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At least 100 people have died after Hurricane Ian battered Florida, a report has claimed. Winds reached up to 150mph and ripped apart buildings as they swept through the Sunshine State.
The area was also impacted by devastating flash flooding.
Rescue teams are on hand and continue in their search for survivors.
However, people are also returning to their homes and trying to come to terms with the destruction.
Authorities had imposed evacuation orders but are now facing questions about whether such measures could have been enforced sooner.
Speaking to CNN, Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis said: “Where was your industry stationed when the storm hit? Were you guys in Lee County? No, you were in Tampa. So they were following the weather track.”
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Mr DeSantis, who has been tipped as a potential GOP candidate in the 2024 US Presidential Election, added: “Everybody had an adequate opportunity to at least get to a shelter within the county… It’s easy to second guess them but they were ready for the whole time.”
Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane said on Sunday: “As soon as we saw the model shift northeast, we did exactly what we could to encourage people [to evacuate].
“I’m just disappointed that so many people didn’t go to shelters, because they’re open.”
Florida Sheriff Carmine Marceno also claimed the hurricane was “unpredictable” when pressed on the speed of the evacuation orders.
He told Fox News: “A lot of people want to sit here and say ‘oh, could you have done it quicker, could you have done it differently.’
He said: “We’ve been to about every address.
“We believe that we have searched everything very quickly.
“Now we are going back for a second look.”
Mr Guthrie added: “I am not saying we are not going to find anybody else. We may find other people.”
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