Ian leaves behind swaths of damage in Florida
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Damaged homes, business and debris are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
A damaged causeway to Sanibel Island is seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, near Sanibel Island, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
Damaged boats lie on the land and water in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
A stoplight pole, blown down by Hurricane Ian winds, rests on Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Hurricane Ian has left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel via AP) 
In this photo provided by Orange County Fire Rescue’s Public Information Office, firefighters in Orange County, Fla., help people stranded by Hurricane Ian early Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Ian marched across central Florida on Thursday as a tropical storm after battering the state’s southwest coast, dropping heavy rains that caused flooding and led to inland rescues and evacuations. (Orange County Fire Rescue’s Public Information Office via AP) 
This aerial photo shows damaged homes and debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
This aerial photo shows damaged homes and debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) 
People survey damage to their home in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Valrico, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara) 
SANFORD, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 29: Downed trees block the road after being toppled by Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Sanford, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images) 
A damaged traffic light leans into the road in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Orlando, Florida on September 29, 2022. – Hurricane Ian left much of coastal southwest Florida in darkness early on Thursday, bringing “catastrophic” flooding that left officials readying a huge emergency response to a storm of rare intensity. The National Hurricane Center said the eye of the “extremely dangerous” hurricane made landfall just after 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) on the barrier island of Cayo Costa, west of the city of Fort Myers. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) (Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) 
Workers walk past a damaged gas station in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, in Punta Gorda, Florida on September 29, 2022. – Hurricane Ian left much of coastal southwest Florida in darkness early on Thursday, bringing “catastrophic” flooding that left officials readying a huge emergency response to a storm of rare intensity. The National Hurricane Center said the eye of the “extremely dangerous” hurricane made landfall just after 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) on the barrier island of Cayo Costa, west of the city of Fort Myers. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images) 
A boat lays sideways in the canal in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Punta Gorda, Florida on September 29, 2022. – Hurricane Ian left much of coastal southwest Florida in darkness early on Thursday, bringing “catastrophic” flooding that left officials readying a huge emergency response to a storm of rare intensity. The National Hurricane Center said the eye of the “extremely dangerous” hurricane made landfall just after 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) on the barrier island of Cayo Costa, west of the city of Fort Myers. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images) 
BONITA SPRINGS, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: A man walks through a hole in a wall caused by storm surge after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Hurricane Ian brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) 
BONITA SPRINGS, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: Storm damaged vehicles after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Hurricane Ian brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) 
NAPLES, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: Meagan Hoeschler recovers a family surf board on the beach after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Naples, Florida. Hurricane Ian brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) 
BONITA SPRINGS, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: A boat blocks a road after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Hurricane Ian brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) 
BONITA SPRINGS, FL – SEPTEMBER 29: A storm damaged building after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Hurricane Ian brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) 
Damaged airplanes and hangars are seen at the Punta Gorda Airport in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, in Punta Gorda, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) 
Displaced boats rest lie strewn along the San Carlos Boulevard, one day of the passage of Hurricane Ian, in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) 
Cars drive on a flooded street caused by Hurricane Ian Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla. Climate change added at least 10% more rain to Hurricane Ian, a study prepared immediately after the storm shows. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) 
An electronic highway sign lies toppled on a highway information sign pointing the way to Interstate 75, in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, following Hurricane Ian. (AP Photo/Tim Reynolds)
(NewsNation) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Wednesday that Hurricane Ian would likely cause damage throughout the state. On Thursday, pictures of the devastation showed the toll taken on multiple cities.
Ian made landfall as one of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. Though downgraded to a tropical storm by Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said the storm had returned to hurricane strength by the afternoon, and that storm surge and flooding remained a threat.
At a Thursday evening news conference, Gov. Ron DeSantis said damage across the state is “indescribable” and that there have been more than 700 confirmed rescues. Aside from the millions left without electricity, there was also infrastructure damage, including a water main break in Lee County, DeSantis said.
Overall, DeSantis said the state of roadways was “really good” despite isolated incidents of severe damage in certain areas.
Fort Myers
On the barrier islands off the coast of Fort Myers, there’s total devastation. Homes and businesses have been ripped apart on San Carlos Island, and the structures that are still standing are waterlogged.
“It’s Hiroshima. Anybody with a single-story home or who lived in a mobile home is now homeless down here,” said resident Scott Neely. “It is just that simple.”
On Joey Fernandez’s street, ocean water rose 12 feet.
“I had to punch through the actual wall and go to a third floor about 30 feet up so we could actually escape the water,” he said.
Fernandez said he got on his jet ski in an effort to make water rescues but instead found several people who did not survive — two of whom he knew. He believes they drowned.
“I knew two of them,” he said. “There was one of them that was holding onto his puppy when he passed away. The other one had Parkinson’s. I’m just trying to take care of the island. There are a bunch of people who have nowhere to go. They don’t have food or water.”
naples
The Naples Fire Rescue Department shared photos showing firefighters face to face with a storm surge outside their own garage, NewsNation affiliate WFLA reported. The water rose up to the firefighters’ hips and over the wheels of at least one of their trucks.
SANIBEL ISLAND
A chunk of the Sanibel Causeway fell into the sea, cutting off access to the barrier island where 6,300 people live. It was unknown how many heeded orders to evacuate, but Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller expressed cautious optimism.
“This is devastating,” said a nearby resident who spoke with NewsNation. “I’ve looked out on Sanibel for many years and have a lot of friends out there and it’s just heartbreaking because they’ve lost everything.”
Volusia county
In the northeastern part of Florida, Volusia County suffered major flooding. Sheriff Mike Chitwood said his teams rescued several people, including a 97-year-old woman who had broken her hip and was stranded in her home.
“For us, there were places that have never flooded,” Chitwood said. “We’re talking waist-deep water that we have to go in and evacuate people.”
Siesta Keys
Siesta Keys resident Jacquie Jordan was one of many Florida newcomers who had never experienced a hurricane before. She endured 100 mph winds for about 10 hours and was left without refrigeration and air conditioning when her family lost power.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
