues.

The Coast Guard has eight helicopters currently in the air, “blanketing” the southwest of Florida, he said, looking for people who may be in distress.

“Right now, we’re responding to a distress call in Lakeland, Florida, which is between St. Petersburg and Orlando ... they’ve had a lot of rain and flooding in that area,” he said. “We’ve sent a helicopter up there to respond to a report of six people on a roof that need rescuing.” 

Tampa International Airport will resume commercial operations at 10 a.m. ET Friday, according to a news release.   

“TPA did not sustain any serious damage during the storm,” the release said. Airport maintenance and operations staff inspected the airfield and facilities Thursday morning.  

The airport suspended operations at 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday ahead of Ian’s landfall. 

The City of Fort Myers, which sustained major damage from Hurricane Ian, is reminding residents not to go outside, as a stay-at-home curfew is in effect.

One fatality has been confirmed in Osceola County, Florida, after Hurricane Ian, Emergency Management Director Bill Litton told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Thursday morning. 

The individual who died was in hospice, according to Litton. He did not provide a cause of death.

Osceola County is seeing unprecedented flooding, with Kissimmee-area hospitals and airports are surrounded by water, he said.

Litton said he’s concerned about the approximate 14 inches of rain that parts of the county have received. 

State resources are now coming in from the National Guard, he added. 

“It’s definitely a historical event here,” Litton said. “If you’re safe and secure, please stay put right now, as we work through these issues with these flooded residents.” 

Naples is receiving patients from hospitals in Fort Myers, Teresa Heitmann, mayor of Naples, Florida, said on CNN Thursday.

She described the effect of Ian in Naples as “catastrophic, devastating."

She expressed confidence in her teams and said, Naples "will recover quickly" with residents "safe and sound.”

Hillsborough County has lifted its evacuation order and is preparing to conclude sheltering operations, according to a news release from Hillsborough County.

Those whose homes have been damaged are encouraged to find a place to stay, which could be "with family, friends, or at a nearby hotel," according to the release.

MacDill Air Force Base remains closed, according to the release, and the base is assessing damages.