Nearly 2 million homes and businesses across Florida remained without power after hurricane Ian tore through the state.
It’s being called one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the US. Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday morning after it slammed into Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday afternoon, bringing winds of 150 mph and a life-threatening storm surge. Roads were completely underwater with cars floating down the streets.
Homes were torn apart-some stripped of their roofs, and littered with once-proud palm trees torn up by the roots. Many downtown stores were boarded up, while others were reduced to splinters. And at the few gas stations that had reopened, long lines of motorists waited to fill up.
We also want to thank field messengers Paul and Nancy for sending in these images. You can see the palm trees in the background. The devastation is widespread, no doubt. But this hurricane also did something very unusual. Residents on the gulf coast say the hurricane sucked out millions of gallons of water- like a tsunami.