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Hurricane Ian live updates: Hundreds of rescues in Florida as Ian eyes Carolinas
Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, an island off the coast of Fort Myers.
Ian regained Category 1 strength Thursday night, with winds at 75 mph as it heads toward South Carolina.
The system had weakened to a tropical storm as it moved over central Florida earlier in the day.
The storm made its first landfall on Florida's west coast on Wednesday as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency.
Latest headlines:
- DeSantis: More than 700 rescues since Ian's landfall
- Ian is once again a Category 1 hurricane
- At least 9 dead in hurricane
- Biden says Ian may be deadliest storm in Florida history
- Hurricane warning issued for entire coast of South Carolina
- 'We've never seen a flood event like this,' Florida governor says
Biden declares state of emergency in South Carolina
President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in South Carolina, the White House announced late Thursday night, as Hurricane Ian takes aim at the state.
-ABC News' Lauren Minore
Ian's winds strengthen to 85 mph as track shifts north
Hurricane Ian has strengthened, with winds now at 85 mph, as it continues to move northward off the east coast of Florida.
The forecast track has shifted a little farther north with the latest advisory at 11 p.m. ET, putting cities like Myrtle Beach, S.C., in the storm's path for worse impacts, while less impact could be seen in Charleston.
Wind Gusts up to 90 mph are possible in Myrtle Beach on Friday afternoon, as Ian is expected to make landfall toward the south. Much of Georgia to the Carolinas will experience wind gusts over 50 mph.
-ABC News' Riley Winch
Fort Myers mayor: 80% of the city is still without power
Despite water receding in Fort Myers following Hurricane Ian's destructive path across Florida, 80% of the city is still without power, while 70% is without water, Mayor Kevin Anderson told ABC News Live Prime.
Anderson said the most important thing is to get electricity and water back up and running for residents, especially since it's still hot and humid in the area and people need air conditioning and water.
"Tomorrow, we're expecting the delivery of the pods with the water and food and ice and we'll be setting up delivery stations," he said. "Again, the problem is it's very, very difficult to live here without air conditioning."
Fort Myers has performed about 200 rescues and counting, according to the mayor.
"The crews were out and they're probably still out there working now, getting the roads cleared and getting the roads where they're traversable so that emergency vehicles can respond," Anderson said.
Fort Myers woman after rescue: 'I thought I was going to die right there'
Eva Neocleous, her mother, Aurora, and dog, Primi, waited more than 24 hours to get rescued from their Fort Myers home in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
The family first called for help at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, but conditions were too dangerous for first responders at the time. Nobody came until the Cajun Navy pulled them out around 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Neocleous said the ordeal was terrifying: "I thought I was going to die right there."
-ABC News' Rachel DeLima, Andrew Fies and Victor Oquendo
