Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers Beach Raw Drone Extensive Damage Survey - 10/1/2022

This is incredible. I’m here in Naples and the severity of this is just setting in. This was destruction like we’ve never seen before.

For you that don’t know Fort Myers Beach and Fort Myers are many miles apart and are 2 different cities. This is Fort Myers Beach.

To think once a thriving community in a beautiful area and now in ruins! Prayers out to those in Fort Myers and other areas where Ian struck havoc.

Truly heartbreaking. Rip to all the ones who’ve lost their lives.

Lee County is never going to look the same. It's crazy to see the place you grew up and lived changed forever

I heard about a very old couple in their 80s, they didnt know where to go for safety, because they did not have a Computer or internet access. They survived by wearing life vests in their home, standing on a pool table, the water reached to their chins. Its heartbreaking when people are alone and have nobody to help them.

The sad thing is so many people just relocated to Florida and weren’t prepared for this. I know people who’ve lived in Florida for decades and even though it’s tragic, it’s easier for them to deal with because they know what to expect. My prayers for those with missing loved ones.

When one realizes the population of Fort myers was 80,505 in 2020 and now looking at the loss of homes and businesses one begins to realize the loss to so many people in just one area hit and that is not all the rest of florida coast. My heart is sad.

I feel so much for these people. I watched hurricanes during my life and the aftermath on TV.. I lost everything I owned in Harvey … I mean everything .. It’s hard but you can recover … little by little you get gains that help rebuild the life and community you once had and maybe or probably make it stronger.. I always felt bad for those whilst watching it on TV … when you actually go through it and come home or what you thought would still be home and everything is gone…

Early this morning I drove south on 75 and the interstate was closed near englewood because the engineers had to test the structural integrity and clear them before they allowed anyone to pass over. What I saw was a complete war zone, vehicle’s stranded in the middle of the road, no electricity, trees down everywhere, every commercial plaza sustained damage I even saw dead bodies. That was a hurricane for the record books. I saw many many trucks and search crews from Broward county crossing alligator alley in a fleet like a convoy with lights on and it brought a tear to my eyes, it was breathtaking to witness

I lived in FM for many years and never saw anything like this. My family sat in a restaurant under the bridge after my wife’s funeral service and told Oma stories. She’s gone, the restaurant is gone but the memories will never be gone. God bless Fort Myers Beach. It will never be the same. I loved her!

Being from Minnesota, I can’t imagine what this was like. No matter how many videos I watch, my mind just can’t grasp it. Their lives are changed. It must have been absolutely terrifying. RIP to those lost. I’ll take out tornadoes and blizzard any day. I wish I could come down and help. Bless all of you

I keep seeing the same Ft Myers beach footage, but I wish they'd do drones in Cape Coral areas. Hard getting info from around there.

This video is the best seen thus far of the devastation caused by Ian to the Ft. Myers Beach area surrounding Times Square. Our family has been visiting this beautiful area for decades, and many of the shops and restaurants we frequented - as well as homes we've rented - are either severely damaged or gone. To see it from the drone in the sky makes me want to cry, but I cannot imagine how those who live there and work there will recover. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.

My heart is broken! My favorite part of Florida. It's hard for me to grasp the Destruction of this hurricane. I am praying for the people of Fort Myers.

No words for my neighbors south. I’m right outside of St. Petersburg on an island. I’ve been through a storm and will never stay again. I can see that many folks thought they were in the clear down there and didn’t pay attention to the abrupt turn. I don’t watch a lot of tv myself and think the folks who stayed, many did not realize what was about to happen to them. My neighbor and I still deal with the storm we dealt with and with that brings on a fear that’s really hard to deal with in watching. So many questions and wondering how to move forward. Decisions which are not easy.

What is so sad is that these people really didn’t have any notice. I am in Tampa and we started preparing on Friday. But these people didn’t think it was going to hit them until about one day before. Maybe two days at the most. That’s not very much time to get your boat out of there and get your house packed up

I was down there today. Among the Ruins of the Island I called home. Home.. that was filled to the ceiling with water. Home that I pulled 4 items out of worth the salvage. 2 jobs I worked now gone. What's most frustrating is the gawkers that don't belong there. Just to take their photos and videos. Those that make the people that live their have to wait for idiots with phones in their face. Take this video for what it is if you don't live here. Please stay off our Islands if you aren't there to help. We have nothing for you. Our homes are destroyed. We don't want tourists. Come to help or don't come at all.

My heart goes out to the children and elderly who were not able to leave. And lost their lives .

We're out here. Was there cleaning up that restaurant towards the beginning on the right. It's like a warzone out there. There's so many videos and pictures, but when you're there, on the ground, there's no words. It's absolutely gut wrenching. We'll be back and better than before.