Hurricane Ian , Makes Landfall in Cuba , as It Approaches Florida .<br />Early on September 27, Hurricane Ian <br />strengthened to a major Category 3 storm <br />as it made landfall in western Cuba.<br />NBC reports that landfall was made <br />just southwest of the town of <br />La Coloma in the Pinar Del Río province.<br />According to the National Hurricane Center, <br />Ian slammed into Cuba around 4:30 A.M. ET<br />with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour.<br />Cuban authorities have said that hundreds of thousands <br />of people have been evacuated, and both emergency <br />and medical personnel have been deployed. .<br />On September 26, Ian passed by <br />the nearby Cayman Islands with <br />no reports of any major damage. .<br />Premier Wayne Panton said that the British territory was , "very fortunate to have been spared the worst <br />of a potentially very serious storm.".<br />Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared <br />a statewide emergency with a direct hit on <br />Tampa Bay forecast as soon as September 28.<br />Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared <br />a statewide emergency with a direct hit on <br />Tampa Bay forecast as soon as September 28.<br />That’s going to cause a huge amount <br />of storm surge. You’re going to have <br />flood events. You’re going to have <br />a lot of different impacts, Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, via NBC.<br />This storm is trending to slow down, <br />which means it could potentially<br />sit on top of us for 47 hours, Cathie Perkins, Director of Pinellas County Emergency <br />Management, via NBC affiliate WFLA of Tampa.<br />That’s a lot of rain, and it’s not <br />going to be able to drain out quickly, Cathie Perkins, Director of Pinellas County Emergency <br />Management, via NBC affiliate WFLA of Tampa
