Wake-Up Call: Cat 3 Ian Takes Aim at Tampa Bay

Daily Mail 9/27/22 

Local officials warned residents 'do not wait' and stressed 'time is of the essence' as the monster storm loomed in the Caribbean Sea just south of Cuba. They ordered more than 300,000 people to evacuate their homes in parts of Hillsborough - including Tampa - Manatee, and Hernando counties, with more expected to follow. Terrified Floridians have started desperately digging huge trenches to direct flood water while others have stripped shelves bare of water and essentials. Stark pictures and videos from across the state show prolonged queues at checkouts as locals stocked up and prepare to bunker down ahead of the monster weather front. Ian strengthened from a tropical storm to a Category 1 hurricane overnight Sunday, but it is feared it will warp into a major Category 4 this week - hitting Florida on Wednesday night or Thursday morning after battering Cuba.

Ian, a strengthening Category 3 hurricane as of 3a.a. Tuesday, has steadied its course and is headed eastward through the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida, where the National Hurricane Center tracks it to approach the Pinellas County coast as a major hurricane by Wednesday night, according to The Tampa Bay Times. While the storm’s current track would put the eye’s landfall farther north, near the Nature Coast area, the National Weather Service on Monday put Tampa Bay under a hurricane warning for the first time since Hurricane Irma in 2017. Experts said Ian could bring up to a foot of rain and as much as 5 to 10 feet of storm surge as it lingers off the coast, which could make it one of Tampa Bay’s most dangerous hurricane threats ever.

🌧HOW MUCH RAIN? Hurricane Ian may drop as much rain on Florida as during a typical summer month, the National Hurricane Center is warning. But the center also hedged its prediction: local downpours may be greater than expected.

➤JANUARY 6TH COMMITTEE RECONVENES: The select January 6th committee investigating the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol reconvenes Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The committee has not revealed the names of witnesses who will testify. It probably will be the last public hearing before the Congressional committee releases its findings and recommendations. The day before the 2020 election, Roger Stone, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, said in front of a documentary film crew that he had no interest in waiting to tally the votes before contesting the election results. “F**k the voting, let’s get right to the violence,” Stone can be heard saying in footage taken by a documentary film crew and obtained by CNN. The filmmakers shared that and other footage with the House select committee.

Karine Jean-Pierre blasted for non-answers on crime: She 'is so bad at this' https://t.co/gIMlxwW8le

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 27, 2022

➤STOCKS CONTINUE TO FALL: The major stock indexes continued to fall Monday, ending at their lowest levels since early in the pandemic crisis. The S&P 500 fell more than one percent to 3,655, while the Dow fell more than a percent to 29,261.

Drone footage shows a massive line of traffic at the border between Russia and Georgia as huge numbers of Russians seek to flee the country amid fears they will be drafted to fight in the war in Ukraine. https://t.co/JIZ8uyYWEh pic.twitter.com/HNM6qZ3MBM

— ABC News (@ABC) September 27, 2022

➤$400 BILLION PRICE TAG FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that President Biden’s student loan forgiveness program will cost the government about $400 billion over 30 years. The plan has proved to be controversial, with some criticizing it as a costly giveaway and the White House asserting that it will improve the lives of millions of low- and middle-income Americans.

➤CUBA APPROVES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: Cubans overwhelmingly approved a referendum to allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. The measure also expands protections for women, children and the elderly.

👑KING CHARLES GETS HIS FACE ON THE NOTES: The face of King Charles the Third will appear on British banknotes by the middle of next year, the Bank of England announced. His portrait will replace that of Queen Elizabeth the Second on the five pound, ten pound, twenty pound and fifty pound notes. The transition in coins will be gradual.

IMPACT SUCCESS! Watch from #DARTMIssion’s DRACO Camera, as the vending machine-sized spacecraft successfully collides with asteroid Dimorphos, which is the size of a football stadium and poses no threat to Earth. pic.twitter.com/7bXipPkjWD

— NASA (@NASA) September 26, 2022

➤NASA SMASHES INTO A BIG ROCK, DELIBERATELY: NASA sent up a spacecraft just to try to slam it into a big space rock nearly seven million miles away. The mission was a success yesterday. It was a test of NASA’s ability to protect Earth from a catastrophic collision with an asteroid by knocking the asteroid off course. It will be several weeks before NASA can confirm whether the rocket actually caused the rock to move off course.

🏫ARE FREE MEALS COMING TO ALL AMERICAN SCHOOLS? Maybe there is such thing as a free lunch! Proponents of universal meal programs for kids in school say they remove the stigma of free and reduced lunch, which parents often have to apply for. And it seems most Americans would support such a program: According to an Urban Institute survey, 70% of American adults support universal meals.  California already provides universal meals for its 6.2 million students. Nevada, Vermont, and Massachusetts have extended free meals throughout the 2022-2023 school year, and nearly a dozen other states are looking to pass permanent legislation. "How can we as a nation claim to have such a strong economy and successful riches when we have children that do not have access to food?" mother Daniela Solis said.

🏈NFL SCORES – MONDAY NIGHT: Dallas Cowboys 23, New York Giants 16

🏈PRO BOWL REPLACED WITH NEW FORMAT: The NFL is replacing the Pro Bowl with the Pro Bowl Games, a weeklong skills competition. The Pro Bowl has been around since 1951. The first games will be held in Las Vegas, culminating in a February 5th game of flag football. Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and his production company are helping to shape the programming, and he’ll be on the coaching staff. “We think there’s a real opportunity to do something wholly different here and move away from the traditional tackle football game,” said NFL executive Peter O’Reilly.

Former quarterback Peyton Manning's production company will help shape the Pro Bowl's programming, and Manning himself will serve as a coach during the flag game https://t.co/qh9OmrVtQL

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 27, 2022

🏈BUCCANEERS NEED TO EVACUATE: Hurricane Ian is headed straight towards Tampa right now, meaning that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to get out of town fast. They will be practicing at the Dolphins’ training facility in Miami this week. They may also need an alternative location for Sunday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

🏈THE LOS ANGELES CHARGERS ARE PRETTY BEAT UP: Los Angeles Chargers’ left tackle Rashawn Slater is expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering a ruptured bicep tendon during the team’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. The Chargers had a rough Sunday overall. Pass rusher Joey Bosa sustained a groin injury in the first quarter. Quarterback Justin Herbert had a rib cartilage fracture going into the game. Wide receiver Kennan Allen was out nursing a hamstring injury and cornerback J.C. Jackson missed the game as well because of an ankle injury.

🏈PATRIOTS’ QB MAC JONES SUSTAINS ANKLE INJURY: Tests have confirmed that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones suffered a “pretty severe” ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to Baltimore. No word yet on when he’ll be able to play.

🏈MYLES GARRETT CRASHES A PORSCHE: Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was hospitalized yesterday after crashing his Porsche while driving home from practice. He and a passenger were reported to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries. His status for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons was not immediately known.