Ian weakens as recovery efforts begin in Florida and South Carolina

A weakening Ian swirled north as a post-tropical cyclone early Saturday, its remnants dumping rain on the Big Apple while communities in Florida and South Carolina begin recovery efforts from the destruction inflicted by the megastorm.

Ian made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane In South Carolina near Georgetown Friday afternoon, roughly 48 hours after it barreled into the Sunshine State with windspeeds topping 150 mph. It was expected to move north through North Carolina on Saturday, weakening further before it dissipates over Virginia Saturday night.

Meteorologists have forecast several inches of rain across Appalachian North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. According to the the National Hurricane Center, there is potential for as much as six inches and “considerable” flooding in parts of western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia. Maximum sustained winds of 35 mph are also expected to lash the region.

Ian’s impacts on Saturday are forecast to stretch throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and into southern New Jersey, where thunderstorms and strong winds are the in forecast.

At least 30 people were confirmed dead, including 27 people in Florida. Most of the deceased drowned, while others were killed by the storm’s after effects, including an elderly couple who died when they lost power and their oxygen machines shut down.

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Fort Myers and Naples were particularly hard hit by Ian, as were Orlando and cities along Florida’s northeastern coast. Rescue crews continued to search by both land and sky for survivors trapped inside their flooded homes while residents tried to salvage any possessions not entirely destroyed by the storm.

“I want to sit in the corner and cry. I don’t know what else to do,” Stevie Scuderi said after shuffling through her mostly destroyed Fort Myers apartment.

Record amounts of rainfall drenched some parts of Florida, including 17 inches in Union Park, near Orlando, and 15 inches south of Daytona in New Smyrna Beach, according to the National Weather Service. Major flooding is also expected to persist in Florida through next week.

What’s more, at least a million homes and businesses across the state are still without power.

In South Carolina, residents and officials have only just begun to survey the damage caused by Ian. The storm barreled into the Palmetto State with torrential rains and windspeeds of 60 mph, flooding homes and submerging cars along the coastline.

Disaster modeling firm Karen Clark & Co., which regularly issues flash catastrophe estimates, said Ian likely caused “well over $100 billion” in damage, including $63 billion in privately insured losses. If the numbers are accurate, Ian would be at least the fourth costliest hurricane in U.S. history.

With News Wire Services