Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida along the Gulf Coast Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and wind to large swaths of the state.
The impacts of the storm may vary depending on where you live in the state, including different portions of Central Florida.
[TRENDING: TRACK, MODELS, SATELLITE: Hurricane Ian projected to rip through Central Florida | County-by-county impacts in Central Florida | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Those impacts may change as the storm’s path develops.
The City of Kissimmee announced at 1:52 a.m. on Thursday that the Kissimmee police and fire crews can no longer respond to calls because sustained winds reached 45 mph.
To protect the safety of our first responders, as sustained winds have reached 45 mph, the City of Kissimmee Police and Fire crews can no longer respond to calls at this time. pic.twitter.com/ViEa21WAZZ
— City of Kissimmee (@CityofKissimmee) September 29, 2022
Hurricane warnings were issued for Osceola and Polk counties as of Tuesday night.
“We’re going to see a wide range of different types of impacts, depending exactly when and where Ian strikes, the force it has and how long it spends in the area,” News 6 meteorologist Troy Bridges said.
Here is how Hurricane Ian may affect those living in Polk and Osceola counties:
- Winds of 70 to 90 mph
- 6 to 10 inches of rain and flooding
- The potential for scattered tornadoes
During a news conference Wednesday evening, Osceola County Emergency Management Director Bill Litten urged residents to stay in their homes or shelters and only call 911 in case of “desperate need,” as first responders will be expected to shelter in place once wind speeds reach 45 mph.
“Take the action now to hunker down and stay in place until Thursday late afternoon,” Litten said.
The city of Kissimmee announced at 1:52 a.m. Thursday that police and fire crews would no longer respond to calls as sustained wind speeds grew to 45 mph.
To protect the safety of our first responders, as sustained winds have reached 45 mph, the City of Kissimmee Police and Fire crews can no longer respond to calls at this time. pic.twitter.com/ViEa21WAZZ
— City of Kissimmee (@CityofKissimmee) September 29, 2022
Residents can also text “ALERTOsceola” to 888777 or click here to register for the county’s emergency alert program.
Find the latest information on how to prepare for Hurricane Ian below: