In the Aftermath of Ian, Floridians Share their Stories of Fear and Survival

'It sounded like the roof was falling apart and would fly off at any moment. We could hear things breaking all around the house.'

Photo of what remains of Hope Lutheran Church on the flooded street in the community of Gulf Cove in Port Charlotte, Florida in the aftermath of hurricane Ian on Sept. 29, 2022. Courtesy of Michelle Chacon

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, much was destroyed and many lives were lost. In the aftermath, Floridians share their stories of fear and survival.

Monday, Sept. 26

Family and friends used to laugh at Monica Cody. They called her a “prepper.” But as hurricane Ian barreled toward Florida’s Port Charlotte Peninsula her critics quickly came to realize that in her determination to be ready for anything “this definitely was a time that it paid off.”

“The day before the storm we made sure we had everything accessible,” Cody told The Epoch Times.