Hurricane Ian tracker – live updates: The tropical storm is regaining strength as a Category 1 hurricane as it approaches South Carolina.

According to new estimates, damage and economic losses from Hurricane Ian could reach $120 billion.

“Ian will go down in 2017 as one of the most damaging and impactful storms in U.S. history, along with Hurricane Harvey, which caused $190 billion in total damage and economic loss in 2017,” AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N Myers said in a press release. Irma ($80 billion); Sandy in 2012 ($210 billion); Katrina in 2005 ($320 billion), adjusted for inflation.

ICYMI: Sunday night’s NFL game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs will be played in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian, the home team announced.

“After consulting with local and state agencies, we have informed the NFL that we are ready to play Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium as originally scheduled,” the team said in a statement.

The game is scheduled to begin at 8:20 PM ET.

“We would like to thank all local government agencies and the thousands of emergency workers who have worked tirelessly over the past few days to ensure our region is ready to respond if needed. We would also like to thank the Miami Dolphins organization for their assistance and hospitality in allowing us to use their practice facilities this week,” the statement added.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with the thousands of people in southwest Florida who were severely affected by Hurricane Ian. We are also very grateful that Tampa Bay was spared the worst effects of this powerful storm.”

ICYMI: Hurricane Ian brought widespread devastation to Florida, many areas faced months or years of rebuilding, and the recovery process for many residents could be prolonged without adequate flood insurance, property insurance or other compensation for damages.

Ethan Freedman has the details.

About 200 homes were left on the island during Hurricane Ian, and Mayor Holly Smith says two people have died.

Rescuers rescued 40 people by boat on Thursday from the island, which was cut off after the bridge collapsed. The mayor said that 12 of them were injured during the storm.

ICYMI: donald trump took to social media to ask for donations to his political campaign as part of it Florida then began rescue and recovery work Hurricane Ian.

The speaker a video his on Wednesday Mar-a-Lago At his estate in Palm Beach, south Florida, the former president, Save America before the deadline to raise money.

Claiming that America has “never been so disrespected” by the world, Mr. Trump said, “We have a huge fundraising deadline coming up and there’s never been a time like it.”

The former president was first to be removed from office in a civil lawsuit filed in 2018.

“Search and Rescue Update: More than 500 people have been rescued in Charlotte & Lee Counties as of 2:00 PM (EST) this morning. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in affected areas,” state emergency management said. the department tweeted Thursday.

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Lee County on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph, with Charlotte County to its north.

The analysis by Stony Brook University researchers Kevin Reed and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Michael Wehner has not yet been peer-reviewed, but they say they used the same methodology to examine the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

The resort’s four theme parks were closed Wednesday, but at the 32 hotels that sit on the 27,000-acre theme park near Orlando, Disney employees made every effort to keep the magic alive.