Watch: Dramatic videos emerge as Hurricane Ian pummels Florida
Hurricane Ian struck Florida on Wednesday as a powerful Category 4 storm with massive storm surge, devastating winds, and excessive rains.
"The storm put Fort Myers directly in its path after straying eastward from initial forecasts and is currently a Category 4 hurricane. The National Hurricane Center forecasts a life-threatening 12-to-16-foot storm surge from Engelwood to Bonita Beach," the Fort Myers News-Press reported.
On Facebook, the Naples Fire-Rescue Department posted a video of a water rescue outside a flooded firehouse.
The video shows multiple first responders escorting a woman through chest-deep water.
Firefighterrs had to push an engine out of the flooded station.
Meteorologist Kaitlan Wright posted video from a multi-story building in Fort Myers showing widespread devastation, with boats between flooded buildings and what appears to be multiple feet of standing water.
\u201cHouses are destroyed and some are floating away as Ian's eyewall hammers southwest Florida. This is video from Fort Myers Beach, Florida off Estero Blvd by Loni Architects\u201d— Kaitlin Wright (@Kaitlin Wright) 1664389115
Weather Channel meteorologist Mike Bettes posted video of a camera six feet off the ground in Fort Myers.
\u201cHere is what this view typically looks like\u201d— Mike Bettes (@Mike Bettes) 1664387202
Hurricane tracker Mark Sudduth also posted video from Fort Myers:
\u201cLocal LTE network struggling as major hurricane Ian moves through but this is how Ft Myers looks right now from our remote cam. \n\n@foxweather\u201d— Mark Sudduth (@Mark Sudduth) 1664394725
Spectrum News reporter Zach Covey warned survivors against being in the water.
\u201cBREAKING | Hurricane #Ian brings catastrophic storm surge to Naples, Florida with water moving into houses. Social media channels show residents SWIMMING in the surge in their houses. \n\nDO NOT DO THIS. You don't know what may be in this water, including chemicals!\u201d— Zach Covey (@Zach Covey) 1664392996