September 27, 2022 Florida braces for Hurricane Ian

Charlotte County is bracing for life-threatening impacts as Hurricane Ian approaches, Patrick Fuller, the county Emergency Management director, told reporters on Tuesday.

He added that Red and Orange zones in the county are now under mandatory evacuation orders. The decision was prompted by a change in the storm’s forecast track that increased storm surge vulnerability in those areas. 

Authorities now expect a storm surge of anywhere from 6 to 12 feet in Charlotte County, which is located on the southwest coast of Florida. 

Fuller urged residents and visitors to seek shelter now. He said that all evacuation orders are considered mandatory, that the county does not issue voluntary orders, and also warned residents that they may not be able to assist those who choose to stay. 

The orders affect about 120,000 residents, Fuller added.

And for those residents still trying to decide whether to stay and ride out the storm, Fuller said that window is closing. “Time is getting short so now is the time to make your preparedness decisions and evacuate those area and seek safety.”

Flagler County officials are asking some county residents to prepare to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ian, according to a Tuesday press conference.

Flagler County is located on the east coast of Florida, just north of Daytona Beach.

The Flagler County Emergency Management is specifically warning certain residents:

“At this time, we have not ordered an evacuation. But we want residents living in those areas to be prepared no later than tonight as we will likely order evacuations tomorrow morning,” Jonathan Lord, the director of Flagler County Emergency Management, said at a news conference on Tuesday. 

Lord said the area will likely see tropical storm force winds Wednesday afternoon through midday Friday.

“Tomorrow, once we solidify the evacuation shelter opening times, the Emergency Operations Center will announce the final areas under the evacuation order and the times which shelters will officially open,” Lord said.

Flagler County Public Schools will also be closed through the remainder of the week, according to a tweet posted Tuesday.

A tornado watch for southern Florida was extended until 5 a.m. ET Wednesday morning, the Storm Prediction Center said.

Over 7 million people live in the tornado watch area, which includes Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Fort Myers.

Tornadoes are frequently associated with hurricanes and tropical storms and can occur hundreds of miles from the center of the hurricane. Tornadoes in tropical systems tend to be short-lived and difficult to predict with much lead-time compared to more traditional tornadoes produced by supercells and strong thunderstorms in the Central Plains and South.

Hurricane Ian is still on track to bring “life-threatening storm surge,” damaging winds and flooding to the Florida peninsula over the next few days.

The National Hurricane Center’s most recent 5 p.m. ET advisory extends the hurricane warning southward in the southwestern part of Florida.

Now, a hurricane warning is in effect for Chokoloskee to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay and the Dry Tortugas, a national park made up of a series of islands, according to the forecast. The hurricane center said Ian is about 50 miles away from the Dry Tortugas.

A storm surge warning is also in effect for much of the western part of the peninsula.

Ian’s track: The hurricane center said the storm is forecasted to move over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. It will pass west of the Florida Keys later Tuesday night and hit the west coast of the state on Wednesday, according to the advisory.

The hurricane center said Ian has maximum sustained winds near 120 mph — and that’s expected to get stronger.

Venice, Florida, is suspending potable water services to the island starting tonight around 8 p.m. ET, the city tweeted.

“Please prepare accordingly and collect and store as much water as possible, including bottled water, plastic jugs, filling your bathtub, etc. Another advisory will be issued once water service has been restored,” it continued. 

Universal Orlando Resort theme parks and CityWalk will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Ian.

Universal Orlando Resort theme parks and CityWalk will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Ian, the company tweeted Tuesday.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida will also be canceled Wednesday and Thursday, a separate tweet noted.

Disney World theme parks and water parks will close Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Ian.

The Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, are set to close ahead of Hurricane Ian, according to a company statement on Tuesday. It said theme parks and water parks will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

The company said Disney Springs will also be closed Wednesday and likely Thursday, but said it would monitor storm conditions.

There will be a countywide curfew in Volusia County, Florida, starting Wednesday night, Volusia Sheriff Michael Chitwood announced during a Tuesday news conference. 

The curfew will be in effect each evening from 8 p.m. ET to 7 a.m. ET Wednesday to Friday. 

The curfew does not apply to first responders or employees of local businesses, industries or government entities while traveling to and from work. 

Chitwood said they don’t want residents out during the height of the storm.

Volusia County is located on Florida’s East Coast northeast of Orlando. 

The city of Miami Beach, Florida, has declared a state of emergency as tropical storm conditions and flooding in low-lying areas are expected to impact the area, according to a tweet Tuesday.

“While Miami Beach is not expected to experience any direct impacts from Hurricane Ian, I am declaring a state of emergency out of an abundance of caution,” Miami Beach city manager Alina Hudak said in a statement Tuesday.

All parks and recreation programs will be canceled Wednesday and Thursday in the city, a news release said.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks at The Neighborhood Lot on July 29, in McDonough, Georgia.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a state of emergency for the state ahead of Hurricane Ian, his office announced in a news release Tuesday. 

The emergency order is for all Georgia counties, the release said. 

“Damaging winds will be possible statewide, even well away from the center of the storm, and downed trees and powerlines are possible statewide on Friday and Saturday. Widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches is also possible statewide, with 4 to 6 inches or more forecast in Southeast Georgia. Flash flooding, power outages, and other dangerous situations are possible, especially in Southeast Georgia,” it continued.

In a message to residents, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard said that it is becoming too late to evacuate.

Clearwater, Florida, is part of Pinellas County, which has at least 442,000 people under mandatory evacuation orders. 

Hibbard said that it is important to remember that even after the storm has passed, the danger has not and trees and electrical lines could still be down in the area. 

“The entire state will be touched by the storm,” he said. 

The US Navy will move four ships from Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville and evacuate non-essential active-duty military and other personnel from 10 Florida counties in preparation for Hurricane Ian, a release from US Fourth Fleet said Tuesday.

One of the ships, the littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, was moved earlier today. The other three ships will depart Jacksonville this afternoon.

The six remaining ships stationed at the port will stay and US Navy service members will “heavy weather moor” them at Naval Station Mayport, the release said. Some aircraft are expected to be relocated as well, but the release did not specify how many would be moved. 

Rear Adm. Wes McCall, Navy Region Southeast, “has authorized the evacuation of non-essential active-duty military, civilian employees, drilling reservists, and authorized dependents,” from 10 Florida counties, including “Charlotte, Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota,” the release said. 

All Navy installations in the Jacksonville area are “currently open,” and are currently to set to US Navy Hurricane Condition of Readiness Three, the release said.

Seminole County entered level 1 emergency activation Tuesday as officials make preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Ian, officials said at a news conference.

The county has handed out tens of thousands of sandbags, according to Alan Harris, Office of Emergency Management manager.

County offices will be closed beginning Tuesday, although employees will move to disaster positions in order to serve the community, Harris said.  

According to Serita Beamon, Seminole County Public Schools Superintendent, district schools will be closed Wednesday and remain closed through Friday with many of them becoming shelters.  

Beamon said many of the district’s staff will serve as volunteers at the shelters to help families through the storm. 

According to Harris, evacuation orders will be issued Wednesday morning for flood-prone areas, mobile home parks and for those who have special needs. Eight shelters will open Wednesday morning for those in need. 

Harris warned residents to plan for high winds, tornados and power outages. 

Seminole State College will also be closed Wednesday through Sunday. 

There are just more than 1.75 million people under mandatory evacuation orders across the state of Florida at this hour. 

Here’s the breakdown by county:

Note: St John’s County has a mandatory evacuation that goes into effect on Wednesday and is not included in this current list. When it goes into effect at 6 a.m. ET tomorrow, another 180,000 people will be under mandatory evacuation orders.

A total of 2.5 million Floridians are currently under some kind of evacuation order — either mandatory or voluntary — according to Florida officials. 

Officials in St. Petersburg, Florida, are telling residents to heed the evacuation orders and to conserve water if they decide to stay in the city. 

“Even though the center of the projected track of the hurricane has shifted further south, this is not the time to let our guard down,” mayor Ken Welch said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. 

Welch said that no matter where the storm hits, the city is expected to see wind, rain, flooding, tornadoes, and high storm surge. 

“You don’t need to go to Georgia. You just need to get to higher ground in a non-evacuation zone with your storm kit and supplies,” he added.

The city’s public works administrator Claude Tankersley asked anyone who remains in the city to conserve the water they use during the storm so that all sewage and wastewater systems will continue to operate during and after the storm. 

“For those of us who remain, I want to ask you — I want to plead with you actually — during the storm, reduce the amount of water you are using,” he said. 

The city asks that residents do not use dishwashers and washing machines, limit flushing and limit showering. 

As calls for mandatory evacuations and warnings of storm surge and strong winds from Hurricane Ian grow more urgent in Florida, local governments and state agencies are trying to prepare one of its most vulnerable groups — those living in nursing homes and other senior care facilities.

Florida has around 6 million citizens over the age of 60, according to according to the state’s Department of Elder Affairs — nearly 30% of its total population. As of Tuesday, all adult day cares, senior community cafes, and transportation services in evacuation zones are closed, according to the department.

“The department is ensuring emergency plans are being followed and providers have region-specific resources needed to serve seniors before and after the storm,” Sarah Stevenson, the department’s director of communications, told CNN.

“Providers in the projected path of the storm distributed shelf-stable meals to senior clients that would normally receive home-delivered meals,” Stevenson said. The elderly population, just like low-income, marginalized communities, are among the most vulnerable groups when it comes extreme weather disasters.

Not only do they require more care, they also require refrigeration and a sterile environment for some of their medications.

As Ian barrels toward the state, the Agency for Health Care Administration told CNN that it has conducted more than 290 on-site visits in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the path of the storm that had been previously out of compliance with generator requirements.

“As of today, 100% of operating long-term care facilities have a generator on-site,” said Brock Juarez, AHCA deputy chief of staff, noting that they are requiring all health providers to send daily updates to make sure each facility is taking the appropriate precautions to keep aging patients safe.

The American Association of Retired Persons is spreading awareness of the risk this storm poses to the state’s older population. The AARP website also provides disaster preparedness resources for older adults and their families, including advice on setting up generators, avoiding storm surge and reviewing insurance policies.

“As Hurricane Ian barrels toward Florida, we should all be reminded: it is extremely important for Floridians to have an updated disaster plan each year at the beginning of storm season,” AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson said in a statement.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management will deploy a task force to Florida in advance of Hurricane Ian, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday.

The Texas A&M Task Force 1 will deploy a search-and-rescue team consisting of 45 personnel, four boats, and two canines, to support a request by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the statement said. 

Members of the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection are pictured.

The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol postponed its hearing scheduled for Wednesday in light of Hurricane Ian heading toward Florida.

The panel had originally scheduled a hearing for Wednesday to reveal new information it has uncovered since its last hearing on July 21, but the committee’s chair, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, of Mississippi, and vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney, of Wyoming, made the announcement Tuesday afternoon.

One of the committee’s nine members, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy represents a district that includes parts of Orlando. CNN reported earlier that Murphy may not have been able to attend the hearing.

A man walks through the baggage claim area at Tampa International Airport before the airport is due to close at 5pm ET ahead of Hurricane Ian on Tuesday.

Airlines, airports, and the federal government are bracing for aviation infrastructure to take a major blow from Hurricane Ian. Cancellations and closures are already piling up across the Florida peninsula. 

FlightAware data shows more than 1100 cancelations nationwide Wednesday with the Orlando and Southwest Florida airports rounding out the top three hotspots, though the effects could ripple through the southeastern US with Atlanta and Charlotte already seeing cancellations.

Tampa International Airport: Operations will be suspended at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday. A publicly available notice to pilots reads that the airport will only be open for emergency aircraft. The airport typically handles 450 flights daily.  

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport closed at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday “due to mandatory evacuation orders from Pinellas County and remain closed until the evacuation order is lifted,” according to the verified tweet from the airport. 

Sarasota-Bradenton airport announced it will be closed starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday night.  

Orlando International Airport: Commercial operations will cease at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, according to an update from the airport, which welcomes nearly 130,000 passengers daily, according to its website. 

 The Federal Aviation Administration is holding a Tuesday evening teleconference about the impact of Hurricane Ian on air travel, according to a notice on an agency website.

American Airlines says it has proactively canceled 175 flights as of Tuesday morning, including both mainline and regional flights.  

American customers traveling through 20 airports in the hurricane’s path can rebook flights without change fees. The airline has also added “reduced, last-minute fares for cities that will be impacted” in hopes of helping people who are trying to “evacuate via air.” 

Multiple airlines are moving aircraft out of harm’s way and note it will take time to reestablish service after the storm. First, officials and the airlines must determine when and where it is safe to resume flights, and then they must have crews on the ground available.   

“Our in-house weather forecasting is a powerful tool to aid in ops decision making but equally important are the conditions of ground infrastructure after the storm passes,” Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant told CNN.  

United Airlines and Southwest Airlines are suspending operations at the Fort Meyers and Sarasota airports. United is also canceling all Tuesday and Wednesday flights to and from Key West and is canceling some flights out of Orlando.

CNN’s Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.

A storm surge watch has been issued for the entire Georgia coast, and the state is anticipating some flooding and flash flooding, officials said Tuesday.

Heavy rainfall of four to six inches of rain with some isolated areas of eight inches is expected along the state’s coastal counties.

Georgia Emergency Management officials said they are currently at a Level Two elevated activation for the State Operations Center. 

A tropical storm warning has been issued for Camden and Glynn counties, and a tropical storm watch has been issued for the remainder of the Georgia coast.

Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to issue a statement declaring a state of emergency today, which will encompass all state resources, GEMA Director James C. Stallings said.

Officials on Florida’s east coast are now beginning to prepare for Hurricane Ian’s approach.

St. Johns County administrator announced at an afternoon news conference the county will issue an evacuation order on Wednesday morning, including the entire city of St. Augustine.

Hunter Conrad, the county administrator, said they are “looking at flooding, storm surge and a rain event very similar to what we had during Irma.”

The area could get 3 to 5 feet of storm surge and 10 to 15 inches of rain, according to Conrad.

St. Jonhs County schools, as well as county offices, will be closed for the rest of the week. 

Hurricane Ian is growing stronger in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico with maximum sustained winds up to 120 mph, according to the 2 p.m. ET update from the National Hurricane Center.

The southward shift in the track has resulted in some changes to the expected storm surge, notably the slight decrease in the forecast for Tampa Bay in Florida, which is now 4-7 feet —down from 5-10 feet projected earlier.

It would still be a record storm surge if it is verified.

The maximum storm surge will occur on the right side of the advancing center of Hurricane Ian, which is forecast to occur between Sarasota and Fort Myers, including Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, and could reach up to 12 feet.

This satellite image taken at 2:06 p.m. ET on Tuesday shows Hurricane Ian nearing Florida.

Satellite imagery early Tuesday afternoon suggests Hurricane Ian — currently a Category 3 with winds of 120 mph — is strengthening as it moves into the ultra-warm water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Meteorologists have noted that it could be entering another period of rapid intensification.

Rapid intensification is precisely what it sounds like – a hurricane’s winds strengthening rapidly over a short amount of time. Scientists have defined it as a wind speed increase of at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less.

There are several things that meteorologists point to as evidence that Ian could rapidly intensify. The hurricane’s central pressure is falling and frequent lightning has been observed in and around the eye wall. Satellite imagery also depicts so-called “mesovortices” in the eye — smaller areas of circulation that spin within the eye like pinwheels — which can be a sign of a strong and intensifying storm.

Two ingredients must come together for rapid intensification to occur — both of which are present in the southeast Gulf of Mexico:

Rapid intensification has historically been a rare phenomenon, but is becoming more common as the climate crisis warms ocean temperatures and stacks the deck in favor of more intense hurricanes.

All National Park Service employees were evacuated from the Dry Tortugas National Park prior to the approach of Hurricane Ian, according to NPS spokesperson Allyson Gantt. 

No employees will be riding out the storm.  

Dry Tortugas National Park is in the Gulf of Mexico, west of Key West, Florida.

SeaWorld Orlando will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to the projected path of Hurricane Ian, which is headed for Florida.

Two other SeaWorld attractions – Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove – will also be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

The storm’s path: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Tuesday said that the track of Ian has changed “fairly significantly to the east” with its path leading directly over the city of Orlando in the next few days.

President Joe Biden speaks from the Rose Garden of the White House on Tuesday.

President Biden said he told three Florida mayors in the path of Hurricane Ian to contact him directly with whatever they need as the state prepares for the storm to make landfall. 

“Forecast can change, but for now the experts say this could be a very severe hurricane, life-threatening and a devastating impact,” Biden said from the White House Tuesday at an event on lowering healthcare costs. “The administration is on alert and in action to help the people of Florida.” 

Biden said he’d already directed his team to surge federal assistance before the storm hits and detailed the amount of federal funding and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials already deployed to the state. 

Biden said he “told each one of them in my conversations separately, whatever they need – I mean it sincerely whatever they need – contact me directly. They know how do that.”

He also urged Florida residents to listen to local officials and follow evacuation orders, saying their “safety is more important than anything.” 

“I know our hearts are with everyone who will feel the effects of this storm. And we’ll be with you every step of the way,” the President said. “We’re not going away.” 

Kentucky is providing three C-130 flight crews to Florida in an effort to help the state battle Hurricane Ian which is projected to make landfall this week. 

Kentucky was subject to historic flooding in July and August that ultimately took the lives of at least 40 Kentuckians. At the time, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management sent at least three All-Hazards Incident Management Team to help, according to a news statement.  

As Hurricane Ian is forecast to pass west of the Florida Keys tonight, Monroe County Emergency Management is urging residents and visitors to be in their safe structures by 2 p.m. today and stay off the roads. 

Emergency operations, including police and fire, will cease when winds reach 35 mph and will resume as soon as it is safe to do so, an update from Monroe County Emergency Management on Tuesday said. 

A tornado watch is in effect for the entire Keys island chain and tornadoes are possible in association with Ian’s rain bands, according to emergency management.

All commercial flights at Key West International Airport for Tuesday, September 27, have been canceled and the port of Key West is closed to maritime traffic, the update said.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Tuesday said that the track of Hurricane Ian has changed “fairly significantly to the east” with its path leading directly over the city of Orlando in the next few days.

Orlando’s emergency operations center is now fully activated and the city continues to monitor Ian’s track, Dyer said. All nonessential city offices, including city hall, will be closed starting at noon on Wednesday and will remain closed Thursday and Friday, the mayor said.

Four downtown Orlando parking garages will be open with all fees waved starting at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

“You can move your car there, if you are concerned about it being out in the weather,” Dyer said, noting that cars must be removed by 8 p.m. ET on Friday evening.

The city’s nonprofit partners and city staff are working to make sure that those experiencing homelessness are also safe as the storm approaches, the mayor said. Shelters will extend capacity and homeless outreach teams, and downtown ambassadors are out on the streets providing weather information and directing people to shelters.

About 3,200 Florida National Guard service members are on “state active duty” to support Hurricane Ian response efforts, while another 1,800 members are “in the pipeline” and can be activated if needed, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said during a briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday.

“Florida has pre-positioned guard soldiers, airmen and equipment at bases and armories around the state in preparation for deploying them to areas impacted by the storm,” Ryder said. “These guardsmen will provide route clearing, search and rescue, teams to support flood control and security.”

“Aviation assets like helicopters are also on standby to assist as required,” Ryder added.

Five neighboring states are prepared to make “an additional 2,000 plus guardsmen available” if needed, Ryder said.

The Department of Defense has also approved four bases in neighboring states as “incident support based federal staging areas,” Ryder said. The bases are: Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Warner Robins Air Force Base, Georgia and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia, Ryder said.

FEMA is the lead agency on hurricane response, Ryder added.

Several college football games scheduled for this week and weekend have been moved due to the forecasted impact of Hurricane Ian.

University of South Florida vs. East Carolina University: The game has been moved from Tampa to Boca Raton “due to the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Ian on the Tampa Bay Area,” the American Athletic Conference and USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly announced Tuesday.

It is now set to be played on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at FAU Stadium.

University of Florida vs. Eastern Washington University: The game was rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday at noon, the University Athletic Association announced Tuesday.

University of South Carolina vs. South Carolina State University: This game has been moved up to Thursday night due to the hurricane threat. “Due to the potential impact of the hurricane on Columbia and the surrounding area, it is in the best interest of safety to play the game on Thursday rather than Saturday afternoon,” South Carolina athletics director Ray Tanner said on Tuesday.

Other sports impacted: The University of South Florida also noted that a number of other sports had been impacted by Hurricane Ian. It’s volleyball team’s matches slated for Friday and Saturday will not be played in Tampa, with hopes that they can take place in Orlando.

The men’s soccer game scheduled for Friday in Charlotte has been postponed, while the cross country team has withdrawn from the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Friday “due to the storm’s impact on travel.”

Hurricane Ian has maximum sustained winds of 110 mph and is inching toward Florida’s western coast at 10 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 1 p.m. ET position update.

The storm is located 100 miles south-southwest of Dry Tortugas and 280 miles south-southwest of Sarasota, Florida.

The White House is “closely tracking” Hurricane Ian as the storm barrels toward Florida, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

President Joe Biden is receiving regular updates and separately spoke with three mayors of the areas that are in the storm’s expected path Tuesday — Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa, Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg and Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater, she said.

He discussed planning and preparation for the upcoming storm, which is currently expected to make landfall on the state’s west coast on Wednesday. 

“The President underscored his commitment to the people of Florida and made clear that impacted communities will have the full support of the federal government to augment state and local emergency response efforts and emphasized the importance of encouraging families to heed evacuation orders,” Jean-Pierre said.

Notably, Jean-Pierre said she had “no calls to preview” when asked if Biden had spoken or planned to speak with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. However, Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell, however, said Tuesday she spoke with the governor on Friday at Biden’s request. 

“I did speak with Governor DeSantis on Friday to hear his main concerns and his priorities for the response and the preparedness actions. And we immediately began moving resources and personnel in, and President Biden signed Governor DeSantis’ pre-landfall emergency declaration request on Saturday. This made sure that we were able to immediately start supporting the governor’s concerns that he relayed to me,” Criswell said.

Commercial operations at Orlando International Airport (MCO) will cease at 10:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday in preparation for the arrival and impact of Hurricane Ian, according to an update from the airport on Tuesday.

The decision was made after conferring with the National Weather Service, airlines, and federal partners, airport officials said. 

The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority has now activated the airport’s Emergency Operations Center, which is staffed by airport leadership, emergency response and federal partners, the update said.

MCO reminded the public that the airport is not a designated shelter and entry to all parking facilities will also be closed.

Other closures: The Port of Tampa Bay suspended operations at 8 a.m. ET Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said previously. Tampa Bay International Airport will also close at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday, he added.

Several national parks and monuments in Florida have closed, or are planning on closing, in preparation for Hurricane Ian which is barreling towards the coast.

The National Park Service is urging guests to check alerts for specific parks before you visit. Closures could change as conditions deteriorate later this week. You can find notifications on its website here.

“During severe weather such as hurricanes, the NPS strives to ensure the safety and protection of its visitors, employees, and resources,” the NPS said.

Here are some of the closures so far:

Energy companies from across the United States are sending droves of workers to assist in Hurricane Ian restoration efforts.

ComEd: At the request of Georgia Power and Tampa Electric, the Chicago-based energy company is sending more than 250 employees —100 ComEd employees and 150 contractors, plus support staff — to assist in restoration efforts following expected outages, it told CNN affiliate WBBM. Crews began leaving Tuesday morning.

Duke energy: The company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is also sending nearly 10,000 workers to help in safe Florida locations, including lineworkers, tree professionals, damage assessment and support personnel. Crews coming from Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio will be strategically placed in areas that will be most impacted and will be prepared to “respond to outages once it is safe to do so,” a spokesperson told CNN.

Emergency Disaster Services: The Lexington-based disaster recovery company is sending 1,000 workers to Georgia and Florida to assist utility companies after Hurricane Ian’s landfall before pivoting to assist FEMA with their needs. The company has proprietary “state-of-the-art mobile sleeper systems” with laundry, restrooms, dining halls, kitchens, and mobile office trailers to support “utility partners as they work to restore power,” a spokesperson told CNN. 

Hurricane Ian made landfall Tuesday morning in western Cuba, where more than 38,000 people had evacuated to get out of harm’s way, CNN previously reported. 

CNN meteorologists predict that at least 8 million people are under a hurricane warning in western and central Florida, meaning they are subject to hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or greater.

A storm surge warning along the west coast of Florida was expanded to include the area from Suwanee River to Anclote River, according to the latest update from the National Hurricane Center. 

A storm surge warning was also issued for the US east coast from Marineland, Florida, to the mouth of St. Mary’s River, including the St. Johns River, and the Dry Tortugas.

Here is a list of all the warnings currently in effect:

A hurricane warning:

A storm surge warning:

A tropical storm warning:

A storm surge watch:

A hurricane watch:

A tropical storm watch:

A satellite image taken at 12:01 p.m. ET shows Hurricane Ian over the Gulf of Mexico.

The center of Hurricane Ian is positioned in the far southeastern Gulf of Mexico as of 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, according to the latest update by the National Hurricane Center.

The forecast says Ian is about 285 miles from Sarasota, Florida, and about 110 miles from the Dry Tortugas, a national park made up of seven small islands.

The hurricane center said it will release hourly forecasts as long as the eye of the storm “is easily trackable by land-based radar.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaks at a press conference on Tuesday.

While Tampa Mayor Jane Castor on Tuesday morning said the forecast for Hurricane Ian’s impact on the city “hasn’t changed a great deal,” the slow-moving storm is expected to bring a “devastating amount of water” to the Tampa Bay area.

Castor also said she received a call from President Biden, who said he also had Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell in his office.

“He just wanted to ensure that we had all the resources that we needed and clearly wishing us the best,” Castor said.

Castor said a thunderstorm on Monday evening already saturated the ground and caused street closures.

“We are doing all that we can right now … to mitigate pumping water out of our stormwater ponds, letting water over the dam, doing all that we can to make sure that that water has a clear path, somewhere to go,” the mayor said.

“It’s going to be in our rivers, it’s going to be in our streams, it’s going to be in our canals, it’s going to be in our stormwater drains and ditches,” Castor added. 

A curfew is expected to be implemented, Castor said.

“We are prepared to secure these neighborhoods as best we can so that anyone that does not belong in these neighborhoods is not coming back in post evacuation,” Tampa Police Chief Mary O’Connor added.

Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp said crews are currently helping to evacuate the nursing homes that are in the evacuation area, assisting with evacuating those patients to facilities on higher grounds. At least 41 patients from a nursing home in south Tampa are being relocated to central Tampa, Tripp said.

City officials have also been speaking to CEOs of hospitals throughout the city.

O’Connor said a storm barrier has been put up around Tampa General Hospital.

“So this is going to be the test right here, but I’ve talked to them and they aren’t evacuating anyone at this point,” O’Connor said. “But they have systems in place that individuals will be protected. And they have plenty of resources, generators working, and they’re comfortable that they can protect their patients at Tampa General.”

Floridians should be prepared to lose power once the storm hits, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in an update on Tuesday.

DeSantis also said the duration of power loss could last more than just a few days depending on how Hurricane Ian makes landfall.

Loss of power “may be a matter of days. It may be more than just a few days. It really depends on the intensity of the storm, and it depends on how much structural damage is done to the underlying infrastructure that powers our state,” he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, energy companies announced that thousands of workers from across the US will be sent to safe locations in Florida and also Georgia to help with power restoration efforts.

Cuba’s western province of Pinar del Rio has lost power, according to Cuban state television on Tuesday.

Hurricane Ian hit Cuba’s western province, an area noted for its tobacco farms. State media posted photos of downed fences and destruction at the Alejandro Robaina Tobacco Plantation, one of Cuba’s most famous tobacco farms.

People line up in their vehicles to get sand bags in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday.

With Hurricane Ian barreling toward Florida, coastal residents are scrambling to secure their homes.

On Tuesday morning in the Tampa area, long lines of cars waited for hours to get free sandbags at distribution sites.

In flood-prone regions, sandbags are used around doorways as barriers to prevent flood water from entering homes. But depending on the height of Ian’s storm surge, officials have warned sandbags might not provide enough protection.

Nearly 7 million people residing along the coast between Fort Myers and Clearwater, including all of Tampa Bay, are under a storm surge warning.

As of 11 a.m. ET, a storm surge of five to eight feet was forecast in and around Tampa Bay. Even the low range of storm surge forecast would still be the highest water levels ever recorded for the area.

The city of Tampa is limiting each vehicle to 10 filled sandbags. Tampa distribution sites will close at 2 p.m. Tuesday, the city said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis encouraged residents to prepare for historic flooding and storm surge on Tuesday, encouraging Floridians under evacuation orders to heed those warnings.

“It is now a major hurricane,” DeSantis said. “Understand the impacts are going to be far, far broader than just where the eye of the storm happens to make landfall. In some areas, there will be catastrophic flooding and life-threatening storm surge.”

DeSantis said the most recent forecast had landfall south of Tampa Bay, in the Sarasota area, threatening severe flooding and an estimated 5 to 10 feet of storm surge. 

Guthrie continued that residents of Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties should continue to heed warnings and not return to their homes.

About 2.5 million Floridians are currently under some kind of evacuation order, according to Florida officials. 

“Mother nature is a very fearsome adversary. So please heed those warnings. You do not need to evacuate to another state. You don’t need to go hundreds of miles away. There are shelters that are open and all of these counties at this point,” said DeSantis

According to the governor, Florida has activated 5,000 National Guard members with an additional 2,000 members from other states. More than 28,000 people are staged for power restorations across the state of Florida. 

Twenty-six school districts announced closures as of Tuesday morning. DeSantis said he expected more closures to be announced as the track of the storm becomes clearer. 

NASA has rolled the massive Artemis I mega moon rocket back into its hangar, called the Vehicle Assembly Building, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to protect it from Hurricane Ian.

The move, which concluded at 9:15 a.m. ET Tuesday, delays the third launch attempt for the Artemis I mission, which is slated to send an uncrewed capsule around the moon, for at least a few weeks.

The agency will host a news conference today at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the rollback decision. Janet Petro, director of the Kennedy Space Center, will provide a big picture look at all of the hurricane preparations taking place at the complex.

“After the storm has passed, teams will conduct inspections to determine impacts at the center and establish a forward plan for the next launch attempt, including replacing the core stage flight termination system batteries and retesting the system to ensure it can terminate the flight if necessary for public safety in the event of an emergency during launch,” according to an update in the Artemis blog.

The setback would likely push NASA’s next try into November, though late October potentially could still be an option for the highly anticipated launch.

Sept 27, 2022; Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA; NASA's giant moon rocket Artemis I is rolled back into the Vehicle Assembly Building early Tuesday, September, 27, 2002 to protect it from Hurricane Ian. Mandatory Credit: Craig Bailey-USA TODAY NETWORK

Related article Artemis I rocket rolled back inside as Hurricane Ian treks toward Florida | CNN

Storm surges and rain from Hurricane Ian could mean that Florida sees water in places it’s never seen before, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch told CNN.

The mayor expressed confidence that Florida can get through this as long as people act responsibly.

“We can get through this because we’ve got the science and data. We know where the storm surge will be. But that depends on folks being responsible,” he said. “At a certain point these folks are going to be on their own and we’re not going to send first responders out and put them in danger when there are tropical storm force winds.”

When Florida faces hurricane-force winds, Welch emphasized that first responders will not go out because it puts their lives in danger.

This satellite image taken at 9:56 a.m. ET on Tuesday shows Hurricane Ian passing over western Cuba.

Hurricane Ian’s center has emerged into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico late Tuesday morning, according to the 11 a.m. ET advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Ian’s winds have decreased only slightly, down to 115 mph, as a result of the trip across western Cuba, which keeps the storm as a Category 3. Ian is expected to strengthen again later today and become a Category 4 before the end of the day. 

The expected track for Ian has shifted around 25 miles south in the newest advisory, with landfall expected to occur north of Venice, Florida, around 6 to 12 hours earlier than previously anticipated. Ian is still expected to be a major hurricane when it makes landfall on Wednesday evening around 8 p.m. local time. 

This also shifts the expected highest surge, with the highest surge expected to be 8 to 12 feet, occurring south of Tampa Bay and north of Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor and the cities of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. Storm surge in and around Tampa Bay, including St. Petersburg and Clearwater, is still expected to be 5 to 8 feet.

“Ian is forecast to approach the west coast of Florida as an extremely dangerous major hurricane,” the center said.

Ian is moving north at 10 mph, and “a turn toward the north-northeast with a reduction in forward speed is forecast tonight and Wednesday,” it said.

“Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials,” according to the advisory.

Florida’s Division of Emergency Management, floridadisaster.org, has a tracking tool to inform residents if they are in an evacuation zone.

You can use this tool to find your zone and better understand orders from local officials.

Hurricane Ian is strengthening rapidly as it passes over the ultra-warm waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center had predicted the system would rapidly intensify from a tropical storm to at least a Category 4 hurricane in less than 72 hours.

Rapid intensification is precisely what it sounds like — a hurricane’s winds strengthening rapidly over a short amount of time. Scientists have defined it as a wind speed increase of at least 35 mph in 24 hours or less. 

The phenomenon played out with breathtaking speed in the Philippines this weekend. Super Typhoon Noru exploded in strength on its final approach toward the Pacific island nation, going from the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane to a Category 5 overnight as residents around Manila slept.

Noru’s rapid intensification right before landfall — which was not predicted — likely meant locals had no time prepare for the much stronger storm. 

Hurricane Ian’s intensification has been in the forecast for days, giving Cuba and Florida the benefit of time. Winds in the storm increased from 45 mph Sunday evening to 80 mph late Monday morning, and more strengthening is in the forecast. Ian could intensify into at least a Category 4 before it makes landfall in Florida midweek.

Rapid intensification has historically been a rare phenomenon, according to Allison Wing, an assistant professor of atmospheric science at Florida State University.

Read more about this here.

Manatee County Emergency Management officials have expanded a mandatory evacuation order for the county to include both level A and level B evacuation zones. Additionally, residents living in evacuation level C are being encouraged to find shelter further inland, according to a news statement from the county.

“Those along the coast and prone to flooding need to take this seriously and evacuate,” Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said. “This is worst-case scenario.”

Manatee County Area Transit will suspend all fixed routes as of 6 p.m. ET, and two additional shelters will open in the county at noon, the statement said.

Manatee County is expected to provide a news briefing 2 p.m. ET Tuesday. Manatee County is just south of Tampa and St. Petersburg.

Hillsborough County in Florida has upgraded a previous mandatory evacuation order to now include both Zones A and B, effective 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, said Bonnie Wise, County Administrator for Hillsborough County, during a briefing Tuesday morning.

What’s important to note: This is an update from Monday’s order that included a mandatory evacuation order for Zone A and only a voluntary evacuation order for Zone B. Both zones now fall under mandatory evacuation orders.

This update affects about 90,000 more residents. Everyone in the mandatory zones must evacuate by 9 p.m. ET Tuesday evening. Hillsborough County’s mandatory evacuations affects about 390,000 residents, Wise said.

You can use this tool to find your evacuation zone in Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County includes Tampa, Florida.

The city of Tampa, Florida, is seen from above on Monday.

The exact location of Hurricane Ian’s landfall will make a dramatic difference in the location of the storm surge.

“Landfall in the southern part of the cone will take Tampa Bay out of the extreme surge and put Charlotte Harbor in the center of the worst conditions,” according to CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. “Landfall to the north of Tampa puts the massive surge right into Tampa Bay.”

Fifty miles one way or the other changes everything.

If it makes landfall north of Tampa, this will push water levels to a height not seen in over 50 years of tide level records in the Tampa Bay area.

That slowing forward momentum will allow for another extreme event to unfold. Obviously, there are damaging winds in the eyewall and the surge. Still, there is also the potential for flooding rainfalls, Myers said.

There is “the potential for rainfall totals of 20 to 25 inches as the storm appears to temporarily stall after landfall creating massive rainfall flash flooding,” Myers said.

The average month of September brings about 6 inches of rain to the Tampa region.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in western Cuba early Tuesday morning while on its trek toward Florida.

Here’s a satellite look at the Ian this morning as the sun rose over Florida, Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico:

The National Hurricane Center now says Ian will maintain major hurricane intensity when it hits Florida.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles and tropical storm-force winds extend outward up to 115 miles from the center of Ian.

This means that more than 15 million people will likely experience tropical storm-force winds, including all of Tampa metro and other cities such as Orlando, Tallahassee and Jacksonville.

The most likely arrival of tropical storm-force winds:

Photos from the Pinar del Rio province of Cuba show damage, downed trees and flooding as Category 3 Hurricane Ian made landfall on the western side of the island country.

A tornado watch has been issued for South Florida on Tuesday morning, associated with the outer bands of Hurricane Ian moving into the southern parts of Florida.

The watch runs until 5 p.m. ET this evening.

The watch, issued from the Storm Prediction Center, covers more than 6 million people including the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Some context: Tornadoes are frequently associated with hurricanes and tropical storms, and can occur hundreds of miles away from the center of the hurricane. Tornadoes in tropical systems tend to be short-lived and difficult to predict with much lead time, compared to more traditional tornadoes produced by supercells and strong thunderstorms in the Central Plains and South.

As Tampa International Airport prepares to suspend operations today at 5 p.m. ET due to approaching Hurricane Ian, airport CEO Joe Lopano said the economic impact of shutting down is “in the millions.”

“Unfortunately, Ian has not given us a choice,” Lopano said. “We’ll just make it as painless as we can, open as quickly as we can, depending … on the severity of the storm, and we’ll resume from there.”

The airport has a team of storm riders made up of about 120 employees who have trained for hurricane events and will ride out the storm, Lopano said.

The top concern is storm surge and flooding, according to John Tiliacos, executive vice president of airport operations.

Tiliacos also reminded the public that the airport is not a shelter and doesn’t have the resources to serve as one for vehicles or people during a hurricane.

After the storm passes, the airport’s focus will shift toward reopening the airport.

“We recognize the importance of this asset in order to have the community recover as quickly as possible,” Lopano said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a cautious reminder to Floridians, saying residents should not think Hurricane Ian could be like Hurricane Charley, which slammed the coast in 2004 — Charley was a lot smaller, he said.

DeSantis acknowledge that there is a possibility that Ian’s track may end up being similar to Charley’s.

“I know there’s folks in southwest Florida who remember Hurricane Charley was projected to make a direct impact into Tampa Bay, and then it turned and went into southwest Florida. I would just say the track may end up doing something similar, but this is a much different storm.”

Given the circumstances, he urged that residents in Ian’s projected path at the moment should heed the evacuation orders in their area.

“What those evacuation orders are doing is identifying people that live in areas that are vulnerable to major storm surge. And that storm surge can be life-threatening. There’s certain things we can protect against in terms of the wind and the structures, and we’ve got great building codes. But when you have five to 10 feet of storm surge, that’s not something that you want to be a part of,” he said.

Hernando County, which is located north of Tampa, is expecting the arrival of tropical-force winds from Hurricane Ian starting at noon on Wednesday, according to officials. Sustained winds, increasing up to hurricane-level winds, are anticipated for the next two days.

According to Hernando County administrator Jeff Rogers, the county will see a storm surge between 8-10 feet, depending on where Ian makes landfall, particularly impacting roadways and ground-level houses in coastal communities.

Rogers warned that the county will have a significant amount of rainfall — of up to over 14 inches — which will be “more than any significant storm event” recently experienced. Anywhere that has seen flooding previously will likely have flooding again, he said. 

Rogers said Hernando County is also expecting significant loss of power starting late Wednesday night into Thursday, as the amount of rainfall will cause downed trees. He asked residents to be prepared for a loss of power for three to five days starting on Thursday and Friday.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in western Cuba early this morning as a major hurricane — a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds.

The last major hurricane [Category 3 or greater] to strike Cuba was Hurricane Irma in 2017. But specifically in western Cuba, Hurricane Gustav in 2008 was the last major hurricane to make landfall. 

More than 1 million people reside in the three Cuban provinces that have experienced hurricane-force winds — Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio, and Artemisa.

An additional 3 million people are experiencing tropical-storm-force winds in the three provinces under a tropical storm warning — La Habana, Mayabeque, and Matanzas.

Steve Newberne, left, and Richard Latronita board up Gigi's restaurant in preparation for Hurricane Ian on Monday.

As Florida prepares for Hurricane Ian’s menacing approach here is what you should know about the forecast and potential impact on the state.

On rainfall: Ian is expected to dump at least 2 to 3 months’ worth of rainfall by Friday. Totals are expected to be 12 to 16 inches with maximums up to 24” in Tampa and West Central Florida. The average month of September brings about 6 inches of rain.

On people: More than 8 million people reside in the Hurricane Warning zone in West and Central Florida, meaning they are subject to hurricane-force winds of 74 mph or greater

Nearly 7 million people reside along the coast between Fort Myers and Clearwater, including all of Tampa Bay area are also under a storm surge warning, indicating a life-threatening storm surge of 5 to 10 feet is possible

On storm surge: Even the low range of storm surge currently forecast for Tampa/St. Pete/Clearwater would represent the highest water levels ever recorded. It could double their highest. 5 to 10 feet is the expected surge in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The highest sea levels ever recorded reached around 4 feet high in Hurricane Elena in 1985 and the March 1993 “Storm of the Century.” 

On rapid intensification: Hurricane Ian’s rapid intensification has continued on Tuesday. Ian was a 45 mph tropical storm on Sunday afternoon, but is currently a 125 mph Category 3 major hurricane. Rapid intensification is considered an increase of at least 35 mph in 24 hours, Ian has far exceeded that, increasing by at least 55 mph in a 24 hour period between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon.

Some history: The last major hurricane to make landfall in the US was Hurricane Ida (Category 4) in 2021 in Louisiana. The last major hurricane to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Michael in 2018 (Category 5).

If you are in the path of Hurricane Ian, there are many steps you can take to protect yourself, your loved ones and your property.

Here’s a checklist to help you get started, with tips from the American Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Hurricane Center.

What to do as the storm approaches:

What to have on hand as a storm approaches:

Read the checklist in full by downloading this PDF, which contains links with more details.

Lee County officials in southwest Florida are implementing a mandatory evacuation order for residents living in zone A and parts of zone B of the county, officials said Tuesday. 

The county is currently under a hurricane watch, tropical storm warning and a storm surge warning, according to a Facebook post from Monday night.  

Zone A is generally surrounded by low-lying areas that tend to flood, Desjarlais said. Residents living in mobile and manufactured homes are also encouraged to leave, he added.  

Government offices are closed Tuesday and won’t reopen until Thursday, according to the county’s website. All toll sites on Lee County are suspended “until further notice,” the county added.  

The county’s school district and its offices, which serves nearly 100,000 students, are also closed Tuesday and Wednesday. School officials said they’d reevaluate when to reopen by 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday. 

There are 10 pet-friendly emergency shelters opening throughout the county at 9 a.m. ET, Desjarlais said. Residents looking for shelter information, zone information, as well as Ian’s whereabouts, can check the county’s website and Facebook.  

County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, also present at the news conference, stressed the uncertainty of the storm at this time.  

Lee County is roughly 132 miles west of West Palm Beach, Florida.   

About 38,000 people had been evacuated from homes in the Pinar del Rio province in Cuba as of Monday night, according to state news channel TelePinar.

Most people had gone to stay with friends and family, and 55 shelters have been set up in the province, it said.  

Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmets sit on the sidelines during a preseason game in August 27.

In preparation for the potential impact of Hurricane Ian, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are relocating their football operations to Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Starting Wednesday, the Bucs are expected to practice at the Miami Dolphins’ Baptist Health Training Complex in Miami Gardens ahead of their game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

There have currently not been any changes to the game, which is scheduled to take place at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

The Dolphins have a game at Cincinnati on Thursday, meaning their training facilities are available to use from Wednesday.

Remember: Early Tuesday morning, Ian made landfall in western Cuba as a Category 3 storm. It quickly strengthened on Monday and will likely continue gaining in intensity as it moves over Cuba on Tuesday morning, forecasters say. While the hurricane’s exact path remains uncertain, projections show that Florida’s Tampa area could get its first direct hit from a hurricane since 1921.

Hurricane Ian is slamming Cuba and is expected to strengthen and bring dangerous storm surge, heavy rain and high winds to much of western Florida. CNN meteorologist Pedram Javaheri has the forecast.

Watch here:

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02:11 - Source: CNN

Hurricane Ian’s menacing approach to Florida has triggered preparations across the state as officials announced school closures and flight cancellations, and the military began moving ships and aircraft. Here are some closures and changes in services that you should know about:

With tropical storm conditions possibly beginning Tuesday night, officials are concerned about Hurricane Ian’s storm surge – a rise in water level caused by a strong storm’s wind pushing water onshore.

A storm surge warning is effect for the Anclote River southward to Flamingo and Tampa Bay, where the inundation of water could reach 10 feet, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Tampa Bay region is particularly vulnerable to storm surge and could see catastrophic damage from flooding – even if the area doesn’t get a direct hit from the hurricane.

uricane Ian is expected to pass west of the Florida Keys late Tuesday and approach the west coast of Florida late Wednesday into Thursday.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned of power outages as well as possible evacuations and fuel shortages, telling people to “make preparations now.”

Here’s what you should know now:

A hurricane warning is in place from Bonita Beach to the Anclote River, including Tampa Bay, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. This means that “hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case, within 24 to 36 hours,” the center said.

A tropical storm warning was issued for the Middle Florida Keys and portions of the state’s east and west coasts.

A tropical storm watch was issued for the southeast coast from Deerfield Beach north to Jupiter Inlet, the hurricane center said.

Mandatory evacuations orders have been issued for parts of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, and emergency shelters were opened.

All along Florida’s west coast, officials are urging residents to get out of harm’s way instead of staying to protect their property. Here are some other evacuation orders:

Rapidly intensifying Hurricane Ian made landfall in western Cuba early Tuesday morning while on its trek toward Florida, where residents in some coastal areas are evacuating.

The hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 125 mph, made landfall just southwest of the town of La Coloma in the Pinar del Rio Province of Cuba at 4:30 a.m. ET, the National Hurricane Center said.

The region is enduring significant wind and storm surge, which could raise water levels by as much as 14 feet above normal tide levels along the coast of Cuba, the hurricane center said.

The storm is expected to move north-northwest and across the island, leaving devastating wind damage in its path, according to the center.

It is expected to emerge over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico and continue churning toward Florida, passing west of the Florida Keys late Tuesday and approaching the west coast of Florida late Wednesday into Thursday.

The hurricane is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge along much of Florida’s west coast by mid-week, as well as hurricane-force winds.

While its exact path remains uncertain, projections show the Tampa area could get its first direct hit from a hurricane since 1921, and impacts on the area could be devastating.