ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Hurricane Ian, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the United States, swamped southwest Florida on Wednesday, turning streets into rivers, knocking out power to 2 million people, and threatening catastrophic damage further inland.
A coastal sheriff’s office reported that it was getting many calls from people trapped in flooded homes. Desperate people posted to Facebook and other social sites, pleading for rescue for themselves or loved ones. Some video showed debris-covered water sloshing toward homes’ eaves.
