Photos show the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian on the Florida Gulf Coast
The storm made landfall just shy of Category 5 winds.
Jake Moses, 19, left, and Heather Jones, 18, of Fort Myers, explore a section of destroyed businesses at Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022. The community was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
With top winds of 155 mph, Ian was a major storm that left catastrophic damage in its wake after hitting the southern Gulf Coast and moving north through Florida’s inner counties.
The images below show its impact around the state.
A man walks through a street on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Charles Barna, 56, left, and Kevin Behen, 60, share stories of their survival on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Charles Barna, 56, said he narrowly survived and fears that several of his friends perished in Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
An SUV rests under a fishing boat displaced by storm surge on San Carlos Blvd just east of Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Capt. Jay Clark, 48, of Fort Myers, with the Sea Trek deep sea fishing charter, recovers deep sea fishing rods and reels displaced by storm surge on San Carlos Blvd just east of Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Tourist T-shirts lay in the sand among the ruins of a store on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian destroyed the area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Boats lay wrecked and piled up on the east side of the bridge into Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian made landfall. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Matthew Stohr, left, visits with friend, Kevin Behen, on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Behen was forced to escape to a higher floor in Hurricane Ian when the surge swelled to the second story of the building where he was staying. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Vince Wright, 36, walks through the remains of homes on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian destroyed the community. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Shrimp boats lay wrecked and piled up on the coast off the east side of the bridge into Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
From left: Zhenia Lopez, 30, holding her 2-month-old son, Ariel, with son, Yariel, 2, and husband Max Lopez, 28, tour the damage on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. The family, who lost their home and belongings in the storm, are planning to leave the state after Hurricane Ian destroyed the community. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Joe Orlandini, center, background, and Shannon Orlandini, right, evacuate from Fort Myers Beach with their children on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
A van used to advertise for the Sandal Factory on Fort Myers Beach is destroyed on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Remnants of damaged homes and flooded vehicles on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
A couple leaves Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Matthew Stohr salvages bottles of vodka from an eddy of containers that settled off the west end of a bridge into Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Jay Kimble, 48, left, and Cheryl Summers, 48, prepare to leave Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. The couple, who are engaged, rode the storm out on the beach. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Brianna Renas, 17, inspects a fallen palm tree outside her home along Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral after riding out Hurricane Ian with her family Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]
Aerial view of sand inundation caused by storm surge from Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
Residents get their first look at devastation caused by Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
Vehicles thrown into a canal by Hurricane Ian are seen on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
Debris is seen on the coast as residents that rode out the storm are getting their first looks at the devastating damage from Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
Julie Walton hugs her granddaughter Nyah VanHoose in front of the house where they rode out Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
A Rolls Royce is seen among the debris as storm surge from Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach. [ LUIS SANTANA | Times ]
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QCQEO42J3FCKTCUIMWCTYOQGH4.JPG "Jake Moses, 19, left, and Heather Jones, 18, of Fort Myers, explore a section of destroyed businesses at Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022. The community was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Wednesday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/L6623JNJGFDR5FOYJAW47FKUUA.JPG "A man walks through a street on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/VMBKFFE4ENCAFBH4HUY6SFTCQY.JPG "Charles Barna, 56, left, and Kevin Behen, 60, share stories of their survival on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/DUO72UUCSBFNJPGAFLEXJ2JDCQ.JPG "Charles Barna, 56, said he narrowly survived and fears that several of his friends perished in Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NZHYQEN67RFKPMQCU3MNQMO3UE.jpeg "An SUV rests under a fishing boat displaced by storm surge on San Carlos Blvd just east of Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/S775DWZWTBBDDJMK6U3TJHBPQQ.jpeg "Capt. Jay Clark, 48, of Fort Myers, with the Sea Trek deep sea fishing charter, recovers deep sea fishing rods and reels displaced by storm surge on San Carlos Blvd just east of Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022, which was mostly destroyed after Hurricane Ian made landfall overnight on Wednesday.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ROKCACJCDZCOVFJUDASZ22PGQI.JPG "Tourist T-shirts lay in the sand among the ruins of a store on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian destroyed the area.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5GNBKERSWFF5BPSATRTZCKABQA.JPG "Boats lay wrecked and piled up on the east side of the bridge into Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sep 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian made landfall.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KKRQ6LQGRFEYZI7ZFPSOAUROUQ.JPG "Matthew Stohr, left, visits with friend, Kevin Behen, on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Behen was forced to escape to a higher floor in Hurricane Ian when the surge swelled to the second story of the building where he was staying.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4DSFNWD3NNBBHNODIGUZDV76S4.JPG "Vince Wright, 36, walks through the remains of homes on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian destroyed the community.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/I5RBD3C4PZASLEVYT7BZZPY4LI.JPG "Shrimp boats lay wrecked and piled up on the coast off the east side of the bridge into Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/USTHHWRAUVASZNVENUKSE56KEY.JPG "From left: Zhenia Lopez, 30, holding her 2-month-old son, Ariel, with son, Yariel, 2, and husband Max Lopez, 28, tour the damage on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. The family, who lost their home and belongings in the storm, are planning to leave the state after Hurricane Ian destroyed the community.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OJLAB2HMQBGUXL6EJ7L6JJQZIQ.JPG "Joe Orlandini, center, background, and Shannon Orlandini, right, evacuate from Fort Myers Beach with their children on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZTLFYWHOCBDG5ECVRMFIGI2PYY.JPG "A van used to advertise for the Sandal Factory on Fort Myers Beach is destroyed on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4NH426ZDPZFLPLFUY4KIB3GPDI.JPG "Remnants of damaged homes and flooded vehicles on Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/V5U6C436ERHRDANR6PQFL6MJOE.JPG "A couple leaves Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/B2C52KAERJGZTN4PXJQSUEZQEY.JPG "Matthew Stohr salvages bottles of vodka from an eddy of containers that settled off the west end of a bridge into Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/GXQKP26O3RFJFCCDKUA3CXTFMY.JPG "Jay Kimble, 48, left, and Cheryl Summers, 48, prepare to leave Fort Myers Beach on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. The couple, who are engaged, rode the storm out on the beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/MUOCZ7QJJRBH5PNMZL3HRVSMTM.jpg "Brianna Renas, 17, inspects a fallen palm tree outside her home along Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral after riding out Hurricane Ian with her family Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/3JCNHGFISFBXXBTYXBGQXWVJVE.JPG "Aerial view of sand inundation caused by storm surge from Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/PES35LCLQBBY5LNENYZBM5KKHI.JPG "Residents get their first look at devastation caused by Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JTZHINBNWRCRXCIS24FSIEWKJE.JPG "Vehicles thrown into a canal by Hurricane Ian are seen on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/LU52JTHBAJEOXK3EWXYQWZDP2I.JPG "Debris is seen on the coast as residents that rode out the storm are getting their first looks at the devastating damage from Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/WUKTNZZWSFAWFOTQZOPIQN2WZY.JPG "Julie Walton hugs her granddaughter Nyah VanHoose in front of the house where they rode out Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TETIYWYM6BC5BD5QYBQCAMNUUM.JPG "A Rolls Royce is seen among the debris as storm surge from Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 in Bonita Beach.")
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