Dramatic before and after images show scale of Hurricane Ian’s destruction

US News

Hurricane Ian has ripped through southwestern Florida, causing mass flooding, destroying thousands of homes and leaving an estimated two million people without power.

The storm is one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States, with sustained winds at almost 150mph, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Before and after images of the affected areas demonstrate the scale of the destruction.

Storm ‘doing a number’ on Florida – Hurricane Ian live updates

You Might Like

1. Estero Island

These screenshots are from videos filmed facing northwest on the main road of Estero Island, a resort area just south of Fort Myers city.

A huge storm surge has caused mass flooding across southwestern Florida, including at this  seaside location on Estero Island. Pic:loniarchitects via Instagram
Image:
A huge storm surge has caused mass flooding across southwestern Florida, including at this seaside location on Estero Island. Pic: loniarchitects via Instagram

The image on the left was shared on Instagram just as the storm began to hit. In it, there is flooding in the road but the swimming pool and parking area remain untouched.

But in the right-hand shot, posted two hours after, the pool and car park are completely submerged. Cars also appear to float in the deluge.

In the image on the left, the car park is clear but it is completely submerged in the image shared just two hours later. Pic: loniarchitects via Instagram
Image:
In the image on the left, the car park is clear but it is completely submerged in the image shared just two hours later. Pic: loniarchitects via Instagram

A second comparison shows the extent of the flooding in the nearby car park more clearly.

2. Sanibel Island

This time-lapse footage shows a similar scene on Sanibel Island, a few miles to the west.

It was captured early yesterday afternoon by a traffic camera located on the island’s Periwinkle Way. Within 30 minutes, the street was engulfed by rising floodwaters, despite being nearly a mile inland.

3. Naples Pier

The coastal city of Naples, which is around 40 miles to the south, has also been severely affected.

This webcam captured the scene at the beach by Naples Pier after the hurricane hit.

Slide the marker across the image below to see what the beach looked like yesterday compared to three days ago.

4. Naples Fire and Rescue Headquarters

The left-hand image, taken from a video shared by the Naples Fire Department, show the situation in the city itself.

High floodwaters can be seen outside this fire department building in the city of Naples. Pic: Naples Fire-Rescue Department
Image:
High floodwaters can be seen outside this fire department building in the city of Naples. Pic: Naples Fire-Rescue Department

The bushes just outside the building are almost entirely submerged in several feet of water.

In another screengrab, we can see that the red water pipes situated to the left of the vehicle entranceway are also underwater.

The area outside the fire department building is under several feet of water. Pic: Naples Fire-Rescue Department
Image:
The area outside the fire department building is under several feet of water. Pic: Naples Fire-Rescue Department

5. Park Shore Drive, Naples

Another video captured by Naples Fire and Rescue shows the rescue of a driver trapped inside their car due to rising floodwater.

The entire road is completely flooded, trapping a driver inside their car. Pic: Naples Fire Rescue Department
Image:
The entire road is completely flooded, trapping a driver inside their car. Pic: Naples Fire Rescue Department

The picture on the right, taken from Google Maps imagery captured in June, demonstrates the scale of the storm surge.

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

Why data journalism matters to Sky News

Articles You May Like

Quick Fix
West Virginia Middle School Track Competitors ‘Step Out’ to Protest Transgender Runner
First on MRC: Soros-Funded Groups Created Google Anti-Israel Demonstration
Tucker Carlson says UFOs are ‘spiritual beings,’ politicians blackmailed by ‘weird sex lives,’ tells Joe Rogan about eating magic mushrooms
Boy, 10, admits to shooting and killing man in his sleep at trailer park

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *