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☆ A psychologist explains why some people stay put and party during a hurricane: 'We are prone to optimism bias'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Aditi Shrikant | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday on the west coast of Florida. The winds intensified significantly as Ian neared land, making it a Category 5 storm, the most dangerous classification there is. "This is going to be a nasty, nasty day, two days" Gov. A hurricane party is exactly what it sounds like: a party thrown before or during a hurricane by those who don't flee and instead hunker down. The urge to stay put — and sometimes get together — is both psychological and circumstantial.

Many of the most destructive and potentially deadly impacts of a hurricane — including storm surge, flooding and rainfall — are not accounted for in a storm's category number. "Hurricane Ian is a very large, slow-moving hurricane. "There have been several alternative scales proposed over the years and none have gained enough attention or traction by the National Hurricane Center," Collins said. "It is important to have such evidence before even proposing to the National Hurricane Center that this should be considered as a replacement." Kantha said the National Hurricane Center acts conservatively and carefully with changes, particularly those with legal implications.

Share this -Link copiedFloridians are livestreaming Hurricane Ian on TikTok Floridians are giving TikTok users a front-row seat to Hurricane Ian. Storm surge map, they didn’t have a color for 12 to 15 feet," he said about the historic levels of storm surge expected near where Ian is expected to make landfall. Share this -Link copiedA view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station A view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station, on Monday. Share this -Link copiedSatellite images show Hurricane Ian approaching Florida Hurricane Ian over the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday. Share this -Link copiedIan expected to strengthen until making landfall, officials say Hurricane Ian is still forecast to strengthen until the hurricane makes landfall in Florida, the National Hurricane Center said.

Hurricane Ian was set to produce significant damage to much of Florida's citrus crop as it tore through the central-southwest part of the state, threatening to send the price of orange juice higher. November orange juice futures contracts were trading as high as $1.92 per pound Wednesday before falling back to $186.55. "The amount of loss is going to be pretty significant," Scoville said. Depending on the season, more than 90% of America’s orange juice is made from Florida-grown oranges, according to state data. According to the Agriculture Department, cold storage stocks of orange juice were at lows not seen since at least 2019 heading into August.

PINAR DEL RÍO, Cuba — Brigades of electrical workers were focused Wednesday on restoring electricity to the western region of Cuba, where Hurricane Ian made landfall the day before, leaving the entire country without power. Crews were working to bring power back to the Pinar del Río Province, where the eye of the then-Category 3 storm entered Cuba, and the municipality of Artemisa, where Ian's gusty winds knocked power out. In Pinar del Río, a region known for its agriculture and a source of produce for much of Cuba, crops such as rice, yucca and beans were lost. Yamil Lage / AFP - Getty ImagesCuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said damages in Pinar del Río "are great, although it has not yet been possible to account for it." Hurricane winds bent countless pieces of metals used as roofs all over Cuba, particularly in Pinar del Río.

☆ Biden warns oil industry not to raise prices due to Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned oil and gas companies against increasing prices for consumers as Hurricane Ian neared landfall along Florida’s southwest coast. There are few signs that average gas prices have jumped significantly in Florida as the hurricane began to approach. A 99-day run of falling pump prices nationally ended recently, and the 14-week decline was the longest streak since 2015. A spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute, an oil industry group, said the industry is focused on “delivering fuels where they are needed most while ensuring the safety of our workforce” during the hurricane. Ian grew to a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane overnight with top winds of 155 mph (250 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center.

☆ Fact Check-Clip of Fox News anchor issuing warning about a hurricane dates from 2016
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A 2016 clip of former Fox News anchor Shepard Smith warning about Hurricane Matthew ahead of its landfall in October that year has resurfaced online in 2022 after Hurricane Ian knocked out power in Cuba, with Floridians preparing for its approach. Other examples of the clip shared as Hurricane Ian made landfall can be found (here), (here), (here). The footage dates from a broadcast filmed in October 2016 when Shepard Smith worked for Fox News and was recorded ahead of Hurricane Matthew’s landfall. The lower-third also refers to Hurricane Matthew, not Hurricane Ian. Shepard Smith left Fox News in 2019 and now hosts a show on NBC titled ‘The News with Shepard Smith’ (here).

☆ Tampa tenant facing eviction stays put, fearing landlord won’t let him back in after storm passes
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Deon J. Hampton | Deon J. Hampton Is A National Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Courtesy Kenny Lofton“I’m home packing my belongings,” Lofton told NBC News. But he is also facing eviction Friday because, with rising prices, his government housing assistance is no longer enough to pay the rent. And in cities like Tampa, the demand for affordable housing is high but the supply is limited. And he was told the complex would no longer be accepting Section 8 federal housing vouchers. Lofton said he received multiple extensions from the landlord during which he tried and failed to find another place to rent.

Floridians are giving TikTok users a front-row seat to Hurricane Ian. Dozens of TikTok users in Florida used TikTok’s livestream feature on Wednesday to offer a window into their lives as the hurricane approached. Some comments trickling in sent the woman prayers, while others predicted her “house will disappear.” TikTok didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the hurricane livestreams. TikTok introduced its livestream feature in 2019, and it has since become a popular way of creating content on the app. TikTok’s livestreaming feature has been used for fun but also to share breaking news, such as when Russia invaded Ukraine.

NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday following unexpected drawdowns in U.S. crude and fuel stocks, and as the U.S. dollar pulled back from recent gains, boosting commodities prices. Brent crude futures were up $2.82, or 3.3%, at $89.09 per barrel by 12:31 p.m. EST (1631 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose $3.20, or 4.1%, to $81.70 a barrel. The dollar hit a fresh two-decade peak against a basket of currencies on Wednesday before pulling back. A strong dollar reduces demand for oil by making it more expensive for buyers using other currencies.

In a sign of the severity of Hurricane Ian, Waffle House told NBC News on Wednesday it had closed 21 Florida locations that are in the path of the Category 4 storm. Waffle House has gained a reputation over the years for staying open in all but the most extreme circumstances, offering food and beverages to emergency crews and individuals riding out natural disasters. Waffle House spokesperson Njeri Boss said in an email that most of the affected locations were in the projected path of the hurricane, with a few others in low-lying flood zones. In previous years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has used an unofficial “Waffle House Index” in part to help assess damage in disaster areas. "If a Waffle House can serve a full menu, they’ve likely got power (or are running on a generator)," FEMA wrote on its blog in 2017.

☆ Factbox: U.S. companies brace for Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Hurricane Ian is set to make landfall in Florida on Wednesday, pushing residents to empty grocery shelves, board up windows and rush to evacuation shelters. Since then, it has been working to redeploy offshore personnel after determining Hurricane Ian no longer posed a significant threat to its assets. NextEra Energy Inc's (NEE.N) Florida Power & Light Co, the largest utility in the state, deployed nearly 16,000 workers from 27 states to restore power. A spokesperson said the company was monitoring the hurricane and making adjustments to operations to keep warehouse staff and drivers safe. CRUISE OPERATORSWalt Disney Co's Disney Cruise Line on Tuesday canceled its Disney Wish ship that was to set sail from Florida on Friday.

The BoE said it would temporarily buy long-dated bonds - linked most closely to workers' pensions and home loans - in light of a surge in 30-year UK bond yields above 5%, their highest since 2002. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEuropean government bonds got a lift from the surge in gilts. "The surge in bond yields threatens the housing market and broader economy. Wall Street opened higher, with the S&P 500 Index (.SPX) up about 1% after it fell to a two year low on Tuesday. Scott Wren, Senior Global Market Strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said markets may already be pricing in future pain.

NEW YORK, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday following unexpected drawdowns in U.S. crude and fuel stocks, outweighing downward pressure from the continued strength in the U.S. dollar. U.S. crude stocks fell by 215,000 barrels in the most recent week, while gasoline and distillate inventories declined by 2.4 million and 2.9 million barrels respectively, as refining activity declined following several outages. Wholesale gasoline prices have been on the rise in the United States as well after refiners in the Midwest and West Coast shut. A strong dollar reduces demand for oil by making it more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Producer group OPEC+ meets on Oct. 5, where Russia is likely to propose an output cut of around 1 million barrels per day, a source familiar with Russian thinking said on Tuesday.

Storm surge map, they didn’t have a color for 12 to 15 feet," he said about the historic levels of storm surge expected near where Ian is expected to make landfall. Share this -Link copiedA view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station A view of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station, on Monday. “We are extremely concerned about the potential impacts Hurricane Ian may have on phosphate facilities around the state,” Whitlock added. Share this -Link copiedIan strengthens into Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it advances upon Florida's west coast. Share this -Link copiedSatellite images show Hurricane Ian approaching Florida Hurricane Ian over the Gulf of Mexico early Wednesday.

☆ Biden says he spoke with Florida governor about Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he had spoken with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis the prior day about Hurricane Ian, adding that the federal government had met every request for help from the coastal state. Biden also warned oil companies not to use the storm as a pretext to raise gasoline prices, which spiked earlier this year under pressure from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "Do not, let me repeat, do not...use this as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American people" Biden said, speaking at a White House event on hunger. "This small temporary storm impact on oil production provides no excuse for price increases at the pump, none," he added. Biden described the hurricane as incredibly dangerous and urged Florida residents to obey all warnings related to it.

☆ Watch: Floridians Brace for Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Video: Line to See Queen Elizabeth II Lie in State Reaches Capacity, Entry Paused Entry to the nearly 5-mile line to Westminster Hall, where Queen Elizabeth II has been lying in state since Wednesday, was suspended by authorities early Friday. Mourners queued through the night to say farewell ahead of her funeral. Photo: Petr David Josek/Associated Press

The BoE said it would temporarily buy long-dated bonds - linked most closely to workers' pensions and home loans - in light of a surge in 30-year UK bond yields above 5%, their highest since 2002. The pound briefly fell by as much as 1% after the BoE's announcement, while UK stocks cut losses, which in turn helped the broader European equity market avoid deeper falls. "The surge in bond yields threatens the housing market and broader economy. The IMF and the U.S. Treasury waded in yesterday in fear of global contagion from gilts to other markets," he said. European government bonds got a lift from the surge in the value of UK gilts.

☆ In pictures: Florida braces for Hurricane Ian
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

The Kremlin said no decision had been taken on whether to seal Russia's borders to stop an exodus of military-aged men fleeing the country, after days of chaotic scenes during its first military mobilisation since World War Two.

LONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Wednesday in U.S. trading hours as production cuts caused by Hurricane Ian outweighed downward pressure from a strengthening dollar and expected U.S. crude stockpile builds. A strong dollar reduces demand for oil by making it more expensive for buyers using other currencies. Reuters GraphicsU.S. crude oil stocks rose about 4.2 million barrels for the week ended Sept. 23, while gasoline inventories fell about 1 million barrels, according to market sources on Tuesday, citing figures from industry group the American Petroleum Institute. Distillate stocks rose by about 438,000 barrels, according to the sources. An upcoming price catalyst will be producer group OPEC+'s Oct. 5 meeting at which Russia is likely to propose an output cut of around 1 million barrels per day, a source familiar with the Russian viewpoint said on Tuesday.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was the only GOP committee member to oppose the bill. Other numbers to know:155 miles per hour: How fast the maximum sustained winds of Hurricane Ian were as of Wednesday morning, per the National Hurricane Center. 23 percentage points: Democrat Beto O’Rourke’s edge over Republican Gov. Last night, Democratic Gov. Tim.”Oklahoma Senate: Former President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Sen. James Lankford in his Senate bid, after conspicuously not endorsing the GOP incumbent in his primary.

Share this -Link copiedView of Hurricane Ian from International Space Station View of Hurricane Ian from the International Space Station. Share this -Link copiedIan on track to make landfall in Florida as 'catastrophic' Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian is strengthening as it nears Florida's west coast, officials said. “We are extremely concerned about the potential impacts Hurricane Ian may have on phosphate facilities around the state,” Whitlock added. Share this -Link copiedIan strengthens into Category 4 storm Hurricane Ian has strengthened into a Category 4 storm as it advances upon Florida's west coast. Share this -Link copiedSatellite images show Hurricane Ian approaching Florida Hurricane Ian over the Gulf of Mexico early on Wednesday morning.

☆ Hurricane Ian strengthens to Category 4 storm as it barrels toward Florida
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Tim Stelloh | Tim Stelloh Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Hurricane Ian strengthened to a powerful Category 4 storm as it bore down on Florida’s Gulf Coast Wednesday after knocking out power to all of Cuba. Traffic moves slowly Tuesday on Interstate 4 East in Four Corners, Fla., as residents evacuate the Gulf Coast of Florida in advance of the arrival of Hurricane Ian. Win McNamee / Getty ImagesMore than 2 million people along Florida’s Gulf Coast were under evacuation orders, DeSantis said. The latest on Hurricane Ian The Category 4 storm was 75 miles from Naples, on Florida's Gulf Coast, early Wednesday. Ian was producing storm surge flooding early Wednesday across the lower Florida Keys.

☆ Hurricane Ian Strengthens to Category 4 Storm Ahead of Expected Florida Landfall
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Jon Kamp | Cameron Mcwhirter | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hurricane Ian strengthened to a dangerous Category 4 storm as it barreled toward Florida’s Gulf Coast ahead of expected landfall later Wednesday. The storm, packing maximum sustained winds of 140 miles an hour, was located about 75 miles from Naples, Fla., early Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It appeared headed for landfall in a region south of the Tampa Bay area, but the effects are expected to be widespread, from tropical-storm force winds extending out 175 miles to a potential foot-high storm surge and as much as two feet of rain.

☆ Hurricane Ian Takes Aim at Fast-Growing Region in Florida
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Elizabeth Findell | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

As forecasts for the path of Hurricane Ian solidified Wednesday, the storm was poised to hit an area full of newcomers. Projections show the hurricane is likely to make landfall near Port Charlotte, just above Fort Myers and just below Sarasota, before moving inland. It is an area that has seen a rapid influx of people since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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