Hurricane Ian causes flooding up the coast

Hurricane Ian was downgraded to a nor’easter as it moved up the east coast, causing Norfolk and Virginia Beach to declare a state of emergency. Still-strong winds may cause the most significant flooding in a decade in the Chesapeake Bay area. People from North Carolina’s Outer Banks to Long Island, N.Y., are still watching for coastal flooding.

How are recovery efforts? As of Monday, at least 71 people have been confirmed dead in Florida, four in North Carolina, and three in Cuba. Rescuers have found more than 1,600 people so far using helicopters, boats, and Jet Skis. About 93 percent of people and businesses now have power across Florida, said Governor Ron DeSantis. The rest will likely have power by Sunday as workers rebuild the grid. Floodwaters are starting to recede but the ground is so inundated that it could take days for some places to dry out. President Joe Biden was headed to Puerto Rico to survey the damage from Hurricane Fiona and will visit Florida on Wednesday.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Stephanie Morton’s WORLD magazine report on Louisiana rebuilding after many storms.