Hurricane Ian latest updates: Biden says early reports of 'substantial loss of life' after storm battered Florida with 150mph winds

Hurricane Ian latest updates as storm makes landfall in southwestern Florida; Jacksonville declares state of emergency; beach resorts are "completely underwater".

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Eyewitness: 'It's heartbreaking'

By James Matthews, US correspondent

Post-Ian, the bay near Fort Myers beach lies empty because a storm surge lifted the boats from their moorings and dropped them 100 yards away, in trees on the other side of an adjoining road. 

They had been elevated clear of power lines, on the crest of a wave, 20-odd feet in the air.  

Now, millions of dollars worth of yachts and assorted vessels lie scattered where they landed, in a cluster of trees.

As they were thrown across the road, one of the boats tore the second storey off a boat rental building as it was catapulted from the bay.  

Tables, chairs and all the possessions associated with a business 20 years in the making now lie strewn and exposed.

Downstairs, the wind and water burst through the windows and destroyed everything inside. 

The business owner, Bob Leisure, sat out the hurricane at home several miles away and had the longest commute back to work. Devastation lay at journey's end. 

"It's heartbreaking. It's not the money, it's a labour of love that we all out into this place and now it's gone."

It's one man's personal assessment - one that speaks for a state. 

Hurricane Ian had 10% more rain because of climate change, scientists say

NBC News reports that human-caused climate change increased Hurricane Ian’s extreme rainfall rates by more than 10%, according to a preliminary analysis from scientists who study extreme weather.

The analysis has not been peer-reviewed. Researchers Kevin Reed of Stony Brook University and Michael Wehner of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory relied upon the same methodology they used for a peer-reviewed study of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season.

A warmer atmosphere can contain more water vapour.

"These are conservative estimates on the human-induced increases in rain using our peer-reviewed method," Wehner said by email. "Climate change didn't cause the storm, but it did cause it to be wetter."

Work continuing to determine how many people displaced

DeSantis says it's too early to confirm how many people will be displaced - and how long this will last.

He notes that some affected properties would have been holiday homes rather than permanent residences.

The governor says housing assistance will be offered to those that need it.

He said some areas had some "serious destruction" that affected infrastructure - pointing to Fort Myers Beach as an example.

Florida's governor takes questions from press

Ron DeSantis is asked whether Florida is preparing for a mass casualty situation.

He says Florida is now in the situation where people are confronted with additional hazards after the storm has passed.

'Indirect deaths' warning

Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, warns about the danger of "indirect deaths".

"People need to be extremely careful - if you do not know how to use a chainsaw or climb a ladder, you shouldn't be doing that. We have significantly more indirect deaths from disasters that are 100% available than from the disaster itself."

'Some Floridians may be displaced from their homes'

Ron DeSantis is urging Floridians who want to help to make a financial contribution to specific organisations, rather than send items. A website has been set up - www.floridadisasterfund.com. 

Volunteering is also being encouraged as the rebuilding process begins.

Most school districts to open on Friday or Monday

This might vary in some of the areas of Florida that have been hardest hit, DeSantis warns.

2.6 million power outages

The governor says there have been 2.6 million reported power outages throughout the state of Florida as of 6pm local time (11pm UK).

700 confirmed rescues so far

Ron DeSantis says there were many calls as the storm was raging.

The governor says some Floridians on islands might need support because they won't have access to normal services.

First responders are going from home to home to see if people are okay - and DeSantis says many more rescues are expected.

He also expects the number of fatalities to rise in the coming days.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is giving a news conference

He describes seeing "homes wiped out" on Fort Myers Beach, with damage to infrastructure.