ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A woman in Orange County and a Volusia County woman are dead after Hurricane Matthew battered Central Florida.
The Orange County Mayor said a 70-year-old woman died after a medical device failed during the power outages caused by Hurricane Matthew.
Mayor Teresa Jacobs released a statement Saturday morning.
“I’m deeply sorry to announce the death of an Orange County resident as a result of Hurricane Matthew. According to the Medical Examiner’s office, the death early Friday morning of a 70-year-old woman appears to be the result of a medical device failure during Hurricane Matthew power outages. The victim’s name has not yet been released. Orange County Fire-Rescue responded to the scene, which occurred at a private residence, not at a special needs shelter. It does not appear that the victim had registered with Orange County’s ‘People with Special Needs Program.’ A full investigation regarding this death will be conducted. We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss, and extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and friends," Jacobs said.
In Volusia County, a woman was killed when a tree fell on her Friday during Hurricane Matthew.
At 12:30 p.m., after a lull in the storm, Susan Mathes, 63, of DeLand, went outside to feed her animals during a lull in the storm and was struck by the tree, Volusia County Manager Jim Dinneen said during a press conference.
Family members tried to get her to a hospital, but it was too late, officials said.
[WEATHER: Extended forecast | Radar | Warnings | Pinpoint Weather Zones]
[DOWNLOAD: Pinpoint, Hurricane apps | SHARE: Weather pictures]
[MORE: School closures | OUC preps for storm | Sandbag locations| Track flights at OIA | Hurricane info | Get Results for Hurricane Season| Hurricane special]
This loss of life should be a warning for residents, said Dinneen. Even if it seems safe, stay inside, he added.
No other details, including the location where the incident happened, have been released.
Meanwhile, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office is also investigating a death related to Hurricane Matthew.
Deputies and rescue personnel responding to a report of a tree falling on camper trailer off 17 South in the Crescent City area found that two adults were attempting to ride out the storm when high winds blew a tree on the trailer.
A man was able to escape with minor injuries, but a woman was killed, officials said.
Two other Floridians also suffered Hurricane Matthew-related deaths.
Unfortunately, during the early morning hours when emergency vehicles were unable to respond due to dangerously strong...
Posted by St. Lucie County Fire District on Friday, October 7, 2016
Watch News 6 for more on this story.