This compares to Hurricane Katrina’s $65 billion in 2005, winter storm Uri - $15 billion in 2021 and Hurricane Ida - $36 billion in 2021,” it said.
Meanwhile, in South Carolina, Charleston International Airport announced that it has closed its airfield due to high winds from the hurricane and plans to reopen on Saturday at 6am.The death toll from Hurricane Ian has risen to 21 deaths – most yet to be confirmed by officials to be related to the storm, Kevin Guthrie, director of Florida’s emergency management department, said at a press conference.Meanwhile, South Carolina is hunkering down as Hurricane Ian heads toward land once again.Lee county, which covers Fort Myers in south-west Florida, does not have running water after a water main break at its utility, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said at a press conference.In its 8am update on Hurricane Ian, the National Weather Service said Ian will probably not strengthen much as it approaches South Carolina.Tropical Storm Ian, which battered Florida as a hurricane on Wednesday, is gaining new strength as it approaches South Carolina today.The entire coast of South Carolina is under a hurricane warning.