4 people in North Carolina have died in remnants of Hurricane Ian
Four people in North Carolina died from the storm, Gov. Roy Cooper said Saturday, as he urged residents to stay safe while emergency crews worked to restore power and clear debris after Hurricane Ian.
“The storm has passed, but many hazards remain with downed trees, downed power lines and power outages,” Cooper said in a statement. “We mourn with the families of those who have died and urge everyone to be cautious while cleaning up to avoid more deaths or injuries.”
The four deaths bring the toll from Hurricane Ian so far to 48 fatalities, including 44 reported in Florida. The overall death toll could rise, as rescuers in Florida continue to search for survivors.
Three of the deaths in North Carolina occurred Friday in vehicles. A 25-year-old man died after his vehicle hydroplaned into another vehicle. A 24-year-old woman died after her vehicle veered off a wet road and hit a tree, and a 22-year-old man drowned after his truck went off the road and submerged in a flooded swamp, the governor’s office said in a statement.
A fourth death, of a 65-year-old man, occurred Saturday from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator running in his closed garage while the power was out. His wife was hospitalized, the statement said.
Power generators and other backup at-home sources of power can be deadly when used improperly. Generators should be used only outdoors, more than 20 feet away from homes, health experts say. They should never be run in a confined or semi-confined space, such as a garage or basement, even with a window or door open.
Experts say it is imperative to install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector on each level of a home.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.