by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:49 AM ET, Mon September 26, 2022
Update: October 3, 2022 at 8:10 a.m. ET
As the remnants of the storm formerly known as Hurricane Ian made their way up the East Coast, residents in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas are starting to recover from the devastation.
According to Reuters.com, at least 50 storm-related deaths have been confirmed, with the number expected to rise as floodwaters receded and search teams pushed farther into areas initially cut off by the storm.
Insurers are bracing for a hit of between $28 billion and $47 billion from Ian, in what could be the costliest Florida storm since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, according to U.S. property data and analytics company CoreLogic.
Cruise lines have returned to reopened ports and airports have restarted operations, but travelers are being advised to reach out to travel companies before heading to impacted areas to learn about closures and delays.
Update: September 30, 2022 at 8:25 a.m. ET
After regaining strength over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Ian was expected to make landfall in South Carolina near Charleston as a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 75 mph on Friday afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center said Ian will bring potentially life-threatening flooding, storm surges and winds to Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, which are all currently under a hurricane warning.
Airlines canceled over 1,700 U.S. flights for Friday as Hurricane Ian's impact was being felt in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas, bringing the total of cancellations related to the storm to more than 6,000 flights.
Airports dealing with the largest impact of the storm include facilities in Orlando, Charlotte, Charleston, Jacksonville, Atlanta and more, according to FlightAware.com.
As for the cruise industry, PortMiami and Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale have reopened, giving the several cruise ships stuck at sea during the storm a place to dock. Officials said the ports would be able to accommodate scheduled cruise departures, but Port Tampa Bay, JAXPort in Jacksonville and Port Canaveral remain closed, forcing cruise lines to cancel voyages scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Theme parks were also impacted by Ian, with the Walt Disney World Resort reopening its theme parks "in a phased approach," starting Friday. Disney parks will have staggered openings in the morning for hotel guests, followed by openings to all guests two hours later.
Ian also dumped around 14 inches of rain and winds up to 60 mph in Orlando, leaving areas of Universal Studios Florida under water, including the Incredible Hulk roller coaster. Park official said they expect to begin a phased reopening for portions of the destination for hotel guests only beginning Friday.
Update: September 29, 2022 at 1:25 p.m. ET
The National Hurricane Center released a video breaking down the impact of Ian, which has now become a Tropical Storm but is expected to return to hurricane status as it makes its way back over the Atlantic Ocean.
The storm is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on Friday, with hurricane warnings being issued for the entire coast of South Carolina.
Officials from the Florida Keys and Key West revealed that infrastructure in the area remains in service and Key West International Airport reopened on Thursday. Travelers are being asked to check with their carrier on the status of their flights.
According to FlightAware.com, there have been over 2,000 cancellations within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday, with another 1,200-plus delays. Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville airports have been impacted the most.
Update: September 29, 2022 at 8:45 a.m. ET
The National Weather Service said Hurricane Ian was one of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the United States when it made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm.
The storm reached maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour and brought heavy rain, flash flooding and life-threatening storm surge. Ian is expected to bring record-setting rainfall to Central Florida in the coming days, causing potentially catastrophic flooding.
Tropical storm force winds are expected in Florida, Georgia and the Carolina coasts through Friday and hurricane conditions are possible. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening flooding to Florida, southern Georgia and eastern South Carolina.
Cruise lines are also being forced to extend voyages and stay at sea as three major Florida ports are now closed, including Tampa, Port Canaveral and Jacksonville. Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and MSC ships have been impacted by the closures, according to CBS News.
Airlines canceled almost 2,000 U.S. flights for Thursday after Hurricane Ian hit Florida's Gulf Coast, bringing the total of cancellations related to the storm to more than 5,000 flights through Friday.
The major theme parks in Florida remain closed Thursday, but officials are considering reopening on Friday. Reports suggest the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Disney World experienced heavy flooding, according to Fox Orlando.
Update: September 28, 2022 at 2:25 p.m. ET
Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida on Wednesday with near Category 5 power, recording maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour, just shy of the 157 mph winds needed to be considered the strongest classification of storm.
Forecasters said Ian would unleash wind-driven high surf, torrential rains that may cause storm surges of up to 18 feet, intense thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. The storm's outer bands were bringing heavy winds and rains to much of the Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
The National Hurricane Center released the latest satellite images and details of the storm:
Update: September 28, 2022 at 8:25 a.m. ET
The National Hurricane Center announced that Hurricane Ian will bring catastrophic storm surge, wind damage, rainfall and flooding to central Florida as it makes make landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm.
Widespread and life-threatening flooding is expected in North and South Florida, southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina through Friday. Storm surge is expected to reach 12-16 feet above ground level, causing destructive waves along the southwest Florida coastline.
As a result of the incoming storm, airlines have canceled over 2,000 U.S. flights-over 400 flights on Tuesday and over 1,900 on Wednesday-with several major airports in Florida shutting down completely, according to Flightaware.com.
Major cruise lines have adjusted plans due to Hurricane Ian, in some cases changing nearly entire itineraries or canceling sailings altogether, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.
Disney World also announced the theme park would be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, with the Disney Springs shopping, dining and entertainment district being closed only on Wednesday. Other theme parks have also closed due to the storm.
Update: September 27, 2022 at 1:45 p.m. ET
Hurricane Ian continues to impact every aspect of the travel industry in Florida, and cruise ships and theme parks are no exception.
Several major cruise lines serving the Caribbean from Florida have started rerouting and canceling sailings due to the projected trajectory of the storm, including Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.
As for theme parks impacted by the hurricane, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Legoland Florida announced they would close temporarily as a result of the storm, while other properties like Disney World and Universal Orlando have modified hours and were preparing to close if necessary.
The National Hurricane Center released a video breaking down the current trajectory of the hurricane and the potential life-threatening impact of the storm on Florida.
Update: September 27, 2022 at 8:25 a.m. ET
Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a Category 3 storm as it made landfall in Cuba on Tuesday morning, bringing with it maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, heavy rain, storm surge and flash floods.
The National Hurricane Center issued warnings for Florida's western coast, including Tampa and Fort Myers, as Ian is forecasted to become a Category 4 behemoth in the Gulf of Mexico as early as Tuesday evening.
By Wednesday, hurricane-force winds are expected in west central Florida, where mandatory evacuations have already started. Heavy rain, high winds and flooding are expected across Florida and could spread into Georgia and South Carolina this weekend.
Airlines continue to issue travel alerts for over 20 airports in the western Caribbean and Florida, allowing customers whose travel plans are affected by Hurricane Ian to rebook without change fees.
Gas prices rose a nickel over the past week, as the national average pump price hit $3.72, with concern that Hurricane Ian could disrupt oil production in the Gulf of Mexico and impact large coastal refineries.
Original Text
Forecasts show that Hurricane Ian is on track to make landfall in Florida in the middle of the week as a possible Category 4 storm.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Ian formed over the central Caribbean Sea late Friday and strengthened into a hurricane as it approached the Cayman Islands, where a hurricane watch was in effect.
Ian is expected to become a Category 3 hurricane early Tuesday as it moves past Cuba and Jamaica, bringing heavy rain, high winds, flash flooding and possible mudslides to the region.
Storm trackers say it's early to determine the exact track and intensity of the storm, but Ian is likely to make landfall on the west coast of Florida or the Florida Panhandle by midday Thursday.
As a result of the likely life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall, hurricane and tropical storm watches have been issued for much of Florida's west coast.
Airlines serving the region, including American, Delta, Southwest and United, have all started issuing flight waivers for key Florida tourist destinations, such as Daytona Beach, Key West, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and more. American also issued waivers to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.
Several cruise lines at PortMiami and other ports in the region are preparing both staff and travelers for the impacts of Ian, as MSC Cruises has already altered itineraries for MSC Seashore to avoid the storm, according to FoxNews Weather.
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