Ian tosses boats around like ‘Tinkertoys’ at Fort Myers marina
A resident of Fort Myers said he hunkered down in his apartment in a 33-story high-rise and watched the fury of Ian rip a nearby marina to shreds.
Boats tossed and turned from Hurricane Ian's storm surge in Fort Myers
FOX Weather's Robert Ray spoke to Fort Myers resident Bob Benham, who says this was the strongest weather he has ever seen.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Images of the destruction wrought by the ferocious winds of former Hurricane Ian are being revealed Thursday as residents who opted to stay venture outside.
Ian was a monstrous Category 4 storm with 150-mph winds when it came ashore on Cayo Costa about 3 p.m. Wednesday. About 90 minues later, the hurricane made a second U.S. landfall – this time just south of Punta Gorda with 145-mph winds.
FOX Weather correspondent Robert Ray reported live from a marina on the shores of Fort Myers, one of the hardest hit areas in Florida, saying concrete docks had been split in two.
Hurricane Ian leaves boats piled up in Fort Myers
Boats are seen piled up in Fort Myers Harbour Marina following Hurricane Ian. (Video: Timothy_S_Dean via Storyful)
"Just a ridiculous amount of destruction," Ray said.
HURRICANE IAN HAS 256 TIMES THE STORM DAMAGE POTENTIAL AS A CATEGORY 1 HURRICANE
Bob Benham said he witnessed the marina being ripped to shreds from his apartment in a nearby 33-story high-rise where he rode out the storm.
"It was the strongest weather I’ve ever seen," Benham said.
According to Benham, he noticed the winds switch directions about 3 p.m. and begin blowing on shore. That was when the destruction started.
"The docks started weaving … and then they started separating, and boats were tied to the docks, they didn’t separate from the docks, and they all started to just piling up like Tinkertoys," Benham said. "It was pretty amazing."
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Image 1 of 5A man takes photos of boats damaged by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP)
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Image 2 of 5Boat are partially submerged at a marina in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP)
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Image 3 of 5Boats are left stranded on the shore in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022. (JOSEPH AGCAOILI/AFP)
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Image 4 of 5Boats are left stranded on the shore in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022. (JOSEPH AGCAOILI/AFP)
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Image 5 of 5A boat is left stranded on the shore in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on September 29, 2022. (GIORGIO VIERA/AFP)
Benham said the tremendous damage was revealed at daybreak.
"We got up this morning, and there were no docks left," Benham said.
Rescue efforts are underway across Florida. Helicopters are being used in places where damaged roads are making it difficult to reach those stranded by the storm.
At least two deaths, believed to be related to Hurricane Ian, have been reported in the state, according to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
More than 2 million power outages have been reported across Florida.