Biden Declares State of Emergency in Florida as Ian Expected to Strengthen Into Hurricane

A satellite image showing Tropical Storm Ian over the central Caribbean on Sept. 24, 2022. NOAA via AP

President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration for Florida as Tropical Storm Ian is forecast to significantly intensify before hitting the state this week.

In an update on the afternoon of Sept. 25, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated that Ian is forecast to “rapidly” strengthen on the night of Sept. 25 with “significant wind and storm surge impacts” in western Cuba.

No tropical storm or hurricane watches or warnings have been issued for anywhere in the United States, including Florida, but the NHC advised that “interests in central Cuba, the Florida Keys, and the Florida peninsula should monitor the progress of Ian.”

Hurricane warnings have been issued for Grand Cayman island as well as the Cuban provinces of Isla de la Juventud, Pinar del Río, and Artemisa. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Cuban provinces of La Habana, Mayabeque, and Matanzas. A tropical storm watch is in effect for Little Cayman and Cayman Brac islands.

After hitting western Cuba on Sept. 27 as a major hurricane, Ian is slated to continue as a major hurricane—a Category 3 or greater—for two days before weakening to a Category 1 or Category 2 hurricane, according to the NHC. Then, the storm is forecast to hit western Florida between Sept. 29 and Sept. 30.

The storm is currently located in the western Caribbean Sea, hundreds of miles south of Cuba and the Cayman Islands. It’s also hundreds of miles to the east of Honduras.

In preparation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for all 67 Florida counties. That will make more resources available to prepare for the storm, and it will also activate Florida National Guard members.

“This storm has the potential to strengthen into a major hurricane and we encourage all Floridians to make their preparations,“ the governor wrote on Sept. 24. ”We are coordinating with all state and local government partners to track potential impacts of this storm.”

Biden declared a state of emergency for Florida on Sept. 24, authorizing the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to coordinate disaster relief efforts, according to the White House.

Ian follows Hurricane Fiona, which hammered portions of Puerto Rico before it hit Atlantic Canada over the weekend as a post-tropical cyclone.

For Ian, a “quick uptick in strengthening is expected early this week as Ian moves into the western Caribbean, where low wind shear and very warm water are in place,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.

“This will raise the likelihood of significant impacts in the western Caribbean, and eventually the United States,” Douty wrote.

He noted that in “just a few days, Ian is likely to be a dangerous major hurricane.”