Hurricane Ian Making Its Way Toward South Carolina as Cat1

Hurricane Ian apparently isn’t just stopping with Florida. According to the National Hurricane Center, it’s now swirling toward South Carolina as a Category 1 storm with winds of up to 85 mph.

This after the storm hit land in Cayo Costa, Fla., as a massive Category 4 storm earlier this week. Per the NHC, a hurricane warning is now in effect for the Savannah River all the way to Cape Fear, N.C.

Not surprisingly, the governors of South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia have all declared a state of emergency, per The Guardian. President Joe Biden has declared one specifically for South Carolina as well.

As for Florida, things got really out of control, with the storm reaching nearly 7-foot high in some parts of the state near Fort Meyers, with 12-foot water levels recorded spots such as Naples. Winds hit as high as 150 mph in other parts, snapping trees and obliterating homes.

Millions of residents in Florida remain without power, and as of Friday morning, the storm was responsible for 12 deaths.

“This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history,” Biden said from FEMA headquarters, via CNN. “The numbers are still unclear, but we are hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life.”

Hurricane Ian’s next stop on land is expected to occur between Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C.