The aftermath of Hurricane Ian is seen at Fort Myers Beach on Thursday. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire)
Fort Myers, Florida, Mayor Kevin Anderson told CNN that the destruction from Hurricane Ian to his city is devastating.
"We've got extensive flooding in the downtown area, a lot of trees, damage to roofs. It looks like a war zone," Anderson said to CNN's Ana Cabrera.
Anderson said there have been no reported deaths in Fort Myers so far.
The water has subsided, so a massive cleanup is underway.
He urged people to stay inside.
"The traffic lights are not working, we have downed power lines, there are trees leaning on power lines that could take the line down at any moment. There's traffic lights hanging. It's not safe to be out moving about, but people are out there, wanting to take videos and record the damage," he said.
"I have never seen a storm that has caused so much damage in this area before," Anderson said.
1:44 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
DHS secretary says he's deploying more personnel to Florida to assist with Hurricane Ian response
From Priscilla Alvarez and Geneva Sands
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Thursday that he’s activated the department’s surge capacity workforce to deploy more personnel to respond to Hurricane Ian.
“Today, I will be activating the DHS surge capacity force so that we can bring to bear additional personnel from across the government to support disaster survivors throughout Florida,” Mayorkas said, adding that thousands of personnel are already positioned to assist.
"This is not just a here today, gone tomorrow. We are here, as the President articulated, throughout the need for full recovery,” Mayorkas added.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell warned Hurricane Ian will continue to be life-threatening as it moves into Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
"America woke up this morning to images like Naples, Punta Gorda and Cape Coral submerged under water, homes across Fort Myers that have been torn from their foundations and boats that have bene fond blocks away from where they were moored, but hurricane Ian is still a very life-threatening storm," Criswell said.
1:35 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
Naples pier sustains significant damage and remains closed, city officials say
From CNN’s Stephanie Gallman
The Naples, Florida, pier sustained significant damage but is not gone, according to a post on the city of Naples Facebook page.
“The Pier is CLOSED,” the post said. “Please do not try to access the pier.”
A separate post said that the curfew in Naples was lifted at noon but the beaches remain closed. “The roads are still hazardous with many still flooded,” the post said.
A precautionary boil water notice is also in effect.
1:25 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
Biden warns gas and oil executives against using storm to "gouge the American public"
President Joe Biden issued a stern warning to oil and gas executives, telling them not to use the storm as an excuse to jack up prices.
"Do not. Do not. Do not use this storm as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American public," Biden said during remarks from FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC, Thursday.
The administration estimates Ian will disrupt the supply of about 160,000 barrels of oil each day, representing roughly 2% of the country's daily production, according to Biden.
"This small and temporary impact on oil production provides no excuse, no excuse, for price increases at the pump. Period," the President continued. "If the gas station companies try to use this storm to raise prices, I'm going to ask — I'm going to ask officials to look into whether or not price gouging is going on.
"America is watching and the industry should do the right thing. I expect them to do the right thing," he added.
President Joe Biden announced that he will visit Florida as the state reels from devastation and damage wrecked by Hurricane Ian.
While he did not mention a date, he said he will visit "when the conditions allow it" and "so we don't get in the way" of restoration work.
"We're going to do our best to build Florida back as quickly as possibly, but we're not going be leaving. We're going to build it back with the state and local government. However long it takes, we're going to be there. That's my commitment to you," he said during remarks at FEMA's headquarters in Washington, DC.
While thanking the droves of emergency responders and crews helping in Florida's restoration efforts, he said, "I'm going to be going to Florida to thank them personally."
Biden also said that his conversation with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was "very fine," and that he will meet with him if he wants when the President visits the state to survey damage.
Assistance for Florida: Biden detailed the federal assistance sent to Florida, and thanked FEMA personnel for their round-the-clock work in the face of such emergencies. "FEMA is always there. You deserve the nation's gratitude and full support," he said.
"We've dispatched over 1,000 FEMA personnel and pre-positioned major federal capacities and capabilities and supplies. That includes millions of liters of water, millions of meals, and hundreds of generators. We've deployed dozens of search and rescue teams, along with high-water vehicles and rescue helicopters to help get survivors to safety," he said.
"Thousands of National Guard members have been activated. Under my direction, the Department of Defense is providing surge capacity on multiple fronts in support of FEMA's efforts," he added.
He urged Floridians to be cautious as Tropical Storm Ian still remains dangerous, and obey the warnings from local officials.
CNN's Jasmine Wright and Sam Fossum contributed reporting to this post.
1:24 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
"We were incredibly hard hit": Lee County sheriff says on the impact of Hurricane Ian
From CNN’s Naomi Thomas
Florida's Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told CNN that the county was hit "incredibly hard" by Hurricane Ian.
“We were incredibly hard hit. It came in as a strong, strong Cat 4, just a couple of miles an hour under a Cat 5,” Marceno said. “Today was the first day we were able to get back out and assess and begin that process.”
He continued, “I just literally got out of a helicopter where I was able to take a complete tour of the entire county and there’s really no words that I can say to tell you what I’ve seen."
Marceno added, “The Fort Myers Beach area, buildings, major, major homes and buildings completely washed away with vehicles in the water, vehicles in the bay, boats are upside down.”
He said that while there is no definitive number on how many people remain unaccounted for, all hands are on deck, and they are responding to every location where there are people in need.
1:23 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
More than 5,000 National Guard members from multiple states are ready to help communities impacted by Ian
From CNN's Ellie Kaufman
More than 5,000 National Guardsmen from multiple states are positioned to assist communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Ian in southwest and central Florida, according to a release from the National Guard.
National Guard members from Florida, Louisiana, New York and Tennessee are “standing by to provide direct support in the wake of the catastrophic storm,” Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen. Daniel Hokanson said in the release. Tennessee National Guard mobilized about 1,200 Guard members to be sent to Florida, the release said.
Guardsmen from Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, South Carolina, Montana and Virginia are also “on the way” to help, the release added.
The Guard is “working closely with local authorities to ensure the right people and equipment’ are in the right place “to maximize impact,” Hokanson said.
Sixteen helicopters, 1,640 high-wheeled vehicles, seven boats, 36 fuel tankers and generators are positioned in the state ready to help “conduct search and rescue operations, clear roads, and support law enforcement,” according to the release.
1:19 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
Biden: US government will cover 100% of the cost of Florida's emergency response efforts after Ian
(Evan Vucci/AP)
President Biden said the federal government will cover 100% of the cost that the state of Florida incurs for its emergency response efforts related to Hurricane Ian.
Biden noted that he approved GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis' request for expedited major disaster declaration during his remarks from FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC, Thursday.
"First thing this morning, I talked to Gov. Desantis and again offered the fullest federal support. Earlier this week I approved his request for the pre-landfall emergency declaration to provide direct federal assistance to the state, for emergency protective measures to save lives, including search and rescue and shelter and food. Earlier this morning I approved the governor's most recent request for expedited major disaster declaration," Biden said.
He continued, "That means the federal government will cover 100% of the cost to clear debris and for all the costs the state has to engage in and expend to save lives. The federal government will also cover the majority of the cost of rebuilding public buildings like schools and state fire stations."
1:18 p.m. ET, September 29, 2022
Biden: "This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history"
(Evan Vucci/AP)
President Joe Biden spoke Thursday about the havoc that Hurricane Ian wrecked in Florida after it made landfall on Wednesday.
"It is still moving across the state today. This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history. The numbers are still unclear but we are hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life," he said while speaking from the FEMA headquarters in Washington, DC.
Biden said he spoke to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, mayors and the commissioner, who, he said, are worried, but the President commended them for the "incredible" jobs they're doing to "save their cities, their towns" and their infrastructure.
Biden also issued a message for Floridians.
"My message to people in Florida, at times like this: America comes together. We’re going to pull together as one team, as one America," he said.
