Storm Surge

$300 million awarded for projects to protect communities from impacts of flooding and storm surge; Lee, Hendry projects part of those funded.

Nicole made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane with estimated maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour early Thursday morning near Vero Beach.

Counties in Florida have started calling evacuation orders and opening shelters as Nicole approaches.

Invest 98-L is forecast to bring rounds of heavy rain, strong winds, and storm surge to Florida's east coast by midweek.

In 2010 the Southwest Florida county changed from a ‘Just in Case’ to a ‘Just in Time’ protocol for emergency management to avoid “over-evacuation.” The protocol was followed -- with potentially deadly consequences.

To evacuate...or not. That's the dilemma facing thousands of people in Southwest Florida as Hurricane Ian approaches. Some decided to ride out the storm, while others loaded their cars and headed for higher ground.

With Hurricane Ian's track and landfall still not certain, Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties ordered mandatory evacuations and opened emergency shelters.

Ian remains forecasted to parallel the Gulf Coast before making landfall with the Sun Coast Thursday. Tornado risk increases from I-4 south today.

As Florida braces for impacts from Hurricane Ian, storm and disaster experts urge people to follow evacuation orders when given, and to expect storm impacts well beyond the center of the storm. National Hurricane Center acting Director Jamie Rhome warned residents of Southwest Florida to stay vigilante because the size of Ian is forecast to expand rapidly as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico, meaning impacts will be felt well beyond the center of the storm.

Most of the state is within the cone of uncertainty. Interests along Florida's entire Gulf Coast should prepare.