Drone footage shows aftermath of Hurricane Ian at Fort Myers Beach

Multiple homes and businesses at Fort Myers Beach sustained severe damage during Hurricane Ian. A day after the storm, here's what the aftermath to the Florida community looked like from a drone.

[becomingabetterhuman.]

I spent a good part of my childhood living on Fort Myers Beach, riding my BMX bike with my friends all around the island. This is so sad 😭...

[robertl]

What people don't realize is just how long it takes to rebuild and recover. The stream of Tax Revenue in each of these destroyed communities has just evaporated for at least the next three years. Schools are damaged or destroyed and that disrupts every child. People just lost homes, vehicles, businesses, and their jobs. Though people are strong and many will rebuild, it's going to take a lot of time. For those who return to nothing, they now face years of nightmares/night-terrors, insomnia, anxiety, guilt, and incredible bouts of stress, all of which are the effects of severe trauma ...of PTSD.
I live in Rockport, Texas. We had a Category 4 Hurricane (Harvey) destroy this city 5 years ago, in 2017. Today, life is pretty close to being back to normal, or as normal as can be expected. I pray that these people can reassemble and hold themselves together as they decide what to do next.

[RighteousToast]

I used to live in Cape Coral and visit this area. Seeing all of these old places I would go and eat and shop and spend time at just gone, the whole buildings just missing, is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to everyone living in the area and I hope they can rebuild

[the-ikrc]

As a person who is rarely affected by media (9/11 being the last time I was truly affected) - this breaks my already broken heart and while I need to pray more for myself and work on my own relationship with the Lord, I am praying for each and everyone who went through this tragic, tragic time. I would love to be able to help if I could either in clean up or somehow supporting those that need it. I know that I am a faceless person online with a name up name but this hurts to see so I pray that Christ lays His love and blessings on everyone who lost their homes, businesses, possessions and most so those who lost their lives.

[maurjoy]

Florida was never made to become a major metropolitan state. If you study the geography, the entire southern peninsula is a marsh, and an important one. One of its functions was as a storm barrier which we have now paved over. It is not far above sea level making storm surges the norm. We are foolish beings as we always mourn over wisdom ignored and its devastating consequences.

[RobMathMiller]

God bless Ft Myers Beach. My heart is breaking for your beautiful town. So many memorable vacations spent there. God be with you during this difficult time.

[mchapman]

There is one person in our extended family missing in Fort Meyers. 78 year old female who refused to leave her home…..on the canal.
We’re hoping she will be found OK.

[mike]

Argh I ate at the restaurant by the entrance to the pier a couple years ago. Nothing left but the floor. This is a great video. High resolution makes it so clear.

[teddj]

Love from south africa.. hope that all families are still intact and safe and warm.. all the rest can be rebuilt but our families can't be replaced ❤

[HowToHaveFunOutdoors]

Crazy damage. Very Sad. We hope most people evacuated. Alice and I hearts goes out for all that are suffering.

[j.vinton]

My Uncle and my grown niece and nephew live in Ft Myer. We haven’t spoken in a while; I hope they made it out ok.

[godscommandmentsaretruthis]

I was just there 7 months ago. I was planning on going down there again in a few weeks. I just can't believe what I'm seeing.

[jenniferrapacon]

Oh wow! Heartbreaking! Prayers for all Floridians.

[mrkind]

Earth will swallow us whole. She will devour everything we ever loved. But it's not her fault. 😕

[eternal_nomad]

I live in Port Charlotte, Florida and was hit by this hurricane. I personally hope that they don't rebuild in these areas that are so close to the water. There should be only buildings more inland in this state. Too dangerous to have it by the water.

[conanthedestroyer]

There needs to be more legislation for 1. Insurance companies to insure fairly, and 2) build codes requirements and restrictions in flood zones. If you're going to build hotels and houses on the flat beach like that. What else do you expect when a hurricane comes. Anywhere on the beach in FL and the Atlantic up to NC and on the gulf coast can get hit by a hurricane. I am surprised if any of these hotels or houses are insured anymore. State farm stopped all new insurance requests anywhere near the beach in Mississippi, and now there is a named storm clause for all houses in the US.

[vietnamvet]

Been in the Gunshine State for 10 years escaping NY, live close enough to the beach to do a drive by 10-15 minutes, but to live right on it, forgetabout it!

[longxiao]

Can't wrap my head around why so many retired seniors would want to live here...

[OGJeff]

So many of these places were just people's 2nd and 3rd vacation homes. The true locals are the ones that get hurt... the majority could barely care past the fact that their revenue stream is now cut off.

[kahl]

I've noticed in a lot of these aftermath videos that there are many homes that were on raised foundations that are no longer there, as if they were completely destroyed. Someone should investigate this because the homeowners probably paid a premium for those houses thinking they were cat5 proof. It should be investigated so that the companies constructing these raised foundations aren't taking shortcuts or selling false advertising. I believe these raised foundations will be a vital tool in making long-lasting ocean side houses in Florida, but if they're built by scammers, then people will be less likely to use them. I hope Fort Myers makes a speedy recovery from this tragic event!