TAMPA, Fla. – Hurricane Ian’s most damaging winds began hitting Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday, lashing the state with heavy rain and pushing a devastating storm surge after strengthening to the threshold of the most dangerous Category 5 status.
“This is going to be a nasty nasty day, two days,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said, stressing that people in Ian’s path along the coast should rush to the safest possible shelter and stay there.
Hundreds of residents were being evacuated from several nursing homes in the Tampa area, where hospitals were also moving some patients. Airports in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Key West closed. Busch Gardens in Tampa closed ahead of the storm, while several Orlando-area theme parks, including Disney World and Sea World, planned to close Wednesday and Thursday.
RELATED: Hurricane Ian near Category 5 strength, eyewall moving onshore in SW Florida
Charitable organizations are offering ways to help people to help victims of Hurricane Ian.
Florida Disaster Fund
The state of Florida has set up a private Florida Disaster Fund to respond to relief efforts as Ian makes its way on land. The money will be distributed to different organizations that severs people in various communities with disaster response and recovery.
Eyewall of Hurricane Ian begins moving onshore in southwest Florida
The eyewall of Hurricane Ian began to move on shore around 11:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, as a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph.
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