The devastation on Fort Myers Beach is clear in a view south of Matanzas Pass Preserve.
Hurricane Ian destroyed several portions of the Sanibel Causeway, the series of bridges that connects mainland Florida to Sanibel Island — which is home to some 6,500 people and located just south of where the storm made landfall. The Category 4 storm caused severe damage and flooding to Fort Myers and other gulf coast cities.
Take a look at the photos.
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/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
Hurricane Ian destroyed several portions of the Sanibel Causeway.
/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
Boats are piled up on the marina of Fisherman's Wharf.
/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
The Causeway leading to Fort Myers Beach and at the end, the Times Square area, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian.
/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
The Sanibel Lighthouse was left standing after Hurricane Ian.
/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
This is the view farther south on Estero Boulevard, the main drag on Fort Myers Beach.
/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
Sanibel beaches eroded as storm surge cut inlets into the island. It's unknown what happened to nesting turtles.
/ Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
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Thomas James for WGCU/NPR
Buildings on Sanibel didn't fare well in the storm surge of Hurricane Ian.
Corrected: October 3, 2022 at 9:00 PM PDT
An earlier photo caption mistakenly identified the Sanibel Lighthouse as being in Fort Myers.
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