Hurricane Ian Floods In

Kailey Calvo and Sarah Finfrock
November 4, 2022

Hurricane Ian has quickly become one of the most destructive hurricanes in Florida’s history. Floridians are accustomed to these scary times, as during hurricane season annually Floridians stock up on necessities like non-perishable food, water, and other snacks. While many meteorologists predicted that Ian would not make landfall on Florida early on, the storm kept turning until it made direct contact in Fort Myers and other adjacent coastal areas, where most of the damage was seen. Surprisingly, inland Orlando also saw much destruction and flooding, which made it difficult for children to go to school, as well as adults to go into work. Devastating times can lead to increased unity within LHP and the greater Central Florida community. It is increasingly important to reach out and help those in need in your area if possible, and work together in order to overcome challenging circumstances.

(Above) Originally, many thought that the Tampa area would see the brunt
of the destruction from Hurricane Ian. However, the damage was not as severe as other parts of the state, especially a few miles south of Tampa. This uprooted tree in St. Petersburg shows the extensive damage hurricanes can cause. Although the house remained relatively unharmed, there was
minor damage from the fallen tree to the roof and exterior. Photo by Kailey Calvo. (Photo by Kailey Calvo.)
(Above) Central Florida saw historic flooding in the days Hurricane Ian moved through the state. “Between 14 and
20 inches of rain [lashed] Orlando…on Thursday,” reported Orlando Weekly. Kraft Azalea Park, located in Winter Park especially saw lots of flooding due to its proximity to Lake Maitland, where storm drains dump
their excess water. Parts of the park were over a foot under water. The road along the South end (Alabama Drive) was closed off to through traffic. Photo by
Sarah Finfrock. (Photo by Sarah Finfrock.)
(Above) Many city officials were left scrambling after the wake
of Hurricane Ian. The City of Winter Park focused its main efforts on busy roads, such as Park Avenue. Heavy machinery, like front loaders, were sent to aid in debris removal. Trash collection slows after storms, as landfills reach capacity. Photo by Sarah Finfrock. (Photo by Sarah Finfrock.)
(Above) Cities which have taken strides to implement hurricane damage prevention have seen great rewards during Hurricane Ian. Winter Park spent $500 million placing power lines underground after Hurricane Irma
left residents without power for over a week. In Hurricane Ian, no Winter Park residents lost power for more than 12 hours. Altamonte Springs, however, still delivers power over land, and the city saw power outages lasting three days and longer during this year’s storm. Lake Eola, in Downtown Orlando, witnessed extreme flooding as the entire sidewalk was several inches under
water. Photo by Kailey Calvo. ( Photo by Kailey Calvo.)
(Above) Government officials advised against leaving your homes 24 hours (or longer) after a catastrophic storm as tree branches may still be loose, power lines may be down, and flooding may be underway. Alabama Drive was several inches under water and closed to through traffic. The Thursday after the storm, an electric vehicle got stuck on the road due to the flooding. Additionally, live power lines can cause electric shocks in standing water even if a person steps in water touching the line, without stepping directly on the power line. When sewers overflow, water in the streets may also be contaminated. Photo by Sarah Finfrock. (Photo by Sarah Finfrock.)