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President Joe Biden declared a "major disaster" in Florida Thursday morning (September 29) after Hurricane Ian ravaged Central Florida and other parts of the state. The president has authorized federal funding to support those affected by the devastating storm, which brought dangerous floods, storm surges, and heavy winds through the state.
“The President spoke this morning with Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida to discuss the steps the Biden-Harris Administration is taking to support Florida in response to Hurricane Ian, including the issuance of a Disaster Declaration this morning," according to a statement from the White House.
The funding will reportedly provide assistance for temporary housing, cleanup efforts, home repairs, loans to cover uninsured property, hazard mitigation, and other programs. It'll go to residents in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties.
Officials say the FEMA administrator will drop by Florida Friday (September 30) to survey the emergency response and see where extra support is needed. Over 2.5 million Floridians are without power, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The death toll remains unconfirmed.
Ian slammed Florida's west coast as a Category 4 hurricane Wednesday afternoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 mph and bringing walls of water through major cities and communities. Experts say the storm is tying for the fifth-strongest hurricane measured by wind speed to ever attack the United States.
Hundreds of phone calls poured in reporting people trapped inside their homes with floodwaters rising. Emergency response crews
The hurricane has been downgraded to a tropical storm as of 5 a.m., according to a National Hurricane Center advisory.