LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, knocking out power and destroying the only bridge to Sanibel Island.

A chunk of the Sanibel Causeway fell into the gulf, cutting off access to the barrier island where 6,300 people normally live.

How many heeded mandatory evacuation orders was impossible to know in the storm’s immediate aftermath.

A stretch of the Gulf Coast remained inundated by ocean water, pushed ashore by the massive storm.

“Severe and life-threatening storm surge inundation of 8 to 10 feet above ground level along with destructive waves is ongoing along the southwest Florida coastline from Englewood to Bonita Beach, including Charlotte Harbor,” according to the National Hurricane Center.  

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.