HURRICANE IAN - A Story of Survival

On September 28th, 2022 the deadliest hurricane since 1932 struck Southwest, Florida. Ian made landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane bringing with it a 15ft+ storm surge into Fort Myers Beach, Florida. While we documented the 150+ mph winds to the North the surge probe Max Olson and I left captured a remarkable story of survival.

This is the story of Tod and Anette. Two residents of Fort Myers Beach who were swept away from their home and hung on for dear life as debris, waves, and powerful winds slammed into them before carrying them across the canal. Just 24 hours after feeling terrible about ourselves not knowing they were inside before publishing the original video. We got to shake their hands and a new friendship was born.

Tod and Anette lost everything. We have the power to help them out. Please consider donating to their GoFundMe and help get them back on their feet.

[lhyork]

The woman in the red house with the dogs ….she AMAZED ME …SHE IS MY HERO saving herself and those dogs until her boyfriend showed up. God bless your family. You kept those babies alive …..🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🤗🤗🤗

[NefraJaxxia]

My husband and I lived on Matlacha when Ian hit. We didn't get out in time because we couldn't find the cat. We managed to get trapped outside in the surge with no protection. A neighbor pulled a boat to where we were when the eye wall passed and got us to his place. I think the angels we had on us were the same as those around that family and their dogs. No worries, we now live in Iowa with the cat we couldn't find; my husband went back for her, and we're doing good. God Bless to that family on Fort Myers Beach and everyone else that survived.

[ArthurVoikos-nihq]

I won't forget the ones we lost💜 but I'm so happy for all of us that survived we went for a ride of a life time

[jamesm]

You guys captured some of the best footage of storm surge I’ve ever seen. It displayed perfectly the power and danger of a hurricane, that so many, even here in Florida, completely underestimate. Here in St Petersburg, we were for a time, in the forecasted bullseye of Hurricanes Charley, Irma, and Ian. Those storms either missed us, or at worst delivered just a glancing blow. That had been the case for many years down in Fort Myers Beach too, people become complacent over the years, they stayed, and tragically many of them died. I think anyone who lives in a hurricane evacuation zone should see your video; it will save lives.

[haleyhawn]

First time seeing Ian from someone's view besides my own sadly, how the pain and fear still so alive all these months later. I hope all my fellow neighbors, community, and survivors are doing well on their journey to healing. Reading comments has made me realize I don't need carry the pain alone anymore

[ouvvtsw]

I lived on Bay Beach Lane on the south side of FMB. Walked the island the day after and knew our entire life had changed. We didn't just lose our home...we lost our entire community and way of life. Thanks for posting.

[carmine_]

That family story is crazy.. imagine seeing your neighbors house floating next to yours and basically a freaking ocean in your front lawn.. inane.. i did not finish the video yet but i hope the dogs made it also and good thing they got prepared and was ready, it probably saved them

Incredible story man!!! I can bet some ppl would have just left the dogs behind to make sure they save themselves (which those type of ppl are terrible i know it definitely happens) but you guys are heros man and have REAL heart!!!! Smart thinking with the life vest and everything they did

[lhyork]

We moved to Cape Coral in 2021…was amazed at how much our neighbors helped us prepare and we helped others. After the storm everyone worked together…never saw that in New York….we still love it here …and we were heart broken for those who lost so much …ppl rebuilding …the human spirit at its best ….❤

[CynthiaCedergren]

I live on the eastern side of Florida, and the mixture of emotions is something we all felt. Gratitude it isn't us, but heartbroken that it's our neighbors to the west. I've went outside during Irma (Cat1) and the wind steals your breath and the energy is inredible. I cannot begin to imagine what this couple and their dogs went through. Their determination to stay alive is incredible.. Thank you for this video; it gives us a real time view into just how bad Ian was.

[USMCSDI]

I pray we NEVER see on like Ian again.... completely and utter DEVASTATING

[fytucdw]

OMG!!! The images of that storm surge got me terrified and in awe at the same time. Thank God the people in that red house lived!! And you guys also!!

[Julia-jwnm]

Thank you for speaking about Englewood! It was probably one of the hardest hit areas for wind and BARELY got any mention in the news.

[BufordTGleason]

The images before the storm are haunting, it’s like a lost world

[martinavaslovik]

I rode out Ian at home in Cape Coral, and it was one hairy experience. Much worse than Irma was, and the water was up to my house before it stopped rising. The street was a rapids full of wreckage going by fast. Power went out just after 4:00 and was out for 9 days. I came through it with very little damage, but I know some who lost everything in it. The good Lord was watching over me in that one.

[HopeOnTheHorizonPodcast]

okay... so I found you from the Mississippi tornado March 2023, but this, this documentary is the best reason that NO ONE should stay with their house in a hurricane. We used to live in Galveston. While we lived there, I educated my children about why we don't stay with a house. We lived there in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. We had moved there to rebuild houses (we own a construction company). So many houses were damaged and so many houses had never tasted the effects of a devastating hurricane and we heard so many stories. But your video highlights WHY you don't stay with a house. Thank you for a job well done.

[travelingdude]

I evacuated at 5am the day of the hurricane. The whole day before CCPD was driving through my neighborhood telling us to leave. 3 of my neighbors stayed and said it was the worst hurricane ever and they will never stay again. There are still 2 houses with tarped roofs on my street almost 2 years later. Took me almost a year to repair my house with NO help from anyone or any agency except my homeowners/hurricane insurance. My home is now for sale and I am leaving SWFL for good

[DawnWebb]

Thank you for making this. I live 4 miles inland and rode out the storm. But I lost my business of 11 years on Fort Myers Beach. This whole thing has been heartbreaking on so many levels.

[brandypearlgurl]

My family and I were also on fmb during hurricane Ian. I’m so glad this couple and their dogs are okay. It was the most intense thing I’ve ever been through. We were able to have some neighbors kayak over since our house was up high. Prayers for fmb. ❤️‍🩹Great doc!

[liadelrio]

My whole immediate family lives here in Ft. Myers, there's 4 houses between us and we all rode out the storm. The news was telling us it was a Cat 3, and I've lived in FL all my life so I didn't really think about evacuating. Me and my stepbrother live more inland, nowhere near water, so both of us had minimal damage. My stepsister is in Cape Coral, she had pretty bad roof damage and all her well equipment was gone. My mother is the one that got hit the worst. She lives very close to the water, not the beach but a few canals. She called me mid hurricane yelling that they had to flee the house because the water was inches away from the front door. They were able to make it safe to my stepbrother's house. The next day she told me 'everything is gone!'. I was honestly expecting to find out the house was just gone. That wasn't the case, it was still there, but everything inside was ruined. The storm surge was about 5 feet, you could see the line of water was halfway up the walls. The floor was caked in mud, all the furniture was scattered around and filthy, the bedrooms were disasters. She lost a lot of things she had collected over the years, but at least the house itself was still standing. We've been through plenty of hurricanes but we've never been as impacted as we were after Ian.

[donaldbeetyjrii]

Moved to fort Myers 2 years ago. Lived here years ago. Experienced a few hurricanes. But nothing like IAN. That was brutal and we lost a lot of people here. It was one for the records. Thanks for sharing what it was like here.