LCSO says county Ian deaths drop after ME reclassifications

Writer: Matthew Seaver
Published: Updated:
(Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno held an update on Hurricane Ian on Friday and said the medical examiner had reclassified a number of deaths from the storm.

Due to the reclassifications, the number of people whose cause of death is attributed to the hurricane is now 53. Previously that number was 59.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said he is working with the medical examiner’s office to get the names of the people who have died released.

On Friday, Lee County rescinded its county-wide curfew. The county said that curfews may still be in place for specific cities and asked that you check your city’s website to see if you are still under a curfew.

Cape Coral has a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew that remains in place. The City of Bonita Spring has rescinded the citywide curfew. The Bonita Beach area curfew, including the areas in Big Hickory Island and Little Hickory Island, is still in place from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Marceno said on Friday that 1,025 people had been rescued since the storm. He said out of 647 well-being checks, 469 still need more investigation.

The sheriff’s office says there are two people that are considered missing and are asking for help in looking for them.

James Dennis Hurst (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

One of those missing people is James Dennis Hurst from Fort Myers Beach.

Gary Luke (Credit: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

The other missing person is Gary Luke from North Fort Myers.

On Fort Myers Beach, the sheriff said USAR teams are still completing their search and rescue operations and said they expect to be done on Saturday. Once that is done, residents who have been trying to access homes in the city will be allowed back.

Searches are also underway under the water in San Carlos Bay. Sheriff Marceno said divers are working to search any submerged cars they find.

The sheriff’s office also said that it is using its fleet of drones to help search hard-to-reach areas from the air.

Marceno said the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is prepared to take over operations on Sanibel and Captiva once the National Guard leaves.

You can watch the sheriff’s update by clicking here or in the post below.

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