One resident told News-Press that after 20 years living in Fort Myers, he had never seen a storm like this.
Hurricane Ian pummeled Florida hitting the southwestern portion of the state at nearly Category 5 strength with sustained wind speeds of 150 miles per hour.
The storm brought a catastrophic storm surge that was life-threatening at 12-16 feet as forecasts predicted.
Joe Orlandini said he has lived in Fort Myers for 20 years.
Orlandini said, “We actually left for Charley, but I stayed for Irma."
Powerful winds and flooding cause a power line in Naples to burst into flames:
He said, “This is way worse. Irma was nothing compared to this. Absolutely nothing.”
As NPR reported, Ian's eyewall reached Sanibel and Captiva islands, west of Fort Myers, around noon on Wednesday.
A webcam from the Pink Shell Beach Resortand Marina showed palm trees bending as powerful winds barreled through.
The furniture around the resort area was tossed by storm surge waves.
