Update (1342ET):
One resident told Tampa Bay Times, “it looks like somebody took an atom bomb and dropped it,” referring to the widespread damage across Southwest Florida following the devastating hurricane that made landfall about 24 hours ago near Fort Myers as a Cat. 4 storm.
The footage is absolutely shocking.
Ft Myers Beach is effectively gone, almost no emergency crews yet. These poor people need so much help… pic.twitter.com/5uLo26zFMZ
— Max Olson (@MesoMax919) September 29, 2022
This morning Sheriff Carmine Marceno took a tour of Lee County to begin assessing damage caused by Hurricane Ian.
We are devastated. Our hearts go out to every resident who is impacted. The Lee County Sheriffs Office is mobile and will stop at nothing to help our residents. pic.twitter.com/S4OsB8ajRv— Carmine Marceno – Florida’s Law and Order Sheriff (@SheriffLeeFL) September 29, 2022
Ft. Myers #CNN #HurricaneIan pic.twitter.com/mRerqqNRMO
— lisa mirando (@LisaMirandoCNN) September 29, 2022
More video from Fort Myers Beach showing large boats washed ashore from #HurricaneIan #HurricanIan #Ian pic.twitter.com/HxqAfyqkH4
— Smurph (@swmurfl) September 29, 2022
Fort Myers Beach is leveled. I’m in disbelief and absolutely heartbroken for the people of SWFL. The area is changed forever 💔 #hurricaneian #fortmyersbeach #fmb pic.twitter.com/A8T4NSm4sE
— Taylor Bisacky (@TaylorBisackyTV) September 29, 2022
The power of water.
📍Fort Myers, Florida
📸: AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee pic.twitter.com/dOOkiGTElj
— Sean Breslin (@Sean_Breslin) September 29, 2022
Fort Myers Beach, before and after Hurricane Ian.
📷: @JulieMartinTV and Google Earth pic.twitter.com/V8Uh7YUVdg
— Drew (@DrewMacFarlane) September 29, 2022
Before & after Hurricane #Ian
Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier pic.twitter.com/fZ15LEkUbj
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) September 29, 2022
* * *
Update (1000ET):
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Hurricane Tropical Storm Ian had produced a “500-year flood event” across Florida.
JUST IN: “The amount of water that’s been rising…is basically a 500-year flood event.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warns that there is a potential for major flooding “hundreds of miles” from where Hurricane Ian made landfall. https://t.co/23eIyeHVo4 pic.twitter.com/sjKifjqrty
— ABC News (@ABC) September 29, 2022
As the day keeps going, we’ll get a better sense of the devastation. #HurricaneIan pic.twitter.com/svoD7VNmpn
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) September 29, 2022
Images show destruction and devastation in Ft. Myers, Florida, after Hurricane Ian ripped through the region.
LIVE UPDATES: https://t.co/EWxpkrw13o pic.twitter.com/sZFzvOIWwX
— ABC News (@ABC) September 29, 2022
* * *
Hurricane Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm early Thursday morning as it traversed northeastward across central Florida, dumping torrential rain while still packing strong winds across a large swath of the state.
The former Category 4 hurricane made landfall Wednesday afternoon west of Fort Myers near Cayo Costa. Ian unleashed widespread life-threatening storm surge flooding across the region.
About 2.6 million homes and businesses are without power, according to PowerOutage.us. The most significant number of outages are based in the southwest Florida region, where the hurricane made landfall.
Shocking footage yesterday revealed the surge sent a wall of water roaring inland that was as high as some homes. Streets were instantly transformed into rivers. We pointed out last night that total storm damage could be upwards of $70 billion.
I'm sick to my stomach seeing these photos of the incredible storm surge that hit Fort Myers, Florida as the eye of Hurricane Ian moved onshore Wednesday.
Easily over 10 feet of water up to the roofs in some spots. pic.twitter.com/S6tViQf5Kv— Eric Zernich (@EricZernich) September 29, 2022
My whole heart is broken, downtown Fort Myers Beach is completely under water. #fortmyersbeach #HurricaneIan #FortMyers pic.twitter.com/2V0GbB7jdk
— Abbie (@Abbieamerican) September 28, 2022
Storm surge outside of my moms house on Fort Myers Beach.
I’m so sick. pic.twitter.com/12ujJqmacH
— Beth is hugging her mom (@itsbethbooker) September 28, 2022
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told ABC’s Good Morning America that he believes “fatalities are in the hundreds” after Ian devastated his county, which includes Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Bonita Springs, areas that experienced extreme storm surges yesterday and into the overnight.
Hoping he's wrong, but Lee County, Fla. Sheriff Carmine Marceno says it's "confirmed" there are "fatalities in the hundreds" #HurricaneIan pic.twitter.com/WtJCfWPwb4
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 29, 2022
Breaking
Fort Meyers Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno says 100's dead in the wake of hurricane Ian #HurricaneIan #hurricaineIan #Ian pic.twitter.com/f2L7Tiwawq
— wlctv.ca (@wlctv_ca) September 29, 2022
Now Ian is expected to enter the Atlantic Ocean later today and make landfall (again) along the South Carolina coast late Friday.
The storm’s economic impact on Florida’s manufacturing, agriculture, and distribution sectors will be felt for weeks, if not months. It could also upend Florida’s home-insurance market, where insurers likely face billions of dollars in losses.
via zerohedge