Austin Texas News

Hurricane Ian has made its way over Florida and is now a tropical storm in the Atlantic.

Florida is seeing widespread devastation in the storm’s wake.

Though downgraded, the once-mighty Category 4 hurricane was still battering the state. More than 2.5 million customers have lost power.

Mike Northen has responded to disaster relief calls since 2005. He and other SBTC members will bring a full kitchen in an effort to cook meals for Floridians. PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Mike Northen was surprised to get the call before Hurricane Ian made landfall. “Normally, we wouldn’t be called out this early because there are a lot of states between us and Florida that could send resources, but there’s not many kitchens this big,” Northen…

The Category 4 hurricane has made landfall.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — An Austin business owner decided to ride out Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida. Deirdre Sullivan owns Thrift Land in South Austin and lives. Her family has owned the thrift store in south Austin for more than 25 years. She said this is the third hurricane she has ridden out in her home after choosing not to evacuate.  “We usually don’t leave because we feel well sheltered in place, and the…

The storm may have weakened to a category three, but it’s still causing serious issues.

Hurricane Ian hits the Florida coast as a Category 4 hurricane.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a powerful Category 4 storm — just a few miles per hour shy of a Category 5. Only five hurricanes that have made landfall in the U.S. have been labeled Category 5.  Hurricane strength is measured on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains, the scale ranges from Category 1 — which has 75 to 95 mph winds and can…

“Ian will cause catastrophic storm surge, winds, and flooding in the Florida peninsula soon,” the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. advisory.

The eye wall is just now moving inland, but the storm has already caused extensive issues.

As Hurricane Ian roared towards Florida, it experienced a phenomenon known as rapid intensification — getting very strong, very fast. Scientists say the process of hurricanes rapidly intensifying is becoming more frequent, and is connected to the impact of human-caused climate change. Early Tuesday morning Hurricane Ian intensified into a major Category 3 storm, packing sustained winds of around 125 mph, before hitting western Cuba. The hurricane continued to strengthening as it passed over the warm waters of the Gulf…

Hurricane Ian is making its way through Florida after battering Cuba.

The storm is expected to make landfall in Venice, south of Tampa, on Wednesday evening, officials said.

Florida residents are evacuating or sheltering in place as the hurricane makes landfall.