Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday his request to President Biden to grant a Major Disaster Declaration for all 67 counties due to the ongoing devastating impacts of Hurricane Ian.
According to a Tropical Cyclone Update for Hurricane Ian posted on Twitter, a private weather station near Port Charlotte reported a sustained wind of 115 mph with a wind gust of 132 mph as Ian made landfall on mainland Florida.
A University of Florida Coastal Monitoring Program wind tower reported sustained winds of 64 mph (103 km/h) with a wind gust of 104 mph (167 km/h). By 9 p.m. EDT, a University of Florida Coastal Monitoring Program wind tower located near Punta Gorda reported sustained winds of 55 mph (89 km/h) with a wind gust of 78 mph (126 km/h).
“With heavy rainfall, trapped tides, and storm surge, the big threat with this storm will be WATER,” tweeted the National Weather Service (NWS) in Jacksonville. “Coastal flooding could be comparable to what we saw in Irma and Matthew.”
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida declared Hurricane Condition IV at 9 a.m. on Sept. 26, meaning winds of 58 mph are expected within 72 hours. Seven to 10 inches of rain are predicted at Kennedy, and sustained tropical storm force winds are expected to reach the center beginning as early as the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 28.
“The safety of our workforce and protection of our infrastructure is our primary focus right now,” said Center Director Janet Petro in the press release. “This hurricane just happens to be coming at the busiest time of the year for us as we were preparing for the Artemis I and Crew-5 launches. Since late last week, the programs and partners on the center have been monitoring the storm and making preparations, and those activities are continuing.”
Colleges and universities issued several weather advisories on their websites. Florida State University canceled all classes Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 30. The University of Central Florida closed campus operations from Wednesday, Sept 28 through Friday, Sept. 30.
Although Miami Dade College plans to resume all classes and operations on Thursday, September 29, all Seminole State campuses will be closed and all classes, including online, are canceled through Sunday, Oct. 2.
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) campuses have suspended operations for Thursday, Sept. 29, and a decision about Friday, Sept. 30, classes and operations will be made as information becomes available.
🛠️Preparations for Ian Should Be Completed Tonight
🌊With heavy rainfall, trapped tides, and storm surge, the big threat with this storm will be WATER. Coastal flooding could be comparable to what we saw in Irma and Matthew.
Here's a few tips and reminders to help you prepare: pic.twitter.com/E1qf1Py7D5
— NWS Jacksonville (@NWSJacksonville) September 28, 2022
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