Hurricane Ian: Carole Baskin goes all-out to protect Big Cat Rescue animal sanctuary from ‘catastrophic’ storm

Carole Baskin, founder of Big Cat Rescue, at the property in 2017

(Picture: AP)

Carole Baskin was among the Florida residents busily trying to storm proof their properties and businesses as Hurricane Ian barrelled towards its coastline.

The Big Cat Rescue owner - who is best known for appearing in the Netflix TV series Tiger King - shared several images of how she and her team of volunteers prepared for one of the most powerful storms ever to strike the US mainland.

The pictures show staff boarding up structures at the Tampa rescue centre, such as the gift shop where some have stayed to keep an eye on the animal residents, which currently include 21 bobcats, eight tigers, six servals, a jaguar and a leopard to name a few.

“And it begins, Hurricane Ian, we are ready for you,” Baskin wrote on Facebook.

Images shares online showed vounteers boarding up structures at the rescue (@bigcatrescue/Facebook)

“I want to give a huge shout-out to everybody at Big Cat Rescue who has been filling sandbags, and picking up sticks, and chain-sawing away limbs and covering the windows,” she added.

In a video shared to the social media platform, the one-time Dancing With The Stars contestant told how she and her team planned to check on the cats and their cages hourly during the hurricane.

Ms Baskin also showed off a large propane tank used to fuel a generator that will make sure the cats’ food is stored properly.

“We have to keep food prep safe because you’ve got to feed the cats no matter what the weather looks like,” she explained.

Residents of the sanctuary currently include 21 bobcats, 8 tigers, 6 servals, a jaguar and a leopard to name a few (@bigcatrescue/Facebook)

Flooding was of major concern for Baskin. To help prevent the worst of it, the team hooked pumps up to generators.

The post concluded: “Please continue to send paw-sitive thoughts and prayers for all of Tampa, the interns, staff, volunteers and cats at Big Cat Rescue!”

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday near Cayo Costa as an “extremely dangerous” category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph.

A storm surge as high as 12ft crashed into the coastline turning streets into rivers sparking warnings of “life-threatening” flooding.

The town of Fort Myers Beach was almost submerged by floodwaters, and some homes could be seen floating downstream, along with cars.

Large swathes of southern Florida were left without power with 2.2 million left without electricity.