TRACKING IAN: Category 1 hurricane makes second landfall in South Carolina

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown, South Carolina, on Friday around 2:05 p.m. Eastern time after picking back up to a Category 1 hurricane.

The storm’s second landfall hit the coast with sustained winds of 85 mph, as opposed to the 155 mph winds that hit Florida on Wednesday.

Surges between 3 and 7 feet are expected in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.

The storm hit Florida’s gulf coast as a high-end category 4 hurricane Wednesday afternoon

SEE ALSO: TRACKING IAN: Category 4 hurricane makes landfall in Florida’s Gulf Coast

As Ian passed through the state, it weakened to a tropical storm but began gaining speed as it reentered the Atlantic.

Catastrophic damage has been reported throughout Florida, leaving over 2.5 million residents without power.

A portion of the causeway to Sanibel Island collapsed leaving thousands stranded, according to the sheriff.  The Pine Island Bridge is also impassible.

Officials confirmed 21 deaths in Florida; they expect that number to climb into the hundreds.

“I don’t have confirmed numbers, but I definitely know the fatalities are in the hundreds,” Sheriff Carmine Marceno told ABC. “There are thousands of people that are waiting to be rescued.”

SEE ALSO: Nebraskans head to Florida to provide disaster relief; more to leave soon