Biden issues major disaster declaration amid Ian’s destruction

President Joe Biden on Thursday declared a major disaster in Florida as Tropical Storm Ian swept across the state, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

The declaration brings with it federal aid to supplement state, local and tribal recovery efforts in areas affected by the storm, as well as individual assistance to residents of nine counties. This assistance could include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low cost loans to cover uninsured property loss and other programs to assist with disaster-recovery.

Ian, which at one point neared category 5 hurricane strength as it approached Florida, weakened to a tropical storm by early Thursday. It has brought catastrophic flooding across the state as well as powerful winds that have battered homes and businesses. Even ahead of its landfall, Ian was forecast to be one of the worst hurricanes in Florida history.

The National Hurricane Center said in its 8 a.m. advisory on Thursday that the storm was moving northeast at 8 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds lowered to 65 mph — compared to Wednesday’s 150 mph winds. The center of the storm is expected to soon move off the east-central coast of Florida and approach the coast of South Carolina on Friday, where it could reintensify before weakening as it moves inland across the Carolinas, according to the National Hurricane Center.