Mary Beth Defrusio: Latest News

PHILADELPHIA - As Hurricane Ian bares down on Florida, some locals have heeded warning from forecasters and headed to the Philadelphia-area to seek shelter. Jilly Cohen, a freshman who was just weeks into her first semester at the University of Tampa, arrived at Philadelphia International Airport after snagging the last seat on a plane. "It's crazy right now, all the flights are insane, there are, like, no flights," said Cohen who was evacuated to her home in Maryland when the university closed down. Hurricane Ian will slow down over the Gulf of Mexico, growing wider and stronger, "which will have the potential to produce significant wind and storm surge impacts along the west coast of Florida," the hurricane center said.A surge of up to 10 feet (3 meters) of ocean water and 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain was predicted across the Tampa Bay area, with as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) inches in isolated areas. That's enough water to inundate coastal communities.As many as 300,000 people may be evacuated from low-lying areas in Hillsborough County alone, county administrator Bonnie Wise said.