Florida Emergency Management Director Gives Update On Hurricane Ian Recovery
(Tallahassee, FL)-- Tens of thousands of people are working around the clock to get Florida back on track after Hurricane Ian. Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie says there are 34 distribution points up and running with nearly four-million water bottles and nearly 830-thousand meals being distributed already. So far, 164-thousand people have applied for FEMA individual assistance. When it comes to schools, almost all will be back by the end of the week, though it's not yet known when students in Southwest Florida will return to classrooms.
Over 400 UCF Students Request Help After Ian
(Orlando, FL)-- Hundreds of UCF students need help after Hurricane Ian. The University of Central Florida announced yesterday that almost 500 students have requested assistance. About half of them are residents at the Arden Villas Apartments who say their homes and cars were flooded. A student tells News 6 some teachers are postponing tests and may post lectures on Zoom for those who can't get to class. The school says it's offering students mental health services and access to a food pantry.
Okaloosa County Teen Wanted For Making Threats While Armed
(Fort Walton Beach, FL)-- A search is underway in Okaloosa County to find a teenager accused of threatening people with a gun. Fort Walton Beach Police say they're aware of a Snapchat video showing a 17-year-old boy pointing an AR-15 rifle at the camera while making the threat. Deputies identified the teen as Grant Guarin, and they say they have found the gun. Anyone with information on where Guarin can be found is asked to contact police.
Hillsborough County Drive-In Theater Damaged By Ian
(Ruskin, FL)-- A popular family attraction in Hillsborough County is temporarily closed because of Hurricane Ian. The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre sustained over 10-thousand dollars worth of damage in the storm. Most of that was due to fallen trees and damaged signs, but one the movie screen's panels was damaged, too. When it came to decide whether to rebuild, co-owner John Friewald says he and his wife didn't hesitate. He says the community has been very good to them, and if they ever decided to close, they'd have to sneak out of town before anyone found out. Friewald also tells Fox 13 News he hopes to reopen by Friday.
Crewed Mission Launch Set For Tomorrow
(Cape Canaveral, FL)-- A historic launch delayed by Hurricane Ian appears to be a go. Four men and women are set to blast off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center tomorrow afternoon. Launch conditions are 90 percent Go. The SpaceX-NASA Crew-5 launch was supposed to take place yesterday, but it was pushed back because of the storm. The astronauts will arrive at the International Space Station in a Dragon capsule on Thursday, and they'll return in five months. The launch is the first involving a Native American woman, and it also marks the first time a Russian cosmonaut has gone into orbit on a SpaceX mission.
CT Woman Gives Birth On Plane
(Hartford, CT)-- A new mom is back in Connecticut after giving birth on an airplane. Kendra Rhoden was en route to the Dominican Republic last month when she went into labor six weeks early. She tells WFSB-TV several nurses on the aircraft came to help her and safely delivered a baby boy she named Skylan in honor of where he made his debut. She says her son's passport lists his place of birth as "in the air."
TODAY IN HISTORY
1957, the first man-made satellite was launched into space by the Soviet Union. The craft was named "Sputnik One."
1931, Chester Gould's comic strip, "Dick Tracy" debuted.
1905, Orville Wright flew the first flight that was longer than 30 minutes. The flight covered 21 miles in 33 minutes and 17 seconds.