Adedokun Waliyu 
The eyewall of Hurricane Ian barrelled onshore in Florida at 11am on Wednesday as forecasters warned that some places on the west coast could see “unsurviveable” storm surge.
Destructive waves are expected along the southwest coast from Englewood to Bonita Beach including Charlotte Harbor, near the town of Punta Gorda, north of Fort Myers.
Peak storm surge forecasts were increased on Wednesday with up to 18 feet projected along an 80-mile stretch from Englewood to Bonita.
Authorities warned people to stay off the roads and shelter in place if they had not already evacuated.
Eight million people were in the bullseye of Hurricane Ian as the storm strengthened to just shy of a monstrous Category 5 status on Wednesday morning amid imminent landfall.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis noted that the hurricane was “knocking on the door of a Category 5” and described it as the “real deal”, urging residents to “hunker down”.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday issued a stern warning to oil and gas executives not to use disruptions caused by Hurricane Ian as a basis for raising gas and diesel fuel prices that have been steadily declining in recent months.
Speaking at a White House conference on hunger and nutrition, Mr Biden offered the warning at the outset of his remarks while discussing his contact with Florida officials in preparation for the arrival of the category four storm.
“I want to add one more warning to oil and gas industry executives: Do not — let me repeat — do not use this as an excuse to raise gasoline prices on the American people,” Mr Biden said.
Mr Biden says he will order officials to investigate any instances of price gauging as a result of the hurricane.
The eyewall of Hurricane Ian was coming onshore in Florida at 11am (Eastern Time) on Wednesday.
“Eyewall of #Ian moving onshore! Catastrophic storm surge along with destructive waves are expected along the southwest Florida coast from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor.
“Residents should urgently follow evacuation orders in effect,” the National Hurricane Center tweeted.
Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center were warning of “unsurviveable” storm surge of up to 18 feet in places on the west coast and telling people to shelter in place if they had not already evacuated.
Photos have emerged from an airport between Fort Lauderdale and Miami showing small planes flipped on to their cockpits after a possible tornado touched down.
The crumpled planes were pictured at North Perry Airport in Hollywood, Florida, on the state’s east coast, on Tuesday evening.
Hurricane Ian is two miles short of Category 5 status today and is barrelling towards the west coast of Florida bringing sustained winds of 155mph with gusts of 190mph. Storm surge could be up to 18 feet in places around Fort Myers.
