From 2017 to 2021 there have been a staggering thirty rapidly intensifying storms as calculated from National Hurricane Center data by Associated Press. The Center defines "rapidly intensifying" as storms that gain as least thirty-five mph in wind speed in less than twenty-four hours. Shallow waters tend to be warmer than deep waters, so as a storm approaches a coastline like Florida's the expectation is that a storm will intensify. Category Four have sustained winds of 136-155 mph. More powerful hurricanes also contain more moisture resulting in torrential rains, a potent one, two punch. Most trees and power poles will be downed. Well built homes may only loose their roofs. Water and electric utilities will be out for a least several days.
Right now Ian is battering Cuba, knocking out power to the entire island nation. Cuba evacuated city thousand people from Pinar del Rio province where the hurricane made landfall with 125 mph winds. NASA even moved its expensive moon rocket from the launch pad to its hanger in anticipation of the hurricane's arrival on shore.