Flooding is the “greatest concern” in Orange County, the county’s public security director Danny Banks stated on Thursday that, including that there’s a risk “of as much as 24 inches of rain within the county.”

“Now we have quite a few neighborhoods, particularly in Orange County proper now, that our fireplace division is working aggressively to evacuate,” Banks stated throughout a briefing. “Now we have seen possible someplace between 10 and 16 inches of rain in Orange County already and we anticipate extra rain as we progress by way of the hours right this moment.”

Final evening, the fireplace rescue division went into neighborhoods responding to calls, and there are “over a dozen” particular neighborhoods in Orange County that the fireplace rescue division is in serving to residents who’re experiencing flooding. 

At the moment, there are 9 neighborhoods within the county that the fireplace rescue staff is working in to evacuate residents, in line with Banks, and “very quickly” that staff can be supported by the Florida Nationwide Guard. 

“You’ll be able to anticipate throughout the hour to see Nationwide Guardsmen working instantly with our fireplace rescue groups as they enter these neighborhoods and attempt to assist individuals get out,” he stated. 

Shelters have “loads of capability” and proceed to accommodate greater than 1,000 individuals, in line with Banks. That quantity is predicted to go up right this moment. 

Orange County firefighters assist individuals stranded by Hurricane Ian early Thursday in Orange County, Florida.

“We did see some individuals, together with individuals in our particular wants shelters, that began to go dwelling this morning however to switch these we’ve extra individuals which can be evacuating from the flood-impacted areas of the neighborhoods,” he stated. 

As energy corporations proceed doing assessments, there are roughly 200,000 to 1 / 4 million houses with out energy, in line with Banks. 

“We’ll have a extra correct replace, I believe, throughout the subsequent couple of hours as to precisely how a lot energy,” he stated. 

Banks stated whereas they’re nonetheless within the influence part, they “are shortly transitioning into the response.” 

“There are actually hundreds of first responders now within the streets of Orange County, rescuing individuals the place wanted and responding to requires assist,” he stated.