Ian moves offshore, expected to regain hurricane strength as it turns north

Ormond Beach Observer
News

Ian exited the east side of the Florida peninsula the afternoon of Sept. 29 as a tropical storm, but is expected to regain hurricane strength again as if tracks north along the coast.

The storm ripped off the end of the Flagler Beach pier in the afternoon, knocked down large trees, flooded swales and streets and left 66% of Flagler County residents and 80% pf Volusia County residents without power as of 5:20 p.m. Thursday.

In southwest Florida, where the storm struck as a major hurricane, 11 people have died, according to authorities. In Volusia County, a 72-year-old Deltona man was also found dead in a canal behind his house after he went outside to drain his pool into the canal. Deputies believe he slipped down the incline, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office.

Palm Coast Fire Department crews survey damage from the storm. Photo courtesy of the Palm Coast Fire Department

Law enforcement officers are urging people to stay off flooded streets.

Vehicles can create a wake that pushes floodwaters into nearby buildings.

"I have people out there in their F-150s, driving around, taking selfies, zooming through these flooded areas," Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said in a press conference. "And what they're doing is they're pushing that water into people's homes, people that are on the brink of not flooding or flooding, when you go through these puddles, you're going through the subdivisions ... you're forcing that water into people's homes and causing a major problem."

Deputies will not be there to help people who drive into a flooded area and get themselves stuck, he said.

"We're not coming to get you, so it doesn't make any sense," he said. "We have stopped people who say they're going to Publix. Publix is closed. We've stopped people who said, 'I have to go to Lowe's or Home Depot.' They're closed. No businesses are open. ... I'm imploring you to stay off of the roads."

Volusia County and Flagler County will both have a curfew in effect from 8 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday. For details on the Volusia County curfew, click HERE. For details on the Flagler County curfew, click HERE. In Flagler County, the eastbound Moody Boulevard bridge to the barrier island was shut down on Thursday afternoon and will stay closed until further notice.

The National Hurricane Center has warned of storm surge along Florida's northeast coast, as well as coastal Georgia and South Carolina, as the hurricane makes its northward turn. Rains and wind are expected to decrease in the coming hours in the Volusia-Flagler area.