Causes of death in Hurricane Ian: Many drownings but also post-storm suicides, accidents

Hurricane Ian is one of the deadliest storms in Florida’s history, with over 115 fatalities confirmed by state and county authorities. But the hurricane’s magnitude is also reflected in the geographic area in which those deaths occurred, spanning the peninsula from north of Daytona Beach to the Lower Keys.

Floridians died while preparing for the storm, fleeing storm surge and while cleaning up yard debris in the aftermath, according to data from the state Medical Examiners Commission.

The youngest storm victim whose death state authorities have confirmed was a 19-year-old woman fleeing from Cuba — who was among at least seven migrants who drowned when their boat sank near Key West. The oldest was a 96-year-old man in Charlotte County who drowned while trapped under a parked vehicle. The majority of victims were 60 or older, with the most common age being 73. The data were first reported by the USA Today Network-Florida.

Some of those deaths occurred after the storm passed — a threat Gov. Ron DeSantis warned about last week. “In some of the recent storms across the country, you’ve had more fatalities after the storm hit than because of the storm directly, and that is for a variety of different reasons,” DeSantis said a day before Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida.

At least two deaths recorded after the storm were linked to emotional trauma. “Decedent was found with [a] self-inflicted gunshot wound to head after losing belongings in hurricane,” was the summary of what happened to a 70-year-old Lee County man, who authorities believe died on Saturday. The day prior, a 73-year-old man, also in Lee County, “shot himself after seeing property damage due to hurricane,” the MEC reported. A 60-year-old died after an apparent heart attack while cleaning his yard after the storm. An 82-year-old from Lee County died Wednesday from heart disease, after he forgot his prescribed medication during the evacuation. Four fatalities were of people who were oxygen-dependent and lost power during the storm.

Two women who did not evacuate their homes in Collier County were killed during the storm. One of them, a 73-year-old, was found floating in water by her husband. The other, who was 64, was found dead by her roommate.

So far, the state Medical Examiners Commission has confirmed 89 deaths. Some county sheriffs have reported higher numbers, including 24 deaths in Charlotte County. Over half of the deaths for which the cause is available were the result of drowning.

At least eight people drowned while driving or while trapped under a vehicle, according to the MEC. That includes a 64-year-old woman in Sarasota County who was trapped in her vehicle “while attempting to travel home from work.”

A day after Ian made landfall, President Joe Biden said the hurricane “could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida’s history. DeSantis has disagreed with that assessment, though in the last week he has acknowledged that there is the “potential for significant fatalities.”

The deadliest hurricane in Florida history was the 1928 storm that struck Palm Beach County, killing more than 2,500 people.

THESE ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS BY COUNTY

▪ Charlotte: 24, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Collier: 5, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Hardee: 2, according to the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Hendry: 4, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Hillsborough: 1, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Lake: 1, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Lee: 55, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Manatee: 3, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Martin: 1, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Monroe: 7, according to the District 16 Medical Examiners Office
▪ Sarasota: 5, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Volusia: 5, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Polk: 2, according to the Medical Examiners Commission
▪ Putnam: 3, according to the Medical Examiners Commission

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  • Death toll from Hurricane Ian rises


More than a week after Hurricane Ian hit, the number of storm-related deaths has risen to at least 101, per the Associated Press, with other outlets reporting a higher toll.

The big picture: Florida reported 92 of those, mostly consisting of people over the age of 50 in Lee County. Other deaths were in Cuba, North Carolina and Virginia.


  • A heartbreaking story from the Tampa Bay Times memorializes Hillsborough County's two hurricane-related deaths.
  • Most of those who died in Florida drowned due to the storm surge that Ian triggered, according to the state's Medical Examiners Commission.


Where it stands: Hurricane Ian is now the second-deadliest storm to strike the mainland U.S. in the 21st century, AP notes.


  • It's second to Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,800 people in 2005.
  • Ian is also Florida's deadliest hurricane since 1935.


State of power: More than 200,000 homes and businesses across the state are without power, according to the state Public Service Commission.


  • More than half of those are in Lee County. Sarasota still has 20,000 customers in the dark.


The big picture: The widespread damage caused by Ian has renewed discussion on building hurricane-resistant communities, as well as the difficult — and often emotional — choices people face when deciding whether to leave their homes or stay and rebuild in the face of devastating storms.

What they're saying: During a visit to Fort Myers Wednesday, President Biden said that "the one thing this has finally ended is the discussion about whether or not there's climate change, and whether we should do something about it," referencing devastating weather events in recent months.


  • While Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican politicians in Florida have historically objected to major climate policy, the New York Times reports, "those leaders want federal help to rebuild their state — but don't want to discuss the underlying problem that is making hurricanes more powerful and destructive."


https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-ba...ian-death-toll

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  • Hurricane Ian may have caused $67 billion in damage, a top 5 U.S. storm


Hurricane Ian likely caused $53 billion to $74 billion in insured losses from Florida to the Carolinas, with a "best estimate" of $67 billion, according to new data released today from modeling firm RMS.

The big picture: These preliminary damage totals would make Hurricane Ian the costliest storm in Florida history and second nationally to Hurricane Katrina when adjusted for inflation.


  • The storm, which devastated densely populated areas of southwest Florida — including Ft. Myers, Naples and barrier island communities such as Sanibel Island — killed at least 92 people in Florida alone, according to the Associated Press.
  • RMS, which is part of Moody's, also estimated the federal National Flood Insurance Program could see $10 billion in losses from storm surge and inland flooding from the storm.
  • Much of the damage from this storm is from water, with the coastal surge wiping out homes and businesses near the shore, and inland flooding hitting record levels across central Florida in particular.
  • Wind damage was less extensive, likely due to strict building codes in the region, according to Steve Bowen, chief science officer at reinsurance broker Gallagher Re.


By the numbers: According to the Insurance Information Institute, 2021's Hurricane Ida was the most expensive hurricane on record in Florida, with $36 billion in insured losses there.


  • Nationally, 2005's Hurricane Katrina ranked at the top of the list, with about $85 billion in insured losses, when adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index.


What they're saying: "Ian was a historic and complex event that will reshape the Florida insurance market for years to come," said Mohsen Rahnama, chief risk modeling officer at RMS, in a statement.


  • Bowen, who is currently surveying damage in Florida, said the damage from the storm surge has beaten his expectations. "The good news is that newer constructed buildings in many communities seemed to have performed very well given the intense wind speeds," which he chalked up to strict building code standards.


Yes, but: Bowen cautions that final loss numbers won't be known for many months.


  • "Given the anticipated volume of storm-related litigation to come, everyone needs to be mindful of the ongoing financial uncertainty and that numbers are going to evolve for many months to come. If not longer," he said.
  • "There is no question that Ian will go down as one of the costliest U.S. natural catastrophe events on record, and one of the most expensive for the insurance industry. Where it finally lands on the Top 5 list? TBD."


Context: Hurricanes are becoming more intense, undergoing more episodes of rapid intensification and are delivering more rainfall due to human-caused climate change.


  • This may drive a future escalation in storm losses, though so far damage trends are dominated by the huge influx of people moving to vulnerable areas.


https://www.axios.com/2022/10/07/hur...-storm-florida

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Extra.

  • Dr. Robert Rohde - If you think the US has been hit by a lot of strong hurricanes in recent years, you'd be right.


It has been the most intense 5-year period on record. https://twitter.com/RARohde/status/1575418893547573249