Hurricane Ian is Florida's deadliest in nearly a century

• Of those killed, 98 were in Florida, five were in North Carolina, three in Cuba and one in Virginia, per AP.
• Most of those who died in Florida drowned due to the storm surge that Ian triggered, according to the state's Medical Examiners Commission.

Where it stands: Hurricane Ian is now the second-deadliest storm to strike the mainland U.S. in the 21st century, AP notes.

• It's second to Hurricane Katrina, which killed more than 1,800 people in 2005.
• Ian is also Florida's deadliest hurricane since 1935.

Situation report: The destructive storm surge caused homes and other structures to flood, and washed away roads and bridges.

• More than 1,000 crew members continued search and rescue operations Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said in an emailed statement.
• Although power has be restored to over 2.4 million people, some 210,770 remained without it as of Thursday afternoon, he added.
• Debris removal has begun in the state, most heavily focused in southwest Florida.

More from Axios:

• Floridians weigh whether to stay or go post-Hurricane Ian
• The post-storm affordable housing crisis
• Biden says events like Hurricane Ian end climate change debate
• Hurricane Ian's climate warning