Hurricane Ian is bulking up again and bearing down on Florida's West
Coast. The storm lost some punch over western Cuba today and then
began regaining strength. It could bring 130 Mile an hour winds 18
inches of rain and a 12 FT Ocean surge to Florida later tomorrow,
William Branham begins our coverage.
Along Florida's Gulf Coast. Today, they're preparing for the worst
bracing for what forecasters say could be a potentially historic
catastrophe. Minimal
pleasure at least 100 M from the beach. We're trying to take precautions
for damages, but they're unavoidable, especially when a hurricane
unleashes the force that it does.
Across the state shelves were emptied of water in needed supplies,
while long lines grew to fill sandbags for a last line of defense.
Those who aren't hunkering down took to the roads. Today, more than
2.5 million Floridians are under some kind of evacuation order. It
is going to kick up a lot of water as it comes in from Sarasota Governor
Rhonda Santis said. It was not too late to act and you don't need
to evacuate to another state. You don't need to evacuate hundreds
of miles away. The key is to get the high ground and being a safe
structure. And at the White House President Biden urged Americans
to follow official guidance.
Citizens.
In the potential impact area should obey the instructions of local
officials evacuate when ordered and be prepared for the ones for
the storm. When it comes earlier today, Ian ripped through western
Cuba with fierce rain and strong winds, striking the tobacco growing
province of Pena del Rio. It's forced tens of thousands to evacuate
and cut power to over a million more.
Others chose to stay put and ride out the heavy conditions
at all
worried, But work is work, and I'm a security guard, so we need to
go to work with it. There's lightning thunder or rain. After passing
Cuba is expected to intensify into a larger, more powerful storm
as it feeds on the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Because of global climate change. Sea levels are higher and in some
places warmer, both of which can add additional fuel to storms. Forecasters
warn the coast from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region are most at
risk of life threatening storm surge. Tampa, which is home to more
than three million people, is particularly exposed.
Much of it sits on low lying ground and has seen rapid development
along the coast in recent years, a combination which makes it one
of the most storm vulnerable cities on Earth Tonight with their homes
boarded, many residents can do little but wait and hope.
For the PBS news hour, William Branham.
The approach of Ian prompted rescheduling of various sporting events
and the January 6th committee in Congress cited the storm as it canceled
tomorrow's plan hearing in Washington now for the latest on the Hurricanes,
projected path and the risks ahead. I'm joined by Jamie Rome, He's
the acting director of the National Hurricane Center.
Jamie Rome. Welcome to the news hour. So tell us right now. What
is the location? The latest information you have on the location
of this storm and its trajectory as you see it.
Yeah, as a five o'clock Ian's located about 230 miles south of Sarasota's,
so it's really starting to close in on Florida movement is off to
the north at 10 MPH, but it's going to start to slow down.
As it approaches and moves over the state. It is a Category three
hurricane on the Saffir Simpson scale. This maximum stained winds
of 120
MPH, and unfortunately it's looking like a multi hazard event is
going to unfold As this relatively large hurricane sweeps across
the Florida Peninsula. We're going to have a heavy rains and flooding
inland.
Really significant and potentially life threatening storm surge down
around the southwestern coast of Florida. So this is south of Tampa,
down around 14 Myers Ports Charlotte area, A band of heavy rain developing
along the I four corridor and then um, not to be left out is the
damaging wind as the core of the hurricane.
Moves inland and across the state. And so when you say, multi hazard
catastrophe, what does that mean? For the people who live in Florida?
Who should be thinking about evacuating? How far inland and and who
should just basically be hunkering down?
It's actually a very good question. Thank you for asking it. We evacuate
in this country because of storm surge.
So if you're in a storm surge, evacuation zone or hurricane evacuation
zone, and you've been ordered to evacuate, then you must do so If
you're not in a hurricane evacuation zone, then you should probably
stay put unless you're not in a well built homes. So if you're in
a bobo home or RV or something like that, that's different. But if
you're in a well built home and you're not within the evacuation
Order. You should probably hunker down and stay put. And so is that
message getting out to the people who need to hear it.
I actually think so. The lead time on this particular system, um,
was really historic. I've been here for 23 years and I was really
just struck by the fact that we were able to predict a major hurricane
days in advance
developing over the northwest Caribbean and moving into the eastern
Gulf of Mexico. I can remember a time when that forecast would not
have been possible.
So I really think that people have been hearing the message and taking
action.
And when we just heard in that report from my colleague, William
Branham about the Tampa area being particularly vulnerable. What
is it about that part of Florida that makes it so vulnerable?
It's actually the entire West Coast of Florida. Every everyone likes
to focus on Tampa, but it's the entire West Coast of Florida in owing
to how this system is going to come inland. We think the peak surge
is going to be somewhere down here, maybe closer to the fourth Myers
area versus Tampa. Tampa is going to get the heavy rain shield, so
the heavy precipitation
And flooding from heavy rains.
Well, we are going to be watching it very closely. And I know you
certainly are to Jamie Rome. We thank you very much.