Hurricane Ian has left a path of destruction in its wake in southwest Florida, and the wounds from the storm are still being discovered.
Rescue efforts are underway, and authorities are gearing up to clean the devastation from the behemoth as remnants from the storm traverse up Florida’s east coast near Georgia and potentially the Carolinas.
WATCH: DESANTIS CALLS HURRICANE IAN DESTRUCTION ‘A 500-YEAR FLOOD EVENT’
Here are some harrowing photos and videos from the monstrous storm.
As residents of Florida grapple with the fallout from the storm, a number of good Samaritans rose to the occasion and were caught on video rescuing their neighbors from perilous situations brought on by Ian’s powerful devastation.
For example, a handful of Floridians were seen braving waste-deep water to rescue an elderly man stranded in a vehicle in a video shared on Twitter.
Wow. Take a look as good samaritans rescue man stranded in a vehicle in extreme flood waters in Bonita Springs, FL.
We’re starting to see the goodness coming out of Hurricane Ian. Prayers for my friends in SWFL. #FloridaStrong 🙏🏽
📹: Collier County Cowboys / Storyful pic.twitter.com/nE5UTY4WgW
— John-Carlos Estrada (@Mr_JCE) September 29, 2022
Video shared by the Naples Fire-Rescue Department showed a first responder pulling a woman who was seemingly trapped in a vehicle submerged under water.
At one point, a cameraman put down his gear and sprang into action to assist a family afflicted by the hurricane.
During the brunt of the storm, footage swirled on social media of colossal flooding brought on by the storm. Ian made landfall Wednesday and has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, though experts fear it could soon regain steam and pose risks to Georgia and the Carolinas.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed the storm was “basically a 500-year flood event.” Photos and videos shared across social media showed parts of Florida drowning in large amounts of water during the thick of the torrential downpour and fearsome winds.
Here is the difference that just a few hours can make with storm surge. Water has been rising steadily as Ian churns – update from my mom on Marco Island, Florida. First photo around 9 a.m., second video just now pic.twitter.com/IdlhPKmTfZ
— Zachary Halaschak (@zhalaschak) September 28, 2022
*RARE* first person view of storm surge. This camera is 6 feet off the ground on Estero Blvd in Fort Myers Beach, FL. Not sure how much longer it keeps working. You’ll see it live only on @weatherchannel #Ian pic.twitter.com/WwHtvgVxjY
— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) September 28, 2022
Holy crap! Hit by flying tree branch pic.twitter.com/lubWULMT6B
— Daniel Chaitin (@danielchaitin7) September 28, 2022
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
As officials continue to monitor the remnants of the storm, President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will remain in “continued close coordination” to navigate the storm’s aftermath, according to the White House.
Hurricane warnings have been issued for coastal regions in South Carolina.
