The pictures unfortunately speak for themselves.
Smashed houses, streets drowned in water, millions of people without electricity... The toll of Hurricane Ian, which hit Florida in recent days, is already heavy.
According to the latest censuses, 12 people would have lost their lives.
Figures still provisional in view of a disaster that seems unprecedented in this territory.
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“This may be the deadliest hurricane in Florida history
,” said US President Joe Biden.
“The figures (…) are not yet clear but we are receiving initial information indicating that human losses could be substantial.
Because the floods swept away everything in their path.
Result: cities and infrastructures are now devastated.
And as the BBC reminds us, the hurricane has not finished wreaking havoc.
It is now moving inland and is expected to affect other states, such as North Carolina and South Carolina.
Hurricane Ian devastated Florida on September 29.
Here in Fort Myers boats have been very badly damaged.
Giorgio VIERA / AFP
Call for caution
For those currently in Florida or wishing to go there, the France Diplomatie website, which facilitates the smooth running of French stays abroad, issues a number of recommendations.
In addition to the possibility of postponing his trip, the platform asks those already present on the spot to go to the site of the State of Florida.
The latter publishes the evacuation orders, but also the list of open shelters.
France Diplomatie also recommends consulting the website of the Consulate General of France in Miami.
The latter has set up a crisis unit to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ian.
You can contact the institution by email (francais.miami-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr), or by calling an emergency number (+13054034202).
On the infrastructure side, the airports of Tampa and Orlando, which had to close due to the occurrence of the hurricane, will reopen their doors on September 30.
State of emergency in several regions of the country
In addition, states of emergency have been declared in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.
“Tropical storm advisories are in effect for some coastal areas, while high winds and torrential rains, with localized risk of flooding, are forecast for these states between Thursday, September 29 and Saturday, October 1,”
warns France Diplomacy.
As the platform reminds us, the Consulate General of France in Miami invites all French people on site to report to their relatives if they are safe.
In addition, it is recommended to regularly consult the site of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the American center which lists hurricanes.
This state body broadcasts in real time the progress of the storm Ian and distills over the hours the instructions to follow to get to safety.
