- Hurricane Ian tossed large boats around like they were "toys" in Florida, a local mayor said.
- "It's horrific," Mayor Kevin Anderson of hard-hit Fort Myers told CNN of Ian's destruction.
Hurricane Ian tossed large boats around like they were "toys" in Florida when the major storm ravaged the state's southwest area with catastrophic winds, rain, and storm surges, a local mayor said on Friday.
"It's horrific," Mayor Kevin Anderson of hard-hit Fort Myers told CNN of the destruction caused by the ferocious storm.
"Just look at the boats. These are some large boats. And they've been thrown around like they were toys," Anderson said while standing at a marina left severely damaged by the hurricane.
Anderson added that some cement docks weighing "as much as a ton" were ripped off and "thrown away like they were nothing" during the storm.
Ian wreaked havoc in the Sunshine State after it made landfall over southwestern Florida as a ferocious Category 4 hurricane on Wednesday afternoon.
It packed winds of more than 150 miles-per-hour and brought dangerous storm surges and flooding.
The hurricane left millions of people without power and a trail of destruction across Florida as it trapped hundreds of locals inside their flooded homes.
Anderson told CNN that he believes it's "good for people to see" the extensive damages caused by the hurricane "so when future storms are approaching they take it serious, they take our advisory seriously."
Authorities have rescued more than 200 people in the Fort Myers area, Anderson said, noting that no fatalities have been reported in the city.
The mayor urged locals to stay indoors for the time being.
"Until we can get the roads clear, until we can get the power lines secured, I'd really love for people to stay home," he said, adding, "It's not safe out there."
Roughly 80% of the city remains without power, Anderson said, explaining that Fort Myers' most important needs right now are electricity and water.
At least a dozen people have been confirmed dead in Florida after Ian battered the state, MSNBC reported at 2 a.m. Friday.
Officials expect the death toll to rise.
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Ian "could be the deadliest hurricane in Florida's history."