New Delhi: US President Joe Biden on Thursday said that Hurricane Ian could be the deadliest one in Florida stating that there has been a “substantial loss of life”. During a press briefing, he said: “This could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history. The numbers of still — are still unclear, but we’re hearing early reports of what may be substantial loss of life”. The press briefing was at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington.
Joe Biden said he will visit the state when the time is appropriate.
Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwest coast of Florida on Wednesday, a boat carrying immigrants capsized off the coast and twenty-three people went missing. Due to the weather conditions over 11 million are experiencing power outages in the US state, AFP reported.
In his press briefing, the US President also warned gas companies not to raise their prices, “I also want to say again to the oil and gas executives: Do not use this storm as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American public.”
“My experts inform me the production of only about 160,000 barrels a day has been impacted by this storm. That’s less than 2 percent of our country’s daily production”, he added.
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Joe Biden told the media that he has been in contact with Governor Ron DeSantis and mayors of the state and added that the Governor has thanked the federal government for its quick response.
The hurricane has also caused destruction in Puerto Rico and said he is committed to the recovery of the island. “To the people of Puerto Rico, we’re not gone away; I am committed to you and the recovery of the island. We’ll stand by you for however long it takes to get it done”, Biden told the media.
Videos have surfaced all over social media, of the intense wind and storm caused by Hurricane Ian. Houses submerged and trees falling were a common site as the hurricane made landfall.
Houses are destroyed and some are floating away as Ian’s eyewall hammers southwest Florida. This is video from Fort Myers Beach, Florida off Estero Blvd by Loni Architects pic.twitter.com/6GqrxLRv9Q
— Kaitlin Wright (@wxkaitlin) September 28, 2022
A viral video showed the massive destruction of houses and land caused by the hurricane. The video shows houses submerged in water and trees breaking apart due to strong winds and heavy rains in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
“Houses are destroyed and some are floating away as Ian’s eyewall hammers southwest Florida. This is video from Fort Myers Beach, Florida, off Estero Blvd by Loni Architects,” the Twitter post read.
