It was with winds in excess of 130 km/hour that Hurricane Ian made landfall in South Carolina. It was 2:05 p.m. on Friday (7:05 p.m. in Lisbon) when it made landfall near Georgetown, after leaving a trail of destruction in the state of Florida. Early forecasts point to Ian becoming a post-tropical system, with strong winds diminishing as it moves inland.

Although a decrease in intensity is expected, South Carolina will experience heavy rain and gusty winds. At the end of the first hour, the American press reported that two piers had collapsed from Ian’s passage.

#Ian makes landfall along #South Carolina coast as a category 1 hurricane. pic.twitter.com/zdYn0aU0dx

—Jeremy Nelson (@jnelsonWJCL) September 30, 2022

The first was the pier at Pawley’s Island (north of Charleston), the second at Cherry Grove. In a post on Twitter, Pawley Island Police announced that the wreckage is being washed south.

The end of the Pawleys Island pier has collapsed and is floating to the south. pic.twitter.com/ajJsWeXWfN

— Pawleys Island Police (@PawleysIslandPD) September 30, 2022

Biden. More than 100 people have been rescued off the southwestern coast of Florida

The “largest team” of search and rescue specialists in recent history has been dispatched to Florida to deal with the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the US president announced Friday. “The coast guard has been mobilized. Six planes, 18 rescue boats and crews, 16 rescue helicopters were also on the scene Thursday and Friday, Joe Biden announced.

More than 100 people were rescued with the help of local corporations. “I ordered that all possible actions be taken to save lives and help survivors, because every minute counts. It’s not just a crisis for Florida. It is an American crisis. We are all in this together,” said the head of state.

The next problem is South Carolina, where the hurricane has already arrived. To the residents of that state, Biden left a message: “Heed all warnings and instructions from all local authorities and follow them.”

The aid will be sent to South Carolina as quickly as possible, the president explained. “Last night I received a request for an emergency declaration from Governor Henry McMaster, which I immediately approved, just as I did with Florida. This allows for immediate federal funding. for the state to house people and provide other essential support.”

Cities will take “months, years” to rebuild

Noting that Hurricane Ian will be “probably one of the worst in the history of the country,” Joe Biden said aid will continue to come to Florida for as long as it is needed.

“We are beginning to see the scale of the destruction,” the president said. “It will take months, years to rebuild. Our hearts go out to all those people whose lives were absolutely devastated by the storm. America’s heart is literally broken.”

The storm arises from the hurricane #Ian along the #South Carolina coast. https://t.co/Js6XgjHpQZ

—Jeremy Nelson (@jnelsonWJCL) September 30, 2022