Destruction and desperation: See Hurricane Ian damage city by city across Florida

The hurricane, the fifth-most powerful to ever hit the U.S., left countless homes and businesses wrecked or underwater and nearly 2.7 million people without power.

“Fort Myers is devastated,” tweeted Dylan Federico, a meteorologist for WINK News. “Tough hurricane proof infrastructure that’s in shambles. There’s no electricity or water. It’s unlivable. Wind damage is far worse than I saw after Irma, Ida, Harvey or Katrina.”

Fort Myers: ‘Barely anything left’

In Lee County, the damage was so extensive and conditions on the ground so treacherous that local officials made the agonizing decision to wait before attempting certain rescues.

Bonita Springs: Tears after a labor of love lost

In Bonita Springs, some structures were flattened by the storm surge, including Doc’s Beach House.

The walls on Docs Beach House caved when the walls came back out. Charlie Cibula, the owner’s son said his father has owned it since 1987. “We’ll get it back up and running,” he said Thursday, Sept. 29.
Kate Cimini

Naples: ‘A moat around City Hall’

Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann told MSNBC on Thursday that local officials were caught by surprise by Hurricane Ian’s massive floodwaters that rushed through her southwestern Florida coastal city of nearly 22,000 residents.