Hurricane Ian death toll continues to rise

[Peteri Szerlagi]

https://www.firehouse.com/community-risk/news/21284486/deaths-tied-to-hurricane-ian-continue-to-rise

indirect deaths will outnumber direct deaths

"The high number of direct fatalities due to Hurricane Ian compared
with prior storms is likely due to two main factors: the deadliness of
Ian’s storm surge and flooding, and the number of those remaining in
the storm’s path when it hit, particularly older people with health
conditions.

Many residents chose to stay put. Some didn’t expect the storm to be
as bad as it was, or believed they were outside of its direct path,
which shifted south as Ian neared landfall. Others couldn’t afford to
evacuate, or felt they had no choice because their bosses told them
they had to work. Evacuation orders gave some residents only a day to
prepare their homes and leave.

“They don’t feel as threatened by hurricanes on the west coast,” said
Willoughby. “It’s really unusual for a storm as intense Ian was to
strike the west coast of Florida.”