TIMELINE: Hurricane Ian updates Sept. 29

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm after noon on Wednesday, but has since been weakened to a tropical storm.

The storm is expected to bring significant impacts to Central Florida. See live updates below:

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11:30 p.m. update

Hurricane Ian is moving east toward the Carolinas and is expected to cause life-threatening flooding, storm surge and strong winds beginning Friday, according to the National Hurricane Center’s 11 p.m. update.

See Tom Terry’s update below:

VIDEO: Hurricane Ian heading to Carolinas Hurricane Ian heading to Carolinas

10:45 p.m. update

Walt Disney World theme parks will reopen Friday at the following times:

• Magic Kingdom opens at 10 a.m., with the sold-out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party being offered as scheduled.
• EPCOT opens at 11 a.m.
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios opens at noon
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens at 1 p.m.

Disney Resort guests will be able to enter theme parks early, with early entry set for 8 a.m. at Magic Kingdom, 9 a.m. at EPCOT, 10 a.m. at Hollywood Studios and 11 a.m. at Animal Kingdom.

Click here for more information about Disney’s reopening.

10 p.m. update

Orlando International Airport will resume passenger flights after noon on Friday.

The airport stopped flying commercial flights ahead of Hurricane Ian.

Read more here.

9:15 p.m. update

While much attention is placed on storm preparedness, the period just after a natural disaster can be particularly dangerous.

Weary residents who are eager to return to their homes are at increased risk for a variety of life-threatening situations, including carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, mold exposure and food poisoning.

Read tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will help keep you and your family safe here.

8:15 p.m. update

LEGOLAND will remain closed on Friday due to Hurricane Ian.

7:52 p.m. update

Our Channel 9 crews have fanned out to many counties across Central Florida to see how communities are dealing with the aftermath.

Flooding has been a major issue as well as the thousands of families who are without power during this time.

Watch our 7 p.m. in-depth report below:

Hurricane Ian leaves behind historic flooding in Central Florida: In-depth report (WFTV)

7:30 p.m. update

Orange County firefighters are still working to evacuate people stranded due to Hurricane Ian flood waters. Units are currently working to rescue 200 people at the Bridge and Life Care Center assisted living facilities.

7:20 p.m. update

See the latest Hurricane Ian updates from Orange County below:

6:45 p.m. update

Universal Orlando Resort said it plans to start a “phased reopening” of its attractions to hotel guests only starting on Friday.

6:35 p.m. update

Brevard County officials said Hammock Road from Grantline Road to Carter Road in Mims is closed due to flooding and large holes forming in the road. Brevard County Road & Bridge is dispatching equipment & material for repair. Officials anticipate a minimum of two days before it can be reopened.

5:10 p.m. update

Ian has regained hurricane strength as it moves away from the Florida coast. The latest forecast has it moving in the direction of Charleston, South Carolina.

Read: Hurricane Ian: Insurance tips for those affected by the storm

In Central Florida, expect 40 to 50 mph winds on along the coast, with rains ending around midnight.

For Friday, the region can expect drier, breezy lows in the 60s.

Read: 2 Orlando lakes flood into each other due to heavy rain from Hurricane Ian

Watch Tom Terry live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News by clicking here.

See this update in Spanish below:

Muchas comunidades de los alrededores de Orlando están sufriendo grandes inundaciones.

Los totales de lluvia superaron las 16 pulgadas en algunas condados del centro de la Florida durante el huracán Ian. Ian ha recuperado la fuerza de huracán mientras se aleja de la costa de la Florida.

Las últimas previsiones indican que se mueve en dirección a Charleston, South Carolina.

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Hurricane Ian floods parts of Central Florida

5 p.m. update

An apparent washout happened near Lake Ivanhoe following Hurricane Ian. It happened on West Ivanhoe Boulevard near Dartmouth Street near College Park.

You can see photos of the damage below. Channel 9 has reached out to the city of Orlando for more information.

4:30 p.m. update

Rain totals topped 16 inches in some portions of Central Florida during Hurricane Ian. See the highest logged rainfall totals below:

4:15 p.m. update

The city of Orlando said crews will begin debris pick up on Friday. Residents can help expedite the yard waste collection process by doing the following:

-Place debris at the curb, not in the street

-Bag and bundle yard waste

-Separate yard waste and building materials

Residential and commercial trash pickup will be on Saturday to cover skipped pickups from Wednesday. Thursday skipped pickups will be Sunday.

3:55 p.m. update

Flagler County officials are urging residents to limit water usage to emergency needs only as of Thursday afternoon.

Officials said limiting water consumption can help the overwhelmed sewer systems catch up.

Read: All Flagler County residents urged to limit water usage for emergency needs only

3:20 p.m. update

The heavy rains from Hurricane Ian have turned Lake Davis and Lake Cherokee into one large body of water.

The two lakes have merged as water from both joined, making it impossible to tell where one ends and another begins.

Read more here.

Read: 2 Orlando lakes flood into each other due to heavy rain from Hurricane Ian

2:45 p.m. update

ABC News is reporting that Hurricane Ian’s death toll is now at least seven. That includes six in Charlotte County and one in Volusia County.

Read: Deltona man dies after going out during Hurricane Ian to drain pool, deputies say

2:35 p.m. update

Marion County Public Schools will remain closed through Friday following Hurricane Ian.

The district announced Thursday that they need Friday to evaluate and assess any damage caused by the storm.

Officials said all schools, departments and district offices will reopen on Monday on regular schedules.

2 p.m. update:

UCF canceled classes on Saturday due to Hurricane Ian’s aftermath.

Officials said they will provide another update on reopening on Friday.

1:25 p.m. update:

The city of Kissimmee has issued a mandatory curfew in effect starting at 9 p.m. Thursday and lasting until 6 a.m. Friday.

Until then, officials are asking residents to shelter in place to make sure roads are clear for first responders to help people in need.

If you need emergency assistance due to the storm, you can call 911 to get on a list for help.

Those in need may also call an emergency assistance line at 407-742-9000.

It does not apply to essential personnel and those traveling to and from work.

12:45 p.m. update:

A boil water notice is now in place for all Winter Springs residents due to multiple water main breaks.

Nasa and SpaceX are now aiming to launch their Crew 5 mission to the Space Center no ealier than 12pm on Wednesday, October 5.

12 p.m. update:

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said some areas of the county received as much as 16 inches of rain during Hurricane Ian.

He said the majority of the county got at least between 5 to 8 inches.

Watch: Drone video shows extensive flooding around large hospital in Kissimmee

Another inch or two is expected to fall before the storm moves away from Orange County.

Demings said there are about 200 people in the county’s special needs shelters and 1,300 people in the general population shelters.

He said Orange County Utilities and OUC do not have any customers without water but do have a significant number of people without power.

About 200,000 customers from OUC and Duke Energy are without power in Orange County.

Watch: Orange County nursing home evacuated due to rising flood waters

Sheriff John Mina said deputies are continuing to respond to calls of people needing help following the storm.

He stressed that it’s important for people to stay home until the storm fully passes and crews are able to assess road conditions.

“Stay indoors, stay sheltered,” Mina said.

Watch: Florida’s Turnpike shut down in Orange County due to ‘significant flooding’ from Ian, troopers say

11:30 a.m. update:

Tropical Storm Ian is still a very strong storm with peak winds of around 70 mph.

Ian is moving north-northeast off of Florida’s east coast at 9 mph.

The storm will continue to bring driving rain and climbing surf to Volusia County and Flagler County coastlines.

A Flash flood emergency continues for parts of Volusia County due to rising water levels.

Winds will and rain will subside during the day Thursday.

See the 11:30 a.m. update in Spanish below:

Desde el jueves por la mañana, el huracán Ian fue degradado a tormenta tropical con vientos de 70 mph moviéndose fuera de nuestras costas.

Seguirá lloviendo en las costas de los condados de Volusia y Flagler.

Una emergencia de inundación repentina continúa para partes del condado de Volusia debido a los niveles de agua crecientes.

Orlando se enfrenta ahora a zonas inundadas con varias carreteras cerradas y el cierre de la autopista Florida Turnpike.

10:30 a.m. update:

Drone video shows extensive flooding around HCA Florida Osceola Hospital in Kissimmee.

HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, formerly Osceola Regional Medical Center, is located on Oak Street near downtown Kissimmee.

Video: Drone video shows extensive flooding around large hospital in Kissimmee (James Tutten, WFTV.com/WFTV)

The City of Kissimmee shared a drone video showing floodwaters surrounding a large area around the hospital.

The video was taken behind the hospital, near the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Rose Avenue.

9:45 a.m. update:

Orange County Fire Rescue crews evacuated people from a nursing home Thursday morning.

Crews responded to the Avante at Orlando facility off Semoran Boulevard.

Officials said the evacuations were being done over concerns from rising flood waters.

9 a.m. update:

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said Florida’s Turnpike is shut down Thursday in both directions in Orange County.

Troopers said they shut down both directions of the highway from mile markers 254 through 267 near the Millenia area.

8:15 a.m. update:

Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to give an update Thursday on Ian as the devastating storm continues its move through Florida.

The governor is set to speak at 8:45 a.m. from the State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee.

Watch: Gov. DeSantis to give update Thursday on Ian’s storm damage, emergency response in Florida

Joining DeSantis for the press conference will be Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.

7:30 a.m. update

Serious flooding issues are being reported in the Little Wekiva River in Altamonte Springs.

Water is rapidly rising in the area.

Channel 9 reporter Alex Walker found a police cruiser that got stuck in a road in the area.

6:45 a.m. update:

Orlando city officials are asking residents to stay off roadways and shelter in place due to reports of flash flooding.

See a list of where flash flooding has been reported by clicking here.

6:05 a.m. update:

Flooding conditions are being reported in most of Central Florida.

Major roadways in Osceola County are underwater with drivers being turned around at several intersections.

Wind guests in Daytona Beach have reached around 76 mph.

The storm even flipped Channel 9′s Daytona Beach camera upside down.

Hurricane Ian: 9 surreal photos & videos in Florida

Large debris has been seen blowing off of buildings in Daytona Beach.

Law enforcement is pleading with people to stay sheltered in place and not to venture out on the roads.

5:13 a.m. update:

The National Hurricane Center said Ian has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

Tropical Storm Ian is still producing strong winds, heavy rains, and storm surges across parts of Florida.

Ian will continue to move through Florida on Thursday and bring tropical storm conditions to parts of Georgia and South Carolina.

4:45 a.m. update:

Channel 9 reporter Christy Turner is seeing flooded streets in downtown Orlando.

The street flooding has cars submerged in the area of Summerlin Avenue and South Street, not far from Lake Eola.

A flash flood warning in the area has been extended until 6:45 a.m.

3:45 a.m. update:

Hurricane Ian has brought major flooding to Kissimmee.

Channel 9 reporter Nick Papantonis grabbed video of flooding in a strip mall parking lot. See the damage in the tweet below:

Flood warnings and flash flood warnings are in effect across Central Florida.

3:20 a.m. update:

The city of Kissimmee tweeted that police and fire crews can no longer respond to calls as sustained winds have reached 45 mph.

2:30 a.m. update:

The Livingston Street sign in downtown Orlando has blown down.

Our Channel 9 crews spotted the damage just before 2 a.m. Thursday. Even though the sign was down, the street lights remained operational.

Hurricane Ian: Heavy winds take down Livingston Street sign in downtown Orlando (WFTV)

1:45 a.m. update:

Hurricane Ian’s effects hit very close to home Wednesday evening for Channel 9′s Shannon Butler.

Butler was out in the field, reporting on the storm’s effects when she received a phone call from her husband, informing her that the power was out at their home near downtown Orlando.

When she arrived at their home, she discovered a massive branch from a neighbor’s oak tree that had fallen on her porch, crushing the outdoor roof.

See Shannon’s live coverage below:

Large tree limb falls on Channel 9 reporter Shannon Butler's home while her family was inside Hurricane Ian's effects hit very close to home Wednesday evening for Channel 9's Shannon Butler. (WFTV)

1 a.m. update:

A flash flood warning is in effect for Brevard County, Orange County, Seminole County and Volusia County until 4 a.m.

12:10 a.m. update:

A flash flood warning is in effect for southeastern Orange and north central Osceola County until 2:45 a.m.

VIDEO: Why is the lightning we're seeing during Hurricane Ian so unusual? Hurricane Ian has begun to produce unusual amounts of lightning in Central Florida. (Tom Terry, WFTV.com/WFTV)

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