I, as well grew up there and have memories of riding my bike and hanging out on the pier. It appears in this video the cottages we lived in are now gone. So heartbreaking.
I lived on Seminole way by mid island car wash in 2015 and 16 . I always rode my long board, BMX, and mountain bike around the island. I have so many good memories on this island with my mom and she just passed away this year in July.❤ The Beach has such a special place in my heart. This is very devastating to see and I hope they fix the island soon 🙏💯
I used to live in Cape Coral and visit this area. Seeing all of these old places I would go and eat and shop and spend time at just gone, the whole buildings just missing, is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to everyone living in the area and I hope they can rebuild
As a person who is rarely affected by media (9/11 being the last time I was truly affected) - this breaks my already broken heart and while I need to pray more for myself and work on my own relationship with the Lord, I am praying for each and everyone who went through this tragic, tragic time. I would love to be able to help if I could either in clean up or somehow supporting those that need it. I know that I am a faceless person online with a name up name but this hurts to see so I pray that Christ lays His love and blessings on everyone who lost their homes, businesses, possessions and most so those who lost their lives.
What people don't realize is just how long it takes to rebuild and recover. The stream of Tax Revenue in each of these destroyed communities has just evaporated for at least the next three years. Schools are damaged or destroyed and that disrupts every child. People just lost homes, vehicles, businesses, and their jobs. Though people are strong and many will rebuild, it's going to take a lot of time. For those who return to nothing, they now face years of nightmares/night-terrors, insomnia, anxiety, guilt, and incredible bouts of stress, all of which are the effects of severe trauma ...of PTSD. I live in Rockport, Texas. We had a Category 4 Hurricane (Harvey) destroy this city 5 years ago, in 2017. Today, life is pretty close to being back to normal, or as normal as can be expected. I pray that these people can reassemble and hold themselves together as they decide what to do next.
We do understand it. We see it every few years. Then act like it's the first time all over again. Same with California/Wildfire management. People choose to live in cone of uncertainty.
A lot of the newcomers will go back to Ohio or wherever and a flock of hurricane newbies will buy up what's left standing for cheap, cheap, cheap! This is an opportunity to make some good real estate deals. As a native Floridian, my advise don't build on the water. Live several miles inland or as my family always did in St. Petersburg, live in a home that is 40 feet above sea level out of the flood zone to where no flood insurance is necessary. Building on a barrier island is insane.
Its completely understandable however this is not Florida's 1st or last Hurricane. This has happened many times...all you can do is prepare (as they have historically) and deal with it. These are certainly the risk as many have built their home based off concrete. It can happen again and again this year-We just have to refrain from politicizing it so we can all move on.
I read in another post.. that in Miami, any new construction of homes are mostly built out of concrete... Maybe that would be the way to go if you want to live in Hurricane prone areas?
God bless Ft Myers Beach. My heart is breaking for your beautiful town. So many memorable vacations spent there. God be with you during this difficult time.
excuse me, your imaginary friend is once again no where to be found. stop talking like this; so insulting and idiot to say this to people that are suffering, that in the face of the EVIDENCE, your imaginary can do something now?
@@bladerunner8832 God is not a modern day helicopter parent that constantly intervenes to spoil his children and prevent them from suffering. WE cause these events through out bad choices, our evil, and our selfishness. We are free beings who were made to take responsibility for our actions, and we were made for hard things. I personally would not follow a “God” who was a nanny state liberal who spoiled his children.
There is one person in our extended family missing in Fort Meyers. 78 year old female who refused to leave her home…..on the canal. We’re hoping she will be found OK.
The Coast Guard had some of their shallow water rescue boats as well as their elite rescue swimmers in Lee County; some people were using their personal boats to help victims too. Hopefully she was rescued. Wow, what a horrible situation though.
@@KreemieNewgatt - Some neighbors said she did evacuate at the last minute. We are hoping she’s in a shelter, pets too. 🤞🙏🏻 She had a dog and three cats she wouldn’t leave.
@Dee Santer - I learned last evening she was found, alive with her pets. Her son-in-law……my nephew…..got a boat with his friend and went searching. He found her house under water up to the second level. She was in the second level in a foot of water. She was ok, traumatized but ok. She lost everything but she’s financially well off, so she’ll recover. She still says she’ll never evacuate if it ever happens again. UGH! Sadly, there were others not so lucky. My nephew and his friend searched other houses there but all apparently evacuated.
I pray this community to have the common sense to not rebuild and move away. Constructing houses for living should be forbidden there. Sea levels are rising and hurricanes are getting morecommon and severe. If you rebuild this it will just get wrecked again 15 years.
So heartbreaking beyond words 😢😭💔. Sending my Prayers may God comfort you all the victims of hurricane Ian in this tough times. I can't help financially but through prayers I believe God moves to show His compassion to all of you Floridians.🙏🙏🙏
God send the storm to show what he thinks of Trump loving people. No petty from me..And no, god is not going to comfort anyone after destroying Florida, what would be the point of that. Can't wait to see Trump rolling up his sleeves and help with the clean up.
@@3goldfinger kilo yankee sierra, you sierra tango uniform papa india delta foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india november golf bravo india tango charlie hotel
sending your "prayers"? is that by boat, helicopter? car? how should they receive these "prayers" and what should they do with them once they get them? then you say "gawd" moves to show "its" compassion? what does this even mean? your imaginary friend is once again NO WHERE to be found? according to you and the belief system you were brainwashed with, your imaginary friend is "all powerful", "all knowing". now, this "thing" could have not created a devastating hurricane to begin with or just pushed it out into the ocean. but your imaginary friend lets it go right over a state decimating their land and killing some of them, and then "shows compassion" once its all over? do you even realize the words you say and how insulting it is to the people who are suffering? the non sensical blabbering??
Argh I ate at the restaurant by the entrance to the pier a couple years ago. Nothing left but the floor. This is a great video. High resolution makes it so clear.
A sad situation. The way of life as they knew now GONE. Yes rebuilding shall be long and tedious. Being displaced and having your world turned upside down can trigger much emotional pain. May all of those who been affected by this Storm draw together, family, friends , the whole community and first support and strengthen each other. Focus on ways to build together. Know things have changed. Try to keep together. Will say also, there is A WARNING ⚠️ for us all in this situation. We need to WAKE UP FIND THE 🧭 OF moral fortitude... Prayers to all in Fort Myers and Naples Florida...
@@raybaker8726 Oh sure you can! why don't you "pray" to harry potter, or "pray" to your toilet. you will get the same results...it will not help anyone. no one is stopping you from doing nothing and calling it "something" BUT you do not get to talk such nonsense in the public space and not have someone call you out on your medieval non sensical thinking. all you brainwashed robots "praying" are really the trolls. this does nothing! stop pretending like you are doing something that is no helping anyone.
Florida was never made to become a major metropolitan state. If you study the geography, the entire southern peninsula is a marsh, and an important one. One of its functions was as a storm barrier which we have now paved over. It is not far above sea level making storm surges the norm. We are foolish beings as we always mourn over wisdom ignored and its devastating consequences.
Majority of what was lost is tee shirt shops, bars and hamberger stands. How about we rebuilt the area with parks so that more people can enjoy the beach
If they rely on insurance will insurance even allow them to rebuild especially along the coast. Take for instance the restaurant that was wiped out the one just next to the pier on the beach side with the ice cream shop behind it on the street side. I hope everybody can rebuild exactly in the same footprint, what do you think?
@@daver9643 insurance companies have already ceased cover for many reasons n Florida. It is best that such areas as this become abandoned and people release cated to safer areas. To rebuild is purely a waste as the next hurricane will again destroy!
Been in the Gunshine State for 10 years escaping NY, live close enough to the beach to do a drive by 10-15 minutes, but to live right on it, forgetabout it!
Because traditionally, Florida was a great place financially for those on a strict budget, who needed decent medical care and have medical issues that are exasperated by cold weather whereas warm weather dramatically lessons the pain. It was a great place until recently (now it's for the quite well off no matter your age). If you're not older or retired or living on SSI/SS then you have no true idea of the difficulties the majority of the elderly face. Now that it's a financial nightmare due to cost, the new homeless in Florida are the elderly and the disabled aka those traditionally without a voice in our society and who people don't wish to deal with.
I live in Port Charlotte, Florida and was hit by this hurricane. I personally hope that they don't rebuild in these areas that are so close to the water. There should be only buildings more inland in this state. Too dangerous to have it by the water.
There needs to be more legislation for 1. Insurance companies to insure fairly, and 2) build codes requirements and restrictions in flood zones. If you're going to build hotels and houses on the flat beach like that. What else do you expect when a hurricane comes. Anywhere on the beach in FL and the Atlantic up to NC and on the gulf coast can get hit by a hurricane. I am surprised if any of these hotels or houses are insured anymore. State farm stopped all new insurance requests anywhere near the beach in Mississippi, and now there is a named storm clause for all houses in the US.
Florida people are strong, they have been through alot of storms over the years, they will get through this just like before, good luck to everybody affected.
I've noticed in a lot of these aftermath videos that there are many homes that were on raised foundations that are no longer there, as if they were completely destroyed. Someone should investigate this because the homeowners probably paid a premium for those houses thinking they were cat5 proof. It should be investigated so that the companies constructing these raised foundations aren't taking shortcuts or selling false advertising. I believe these raised foundations will be a vital tool in making long-lasting ocean side houses in Florida, but if they're built by scammers, then people will be less likely to use them. I hope Fort Myers makes a speedy recovery from this tragic event!
I see some serious discrepancies with how some homes are standing and some are not.. seriously like the construction was done right on some and bad on others.
Damn this sad. At 0:30 to the right of the pier was the PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar, which was live-streaming the hurricane to UA-cam. I was watching it until the camera went dark. Only now we see just how catastrophic the damage truly is.
Same here, I live in New York but my parents live in Lehigh and I remember eating there and walking around the Times Square as they call it. I wonder if they can rebuild it in the same footprint
@@angelakralicek5541 PROVE IT!! JUST PROVE IT!! did you "pray" no one would get hurt during the hurricane? did you "pray" for your imaginary friend to protect florida? one last question...did you "pray" for brains? because none of those "prayers" did a damn thing!
@Chat Lerger I'm sure they did. That's the point. Praying to their imaginary friend and as usual, nothing. Ppl have been doing this for centuries and it needs to stop, it's so idiotic. It is only because of science that we all live so comfortably as we do today. We live on a planet that tries and succeeds in killing us and making us sick everyday.
Surreal… Starting at 0:06 the drone is flying directly above the Fort Myers Fishing Pier which was reduced to nothing but pylons. Interestingly, as the storm approached that morning, a restaurant at the end of that pier on the beach - PierSide Grill - had been live streaming here on YT for 10+ hours from a beach cam they feature on their website. You could “rewind” to go back in time and see Ian stalking the coastline. At one point, there were 40k+ people watching the live stream, watching the occasional swimmer, playing in the surf or around the pier, many of them commenting throughout the rising storm surge. Up until such a time when the live feed stopped. PierSide Grill was completely wiped off the face of this earth, presumably shortly after the camera’s proverbial “fade to black”. All that’s left is the cerulean colored perimeter wall of what was previously the restaurant’s beachfront patio. You can see that at approximately 0:36, just to the right of the pier in the lower half of the drone’s camera frame.
My wife and I live on FL's east coast. We love Sanibel and Fort Myers. Spent one of our most memorable vacations here when we were still dating. These images are heartbreaking.
Had good times at the "Loni-ki" back in the early '90's ! Very surreal seeing memories earased overnight . Prayers and comfort for all those affected . 🙏
Any chance you could provide the raw drone footage of the images that begin at 0:57 forward and anything else you may have on that particular area? Trying to help family locate belongings from one of those houses, and the aerial video is very helpful.
So many of these places were just people's 2nd and 3rd vacation homes. The true locals are the ones that get hurt... the majority could barely care past the fact that their revenue stream is now cut off.
This is beyond devistating to see, my grandpa used to live in fort meyers. We used to go to sanibel island and visit the beach and wander the shops and grab dinner in the square and to see it all gone is heartbreaking. My thoughts are to everyone effected by ian.
The is completely normal as it is Hurricane season. Florida has endured years of this (and will continue) and will do as they have historically-rebuild.
This is really sad, but they will rebuild in the exact same area. We were inland in NC but still considered coastal. Got sick of paying for everybody else home that they built close to the water. These areas are costing the rest of us an arm and leg for them to keep building in flood areas. You can pray for these people all you want, but you can also make it illegal for them to build there. I'm not talking about the poorer people in say, New Orleans who have no choice, just talking about wealthy people who want ocean views at the expense of the rest of us.
Have spent over 30 years vacationing in this spot. It is sickening to see the pier, all the restaurants, rentals and landscape just wiped off the map. My heart sank when I fist saw these posts. Thanks for posting anyways.
1st thought: Where will all the construction debris go? Even the remaining structures look like they should be torn down what a mess. The municipal water/sewer could be non-functional for months that equals unlivable conditions.
Drones don't have a mic. just turn down your volume if you don't like the music. Really if you're concerned with the music you're missing the point. good grief
Be careful , after hurricane Charlie Charlotte County announced tax reduction to those who had their homes damaged , all with someone had to do is to submit an application listing the kind of damage there property have sustained , in the end it turned out to be a trap , Charlotte County issued a minuscule tax relief $50 or so , after a while the county went around knocking on the doors of those who requested the tax relief saying you have declared so much damage where is the repair that you have done ? where is the license for the repair you have done ? where is the inspection for the repairs you have done ? some of the helicopters you saw flying over town after the disaster we're there for the single purpose of taking pictures of all the damages , in other words they cared more about the tax base than they worried about you .
On the one hand, it's sad to see so much destruction. On the other, it makes me angry that they allow this kind of development on barrier islands. It's not like this is unexpected, it was only a matter of time.
Doesn't look too bad actually. Btw what's with all the "it's heartbreaking" comments. It's not heartbreaking. What did you expect when you moved to a place that is highly prone to multiple hurricaines every year...
Oh this is so sad. My parents used to snowbird to Fort Meyers Beach every winter and I would join them. Prayers for the people of Florida who lost their homes. (The music behind this video is beautiful -- wonder what it is?)
We have been in the dark without power for 6 days and I am seeing the destruction for the first time. I have lived in this area for over 30 years and it just breaks my heart to see what has happened to our piece of paradise.
My thoughts are with the people who have lost so much. What amazes me when we see thses vidoes of hurricanes and tornadoes etc, is how some buildings remain untouched (apart from water damage on the lower floor) and the place right next door in obliterated. I wonder is it luck, or building codes strengthened? Either way, stay strong FL, from a guy who went through Harvey and Ike in Houston.
It’s all about how they’re built. FMB has some very old homes/ businesses that were built with wood or poorly. The newer places are most likely made of reinforced concrete with roof joists that have hurricane ties/ straps. That’s why you always see trailer park mobile homes get destroyed…cuz they’re built like crap.
@@KreemieNewgatt Bro you lost me. We have hurricanes all the time, it's called nature. They haven't been getting stronger or more frequent. The biggest example I gave you was 25 years ago. Now stop getting your news from CNN and Don lemon.
Florida is barely above sea level. What did you think would happen. Yeah its sad and people lost there homes. But we need to stop settling in disaster prone areas.
Prayer toward all impacted by this natural event. It would be nice to have before | after drone videos as those that do not live there have nothing to compare to.
Saddest part about this video is? I live 1,600 miles away from this disaster. I have no part in this but my insurance premiums will be going through the roof Unfortunately, I will be forced to pay for this mess
One of the most practical buildings on a barrier island that I have ever seen, was in Ocean City, Maryland back in the late 90's. It was located on the bay side of the island, and I don't know whether it was a 3-season dwelling, or was capable of being lived in comfortably during the winter months as well. If had a tall iron fence surrounding the property, with a locked gate prohibiting casual passersby from investigating the house. What sticks out in my mind was that the chalet style building was built on massive tree trunk like piers that were tall enough to put the underside of the first floor approximately 20-25 feet above the soil level. Which was, of course, only a couple of inches above sea level. It looked totally out of place with all of that clear air beneath the first floor. I thought then, that whoever had it built was really thinking about flood security, because only a truly massive storm surge could reach high enough to damage the interior of the house. There were even electric lifts to store boats, recreational vehicles, and even a pickup truck below the first floor approximately 10 feet off the ground. can't recall if the piers were wood,, or concrete
A Roblox friend of mine lives in Florida, which made this even more scary. To my friend and everyone else who lives in Florida reading this, I really hope you're okay and stayed safe.
Prayers 🙏 for people of Florida. So hard to watch, gut wrenching. So sorry for such large scale of loss. Yesterday when watching live streaming, that gusting wind kept circling around, back and forth, in same areas, for hours and hours would not leave. Already had "doomed" feeling, because I was in the eye of typhoon before. It was horrible, one minute felt like one century. Feel so sorry for Florida.
@Do Cool Stuff I know brother, you and me both. I grew up going here. And yes, climate change definitely has a huge impact on the severity of the storm.
I spent a good part of my childhood living on Fort Myers Beach, riding my BMX bike with my friends all around the island. This is so sad 😭...
I, as well grew up there and have memories of riding my bike and hanging out on the pier. It appears in this video the cottages we lived in are now gone. So heartbreaking.
I lived on Seminole way by mid island car wash in 2015 and 16 . I always rode my long board, BMX, and mountain bike around the island. I have so many good memories on this island with my mom and she just passed away this year in July.❤ The Beach has such a special place in my heart. This is very devastating to see and I hope they fix the island soon 🙏💯
I grew up there. I lived on Miramar St.
It was a boys paradise 😔
I used to live in Cape Coral and visit this area. Seeing all of these old places I would go and eat and shop and spend time at just gone, the whole buildings just missing, is heartbreaking. My heart goes out to everyone living in the area and I hope they can rebuild
Why would you pray? The only answer is more water, always is.
Does this make you understand why they no longer bless the rains down in Africa?
@@GilliamVespa *🎶.....gonna take some time to do the things we never had🎶*
Yes. Rebuild so it can happen again…
@@azeleapark
I hear the drums echoing tonight 🎶
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation 🎵
Same here.
As a person who is rarely affected by media (9/11 being the last time I was truly affected) - this breaks my already broken heart and while I need to pray more for myself and work on my own relationship with the Lord, I am praying for each and everyone who went through this tragic, tragic time. I would love to be able to help if I could either in clean up or somehow supporting those that need it. I know that I am a faceless person online with a name up name but this hurts to see so I pray that Christ lays His love and blessings on everyone who lost their homes, businesses, possessions and most so those who lost their lives.
@@angelina1p450 so sorry. My cousin is in Cape Coral. I know her house was flooded.
@@angelina1p450 no, We lost things but we still have the most important: our Faith and life.
The Lord works in mysterious ways
@@rlibre3745 ❤️ yes that's true.
The USA is Guilty of TREASON for 911 . How many People died behind that Bullshit Story we were given ?
What people don't realize is just how long it takes to rebuild and recover. The stream of Tax Revenue in each of these destroyed communities has just evaporated for at least the next three years. Schools are damaged or destroyed and that disrupts every child. People just lost homes, vehicles, businesses, and their jobs. Though people are strong and many will rebuild, it's going to take a lot of time. For those who return to nothing, they now face years of nightmares/night-terrors, insomnia, anxiety, guilt, and incredible bouts of stress, all of which are the effects of severe trauma ...of PTSD.
I live in Rockport, Texas. We had a Category 4 Hurricane (Harvey) destroy this city 5 years ago, in 2017. Today, life is pretty close to being back to normal, or as normal as can be expected. I pray that these people can reassemble and hold themselves together as they decide what to do next.
We do understand it. We see it every few years. Then act like it's the first time all over again. Same with California/Wildfire management. People choose to live in cone of uncertainty.
A lot of the newcomers will go back to Ohio or wherever and a flock of hurricane newbies will buy up what's left standing for cheap, cheap, cheap! This is an opportunity to make some good real estate deals. As a native Floridian, my advise don't build on the water. Live several miles inland or as my family always did in St. Petersburg, live in a home that is 40 feet above sea level out of the flood zone to where no flood insurance is necessary. Building on a barrier island is insane.
I was in kingsville at the time. It was horrific to see the conditions back then in Rockport when we drove there.
Its completely understandable however this is not Florida's 1st or last Hurricane. This has happened many times...all you can do is prepare (as they have historically) and deal with it. These are certainly the risk as many have built their home based off concrete. It can happen again and again this year-We just have to refrain from politicizing it so we can all move on.
I read in another post.. that in Miami, any new construction of homes are mostly built out of concrete... Maybe that would be the way to go if you want to live in Hurricane prone areas?
God bless Ft Myers Beach. My heart is breaking for your beautiful town. So many memorable vacations spent there. God be with you during this difficult time.
excuse me, your imaginary friend is once again no where to be found. stop talking like this; so insulting and idiot to say this to people that are suffering, that in the face of the EVIDENCE, your imaginary can do something now?
@@mcdeigo Blessed be the Most Holy Trinity now and forever!
Where was god while the hurricane was destroying everything?
@@bladerunner8832 God is not a modern day helicopter parent that constantly intervenes to spoil his children and prevent them from suffering. WE cause these events through out bad choices, our evil, and our selfishness. We are free beings who were made to take responsibility for our actions, and we were made for hard things. I personally would not follow a “God” who was a nanny state liberal who spoiled his children.
@@RobMathMiller If he’s not a ‘helicopter,’ then what is he?
Crazy damage. Very Sad. We hope most people evacuated. Alice and I hearts goes out for all that are suffering.
Love from south africa.. hope that all families are still intact and safe and warm.. all the rest can be rebuilt but our families can't be replaced ❤
There is one person in our extended family missing in Fort Meyers. 78 year old female who refused to leave her home…..on the canal.
We’re hoping she will be found OK.
Oh no.
Prayers she'll be found safe.
The Coast Guard had some of their shallow water rescue boats as well as their elite rescue swimmers in Lee County; some people were using their personal boats to help victims too. Hopefully she was rescued. Wow, what a horrible situation though.
@@KreemieNewgatt - Some neighbors said she did evacuate at the last minute. We are hoping she’s in a shelter, pets too. 🤞🙏🏻
She had a dog and three cats she wouldn’t leave.
@Dee Santer - I learned last evening she was found, alive with her pets. Her son-in-law……my nephew…..got a boat with his friend and went searching. He found her house under water up to the second level. She was in the second level in a foot of water. She was ok, traumatized but ok. She lost everything but she’s financially well off, so she’ll recover. She still says she’ll never evacuate if it ever happens again. UGH!
Sadly, there were others not so lucky. My nephew and his friend searched other houses there but all apparently evacuated.
Oh wow! Heartbreaking! Prayers for all Floridians.
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
My Uncle and my grown niece and nephew live in Ft Myer. We haven’t spoken in a while; I hope they made it out ok.
Update: they’re fine. Made it out of FL in time.
Beautiful memories as well and so many shells. I pray this community can rebuild and move forward. Time will tell as it will take time. 🙏💜
🙏🙏
I pray this community to have the common sense to not rebuild and move away. Constructing houses for living should be forbidden there. Sea levels are rising and hurricanes are getting morecommon and severe. If you rebuild this it will just get wrecked again 15 years.
you should "pray" that your panty hose stop cutting off the circulation to your brain!
So heartbreaking beyond words 😢😭💔. Sending my Prayers may God comfort you all the victims of hurricane Ian in this tough times. I can't help financially but through prayers I believe God moves to show His compassion to all of you Floridians.🙏🙏🙏
God send the storm to show what he thinks of Trump loving people. No petty from me..And no, god is not going to comfort anyone after destroying Florida, what would be the point of that. Can't wait to see Trump rolling up his sleeves and help with the clean up.
@@3goldfinger kilo yankee sierra, you sierra tango uniform papa india delta foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india november golf bravo india tango charlie hotel
@@mikehill3407 I’m taking this and using it 👏😂
sending your "prayers"? is that by boat, helicopter? car? how should they receive these "prayers" and what should they do with them once they get them? then you say "gawd" moves to show "its" compassion? what does this even mean? your imaginary friend is once again NO WHERE to be found? according to you and the belief system you were brainwashed with, your imaginary friend is "all powerful", "all knowing". now, this "thing" could have not created a devastating hurricane to begin with or just pushed it out into the ocean. but your imaginary friend lets it go right over a state decimating their land and killing some of them, and then "shows compassion" once its all over? do you even realize the words you say and how insulting it is to the people who are suffering? the non sensical blabbering??
@@Megasaurusify
Great comment, you win the Internet!
🎉😂
Argh I ate at the restaurant by the entrance to the pier a couple years ago. Nothing left but the floor. This is a great video. High resolution makes it so clear.
A sad situation. The way of life as they knew now GONE. Yes rebuilding shall be long and tedious. Being displaced and having your world turned upside down can trigger much emotional pain. May all of those who been affected by this Storm draw together, family, friends , the whole community and first support and strengthen each other. Focus on ways to build together. Know things have changed. Try to keep together. Will say also, there is A WARNING ⚠️ for us all in this situation. We need to WAKE UP FIND THE 🧭 OF moral fortitude... Prayers to all in Fort Myers and Naples Florida...
Best not to rebuild. Better to abandon.
Been praying for the community to make it past all this
really? have you been squishing your eyes together and crinkling your toes as you "pray" real hard? this is a natural disaster
@@mcdeigo I can pray for them. Stop being a troll
Imaging praying to something that could have stopped all the death and destruction.
@@raybaker8726 Oh sure you can! why don't you "pray" to harry potter, or "pray" to your toilet. you will get the same results...it will not help anyone. no one is stopping you from doing nothing and calling it "something" BUT you do not get to talk such nonsense in the public space and not have someone call you out on your medieval non sensical thinking. all you brainwashed robots "praying" are really the trolls. this does nothing! stop pretending like you are doing something that is no helping anyone.
@@wdrobby Exactly!!
I was just there 7 months ago. I was planning on going down there again in a few weeks. I just can't believe what I'm seeing.
Florida was never made to become a major metropolitan state. If you study the geography, the entire southern peninsula is a marsh, and an important one. One of its functions was as a storm barrier which we have now paved over. It is not far above sea level making storm surges the norm. We are foolish beings as we always mourn over wisdom ignored and its devastating consequences.
Las Vegas wasn't meant to be a thriving place in the DESERT.
@@jimbeam2705 It is just as foolish to build where there is no water, and temperatures are unlivable without AC...yes.
The mangrove forest acted as a barrier to the storms. It has all been cut down.
@@Violet-qf8dr Precisely. And the Everglades as a natural water absorber and releaser. All destroyed by denial.
Majority of what was lost is tee shirt shops, bars and hamberger stands. How about we rebuilt the area with parks so that more people can enjoy the beach
Earth will swallow us whole. She will devour everything we ever loved. But it's not her fault. 😕
Haha that so funny, At first I thought you were serious!
👍👍The wealthiest thing you can ever have are our beautiful planet and each other, money and materialistic things have no value over our lives.
Again, it's her job.
She will cleanse herself from human over population
@@casual257 it is serious, and ultimately it will happen, as it always does.
My aunt lived in Florida near Orlando. We visited there every year. It saddens me to see such loss.
Very sad material things can be replaced but human life can't be replaced. God Bless Florida.
@@P.90.603 yeah its sad to put first responders and rescue people in harms way.
The people of Fort Myers are strong and will build back stronger and better than before! ❤
If they rely on insurance will insurance even allow them to rebuild especially along the coast. Take for instance the restaurant that was wiped out the one just next to the pier on the beach side with the ice cream shop behind it on the street side. I hope everybody can rebuild exactly in the same footprint, what do you think?
@@daver9643 insurance companies have already ceased cover for many reasons n Florida. It is best that such areas as this become abandoned and people release cated to safer areas. To rebuild is purely a waste as the next hurricane will again destroy!
Been in the Gunshine State for 10 years escaping NY, live close enough to the beach to do a drive by 10-15 minutes, but to live right on it, forgetabout it!
The music is a bit much
Can't wrap my head around why so many retired seniors would want to live here...
Because traditionally, Florida was a great place financially for those on a strict budget, who needed decent medical care and have medical issues that are exasperated by cold weather whereas warm weather dramatically lessons the pain. It was a great place until recently (now it's for the quite well off no matter your age). If you're not older or retired or living on SSI/SS then you have no true idea of the difficulties the majority of the elderly face. Now that it's a financial nightmare due to cost, the new homeless in Florida are the elderly and the disabled aka those traditionally without a voice in our society and who people don't wish to deal with.
@chronicreader of course it's the weather... Who wants to be buried under a blizzard snow storm
I live in Port Charlotte, Florida and was hit by this hurricane. I personally hope that they don't rebuild in these areas that are so close to the water. There should be only buildings more inland in this state. Too dangerous to have it by the water.
There needs to be more legislation for 1. Insurance companies to insure fairly, and 2) build codes requirements and restrictions in flood zones. If you're going to build hotels and houses on the flat beach like that. What else do you expect when a hurricane comes. Anywhere on the beach in FL and the Atlantic up to NC and on the gulf coast can get hit by a hurricane. I am surprised if any of these hotels or houses are insured anymore. State farm stopped all new insurance requests anywhere near the beach in Mississippi, and now there is a named storm clause for all houses in the US.
Florida people are strong, they have been through alot of storms over the years, they will get through this just like before, good luck to everybody affected.
cool, just dont ask for money from the rest of us
I just hope everyone made it out safely! That's the only thing that's important.
I've noticed in a lot of these aftermath videos that there are many homes that were on raised foundations that are no longer there, as if they were completely destroyed. Someone should investigate this because the homeowners probably paid a premium for those houses thinking they were cat5 proof. It should be investigated so that the companies constructing these raised foundations aren't taking shortcuts or selling false advertising. I believe these raised foundations will be a vital tool in making long-lasting ocean side houses in Florida, but if they're built by scammers, then people will be less likely to use them. I hope Fort Myers makes a speedy recovery from this tragic event!
I see some serious discrepancies with how some homes are standing and some are not.. seriously like the construction was done right on some and bad on others.
You can't houseproof yourself from climate change, rising sea levels, and hurricanes. It would be extremely unreasonable to believe so.
Hydraulic effect.
Nothing would outlast a cat 5 hurricane you have to be very dense!
there 'were' a lot of old houses around
omg this is heartbreaking!!!
Blessings to you all 😢so very sad 🙏💞🤝
Damn this sad. At 0:30 to the right of the pier was the PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar, which was live-streaming the hurricane to UA-cam. I was watching it until the camera went dark. Only now we see just how catastrophic the damage truly is.
Same here, I live in New York but my parents live in Lehigh and I remember eating there and walking around the Times Square as they call it. I wonder if they can rebuild it in the same footprint
Sad that all the people that normally winter here won't be coming back this year
Love and prayers to all affected by this terrible storm.
yes! Satan rules! Amen! 666!!!
"prayers"?? does nothing!
@@mcdeigo says You. I know better.
@@angelakralicek5541 PROVE IT!! JUST PROVE IT!! did you "pray" no one would get hurt during the hurricane? did you "pray" for your imaginary friend to protect florida? one last question...did you "pray" for brains? because none of those "prayers" did a damn thing!
@Chat Lerger I'm sure they did. That's the point. Praying to their imaginary friend and as usual, nothing. Ppl have been doing this for centuries and it needs to stop, it's so idiotic. It is only because of science that we all live so comfortably as we do today. We live on a planet that tries and succeeds in killing us and making us sick everyday.
I went to that Dairy Queen since the 80s or maybe the 70s and now it's gone
Crying its just so very sad. Shared your video.
Infrastructure can be recovered, however, human lives lost never. I pray for the people affected by this storm
Surreal… Starting at 0:06 the drone is flying directly above the Fort Myers Fishing Pier which was reduced to nothing but pylons. Interestingly, as the storm approached that morning, a restaurant at the end of that pier on the beach - PierSide Grill - had been live streaming here on YT for 10+ hours from a beach cam they feature on their website. You could “rewind” to go back in time and see Ian stalking the coastline. At one point, there were 40k+ people watching the live stream, watching the occasional swimmer, playing in the surf or around the pier, many of them commenting throughout the rising storm surge.
Up until such a time when the live feed stopped.
PierSide Grill was completely wiped off the face of this earth, presumably shortly after the camera’s proverbial “fade to black”. All that’s left is the cerulean colored perimeter wall of what was previously the restaurant’s beachfront patio. You can see that at approximately 0:36, just to the right of the pier in the lower half of the drone’s camera frame.
My wife and I live on FL's east coast. We love Sanibel and Fort Myers. Spent one of our most memorable vacations here when we were still dating. These images are heartbreaking.
Jesus we were on vacation in fort Myers beach one week ago!!
Hope you took alot of pictures???...nothing is the same...and you were very lucky..
wow, hope the residents bounce back quick.. i want one of those houses still standing and intact, kudos to the builders of those homes.
Had good times at the "Loni-ki" back in the early '90's ! Very surreal seeing memories earased overnight . Prayers and comfort for all those affected . 🙏
Any chance you could provide the raw drone footage of the images that begin at 0:57 forward and anything else you may have on that particular area? Trying to help family locate belongings from one of those houses, and the aerial video is very helpful.
So many of these places were just people's 2nd and 3rd vacation homes. The true locals are the ones that get hurt... the majority could barely care past the fact that their revenue stream is now cut off.
This is beyond devistating to see, my grandpa used to live in fort meyers. We used to go to sanibel island and visit the beach and wander the shops and grab dinner in the square and to see it all gone is heartbreaking. My thoughts are to everyone effected by ian.
My beautiful city. So many memories with my family and loved ones on that beach. My heart breaks into 1000 pieces.
The is completely normal as it is Hurricane season. Florida has endured years of this (and will continue) and will do as they have historically-rebuild.
With climate change, best to abandon as to rebuild is just wait for the next hurricane, and with climate change hurricanes are becomng more powerful.
This is really sad, but they will rebuild in the exact same area. We were inland in NC but still considered coastal. Got sick of paying for everybody else home that they built close to the water. These areas are costing the rest of us an arm and leg for them to keep building in flood areas. You can pray for these people all you want, but you can also make it illegal for them to build there. I'm not talking about the poorer people in say, New Orleans who have no choice, just talking about wealthy people who want ocean views at the expense of the rest of us.
Have spent over 30 years vacationing in this spot. It is sickening to see the pier, all the restaurants, rentals and landscape just wiped off the map. My heart sank when I fist saw these posts. Thanks for posting anyways.
Wow 😥😥😥😥😥 we pray🙏🙏 to God to help you all, Take care everyone 👊🇦🇺🇦🇺🤝🇺🇸🇺🇸😎👍❤
Sadly, this brings back memories of Camille (1969) and Katrina (2005) in Mississippi.
Some of these folks won't even try to rebuild. They'll take the insurance money, pay off the debt and just leave town. It is too awful to believe.
1st thought: Where will all the construction debris go? Even the remaining structures look like they should be torn down what a mess. The municipal water/sewer could be non-functional for months that equals unlivable conditions.
Love and healing all effected.❤️🙏🏼
God be with all of these families who have lost lives, homes and businesses.🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
😥💔🙏🇺🇸 Prayers for Florida. 🙏🇺🇸
Editorial suggestion: please remove the music. Nat sound from on the ground would be better.
Drones don't have a mic. just turn down your volume if you don't like the music. Really if you're concerned with the music you're missing the point. good grief
@@douglasp7094 Sorry, not a fan of music over IRL disasters like this. The pictures already speak MORE than enough to the catastrophe.
This hurts my heart 💔
Hello 👋 how are you doing?
Be careful , after hurricane Charlie Charlotte County announced tax reduction to those who had their homes damaged , all with someone had to do is to submit an application listing the kind of damage there property have sustained , in the end it turned out to be a trap , Charlotte County issued a minuscule tax relief $50 or so , after a while the county went around knocking on the doors of those who requested the tax relief saying you have declared so much damage where is the repair that you have done ? where is the license for the repair you have done ?
where is the inspection for the repairs you have done ?
some of the helicopters you saw flying over town after the disaster we're there for the single purpose of taking pictures of all the damages , in other words they cared more about the tax base than they worried about you .
Holy shit! So sorry for everyone who lost their homes 😥
Puerto Rico is in the same situation. They got hit 2 weeks ago.
It's more of a sandbar than an island.
On the one hand, it's sad to see so much destruction. On the other, it makes me angry that they allow this kind of development on barrier islands. It's not like this is unexpected, it was only a matter of time.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Now as we aid other countries, our own is getting destroyed. Not saying that they need help, but we gotta help our own!! Facts!
Fr man we just sent another 12 billion to Ukraine
It’s time to start re-thinking about where we build houses…
Looks like a great clear day to be at the beach!
Can you imagine driving over. That bridge 🌉 .. coming back to everything you have ever known to be as home 🏡 but coming back to this .. this is so sad
Doesn't look too bad actually. Btw what's with all the "it's heartbreaking" comments. It's not heartbreaking. What did you expect when you moved to a place that is highly prone to multiple hurricaines every year...
People are born there too and yes it does look bad you knob end
I’m crying 😢
Oh this is so sad. My parents used to snowbird to Fort Meyers Beach every winter and I would join them. Prayers for the people of Florida who lost their homes. (The music behind this video is beautiful -- wonder what it is?)
You can tell where the money was. Absolutely no coverage of St James City 🤷♂️
R.I.P. Fort Myers Beach, you will be missed.
We have been in the dark without power for 6 days and I am seeing the destruction for the first time. I have lived in this area for over 30 years and it just breaks my heart to see what has happened to our piece of paradise.
I still don’t understand why people insist on building in those areas. It’s time to move far away from the shore!
That’s a barrier island, should’ve never had people living on it.
How is Ft. Myers Villas fairing? I used to live there nearly 12 years ago.
My father considered moving to Florida when he came home from WWII, but they were having a hurricane and he decided not to.
Best decision he likely ever made!
I can't even imagine how you'd rebuild after this. Wow...
Excellent video footage but the "music" in the video is annoying af.
The dramatic music lol
My thoughts are with the people who have lost so much. What amazes me when we see thses vidoes of hurricanes and tornadoes etc, is how some buildings remain untouched (apart from water damage on the lower floor) and the place right next door in obliterated. I wonder is it luck, or building codes strengthened? Either way, stay strong FL, from a guy who went through Harvey and Ike in Houston.
It’s all about how they’re built. FMB has some very old homes/ businesses that were built with wood or poorly. The newer places are most likely made of reinforced concrete with roof joists that have hurricane ties/ straps. That’s why you always see trailer park mobile homes get destroyed…cuz they’re built like crap.
Not too shabby...looks like an improvement
This is that moment when all humanity must come together and give each other a hand, we must unit at one and rebuild what is destroyed.
Desatan can go to hell.
That ain't that bad, y'all should have been around for hurricane Andrew. It obliterated homestead Florida.
@@KreemieNewgatt Bro you lost me. We have hurricanes all the time, it's called nature. They haven't been getting stronger or more frequent. The biggest example I gave you was 25 years ago. Now stop getting your news from CNN and Don lemon.
@@KreemieNewgatt Blah, blah, blah. Drivel.
Ian was more destructive than Andrew moron
Wow, how sad, so much destruction. I hope they can get help to rebuild as soon as possible.
Devastation, loss of life, homes, livelihoods, a tragedy beyond anyone's control.
So sad. Prayers for all
Why do people always have to bring god into this? Where was he when the hurricane was happening? Oh yeah, praying won’t do shit!
Florida is barely above sea level. What did you think would happen. Yeah its sad and people lost there homes. But we need to stop settling in disaster prone areas.
Better let Californians know they live on several geological fault lines and The Big One could happen in a hundred years or tomorrow.
I was here a couple years ago. So sad.
Prayer toward all impacted by this natural event.
It would be nice to have before | after drone videos as those that do not live there have nothing to compare to.
Saddest part about this video is?
I live 1,600 miles away from this disaster. I have no part in this but my insurance premiums will be going through the roof
Unfortunately, I will be forced to pay for this mess
Are those Palm Harbor homes still standing?
Palm Harbor, FL or Palm Harbor Mobile Homes?
@@Dallas_K Mobile homes. They say they're super sturdy.
One of the most practical buildings on a barrier island that I have ever seen, was in Ocean City, Maryland back in the late 90's.
It was located on the bay side of the island, and I don't know whether it was a 3-season dwelling, or was capable of being lived in comfortably during the winter months as well. If had a tall iron fence surrounding the property, with a locked gate prohibiting casual passersby from investigating the house.
What sticks out in my mind was that the chalet style building was built on massive tree trunk like piers that were tall enough to put the underside of the first floor approximately 20-25 feet above the soil level. Which was, of course, only a couple of inches above sea level.
It looked totally out of place with all of that clear air beneath the first floor. I thought then, that whoever had it built was really thinking about flood security, because only a truly massive storm surge could reach high enough to damage the interior of the house.
There were even electric lifts to store boats, recreational vehicles, and even a pickup truck below the first floor approximately 10 feet off the ground.
can't recall if the piers were wood,, or concrete
One of my first jobs in the US 40+ years ago! gone with the storm
Steadily, there will be more homes and structures built to last.
A Roblox friend of mine lives in Florida, which made this even more scary. To my friend and everyone else who lives in Florida reading this, I really hope you're okay and stayed safe.
Prayers 🙏 for people of Florida. So hard to watch, gut wrenching. So sorry for such large scale of loss. Yesterday when watching live streaming, that gusting wind kept circling around, back and forth, in same areas, for hours and hours would not leave.
Already had "doomed" feeling, because I was in the eye of typhoon before. It was horrible,
one minute felt like one century. Feel so sorry for Florida.
God’s not real lmao, but good try
So sad. Such happy memories there. It’s like the earth is telling us something. So full of life and happiness now is a war zone. I’m sorry
The earth is telling you something??
The earth is telling you business as usual.
@Do Cool Stuff
I know brother, you and me both. I grew up going here. And yes, climate change definitely has a huge impact on the severity of the storm.
We had our hottest August on record here in Idaho. Thankfully no hurricanes - but we sure could use the water.
Mother Nature has always been and always will be
Damn. And we thought we had it bad. Shame on us.