Hurricane Ian could be ‘deadliest in Florida history’

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View online September 29, 2022 1/ Biden warns Hurricane Ian could be 'deadliest in Florida history' as 'substantial loss of life' reported   Hurricane Ian, the formerly Category Four storm that has left millions of Floridians with flooded homes and without power, may be the worst such storm in the history of the Sunshine State, President Joe Biden has said.   "This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history," said Mr Biden, who addressed Federal Emergency Management Agency staff during a briefing at Fema headquarters on Thursday.   The president said federal officials have been receiving "early reports" of what he said may be "substantial loss of life" in the storm's wake, but he also said search and rescue operations had commenced before dawn in hopes of aiding people who are "stranded and who are in desperate shape" including water rescues by Coast Guard personnel.   In response to a reporter's question, Mr Biden said he has spoken to Florida governor Ron DeSantis "four or five times already" and noted that Mr DeSantis — a potential 2024 rival — has thanked him for the "immediate response" from the federal government. He said the Florida governor has said he is "extremely happy with what was going on". 2/ Hurricane warning issued for South Carolina as Ian moves north The storm will strengthen into a hurricane Thursday night and make landfall again on Friday 3/ Dramatic video shows moment a Florida woman is rescued from nearly submerged car People have recorded themselves swimming in flooded rooms and wakeboarding down submerged city streets 4/ Luxury McLaren car worth over $1m washed out of Florida garage and submerged by Hurricane Ian 'Car went through the garage,' the owner of the more than $1m McLaren P1 wrote while sharing a picture of it 5/ Ginni Thomas dodges questions as she arrives for her Jan 6 committee interview Comes as the committee had to postpone its final hearing due to Hurricane Ian The Big Question Can the January 6 committee close out with a bang? "January 6 was the culmination of an attempted coup, a brazen attempt, as one rioter put it shortly after January 6, to overthrow the government."   So spoke Democratic congressman Bennie Thompson in June, as the Jan 6 committee held its first televised meeting into the events that befell the building the nation's elected officials were sitting in just 18 months earlier, as Donald Trump and his supporters tried to prevent Joe Biden taking office.   There have been eight hearings this year and at least one more is due – it was initially scheduled for 28 September before being postponed because of the approach of Hurricane Ian. So can the committee go out with a bang and will it dare to make a criminal referral against Mr Trump in its final report? Read the full story > Watch/ What is extreme weather? | Decomplicated NUMBER OF THE DAY 6   –  The number of people injured by a high school gunman in Oakland, California, on Wednesday. Three of the victims are said to be in a critical condition.  QUOTE OF THE DAY "My mood quickly shifted from disbelief to resignation. Given my family's history of cancer, why would I be spared? My reaction went from 'Why me?' to 'Why not me?'" – Journalist Katie Couric recounts the moment she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year in an Instagram post in which she boldly faces up to the condition and announced she is receiving treatment.  Other stories you might like Marjorie Taylor Greene celebrates husband after he files for divorce Kamala Harris mistakenly praises 'Republic of North Korea' at DMZ Ex-Army major, wife charged in plot to leak military data to Russia Articles available exclusively to subscribers Geoffrey Macnab, The Independent - Hacks on screen: An exalted calling or hard-drinking sleazeballs? Other newsletters you might like The Race Report Fortnightly, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White Sign up Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Joe Sommerlad Sign up If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Evening Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's Evening Headlines newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.