Hurricane Ian batters Florida's Gulf Coast with catastrophic fury

A flooded street is seen in downtown as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestern Florida, in Fort Myers, Fmore

Fallen trees and debris are seen in a street in downtown as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestern Florimore

People walk in a hallway using a flashlight during a power outage as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestmore

A flooded street is seen downtown as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestern Florida, in Fort Myers, Flormore

A fallen traffic light is seen in a street as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestern Florida, in Fort Mymore

Fallen trees and debris are seen in a parking lot as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestern Florida, in more

A flooded street is seen downtown as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in southwestern Florida, in Fort Myers, Flormore

People gather at Key West pier as Hurricane Ian approaches, September 27, 2022. Gwen Filosa/via Reuters

Local residents walk on sand while water is being blown out of Tampa Bay ahead of Hurricane Ian in Tampa, Septmore

The saline of Tampa Bay is seen ahead of Hurricane Ian, September 28. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

High surf hits the beaches before dawn at the Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier in Brevard, September 28.  Malcolmmore

Downed palm fronds collect on an empty downtown intersection as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida’s Gulf Coast more

Gusts from Hurricane Ian begin to knock down small trees and palm fronds in a hotel parking lot in Sarasota, Smore

A package of sandwich buns sits on empty shelves at a grocery store in Tampa, September 27. REUTERS/Shannon Stmore

A car is seen on Caloosahatchee Bridge ahead of Hurricane Ian, in Fort Myers, September 28. REUTERS/Marco Bellmore

A car, filled up with water and supplies, sits outside a boarded-up trailer home in Clearwater, September 27. more

A man runs by a boarded up storefront in the downtown area of Tampa, September 27. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Ariana Dhall, 8, fills sandbags next to her sister Alicia Dhall, 18, at the Al Barnes Park in Tampa, Septembermore

A TV crew broadcast from the beach at Fort Myers, September 28. REUTERS/Marco Bello

A woman holding a baby enters a shelter for evacuees at Lockhart Elementary school in Tampa, September 27. more

Men work boarding up a shop window in Port Charlotte, September 27. REUTERS/Marco Bello

A hurricane evacuation route in Punta Gorda, September 27. REUTERS/Marco Bello

People attempt to weatherproof a home with cardboard in Tampa, September 28. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Motorists queue up at a gas station in Port Charlotte, September 27. REUTERS/Marco Bello

A dry wrapped U.S. postal service mailbox in Sarasota, September  28. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

Sandbags sit outside doors in the beachside community of Indian Shores, September 27. REUTERS/Shannon Stapletomore

Local residents fill sandbags at the Himes Avenue Complex in Tampa, September 26. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

A sign limiting bottled water purchases hangs on an on empty shelf in a grocery store in Tampa, September 27. more

The Fort Myers Fishing Pier is seen from a shop by the beach ahead of Hurricane Ian, September 28. REUTERS/Marmore

Women walk by a boarded up home in the beachside community of Indian Shores, September 27. REUTERS/Shannon Stamore

People attempt to storm-proof a home in the beachside community of Indian Shores, September 27. REUTERS/Shanmore

Rain pours over Sacred Heart Catholic Church in downtown Tampa, September 27. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton