Hurricane Ian

Hurricanes — whether big or small — manage to damage or destroy most things in their path. But palm trees tend to escape a hurricane's fury. That was definitely true after Ian.

Mobile homes built before 1994 can't withstand the kind of ferocious winds of a major hurricane. In Florida, there are thousands of these older homes that crumble during big storms like Ian.

Across Southwest Florida, the long road to recovery is coming into focus as people try to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Ian. Many will rebuild, others will leave and some don't know what's next.

More than a decade ago, growth in Florida was managed under a statewide agency that provided checks and balances to prevent sprawl and protect natural resources. Then state leaders closed it.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Southwest Florida still don't have electricity or water. But Babcock Ranch, north of Fort Myers, was designed and built to withstand the most powerful storms.

After the hurricane damaged the only bridge, the only way to get to Pine Island is by private boat. Residents are returning to salvage what remains of their homes.

Federal officials have pledged financial support for rebuilding as the Southeast recovers from Hurricane Ian. But the storm's havoc has rekindled the debate over how we rebuild in coastal areas.

The North Carolina-based evangelical organization has sent more than 20 staffers to Fort Myers and Englewood, Fla., where some of the worst damage from Hurricane Ian occurred.

Days after Category 4 Hurricane Ian came ashore near the tony seaside community, residents are taking stock and trying to put their lives back together.

The powerful storm terrorized millions for most of the week, hitting western Cuba before raking across Florida and then South Carolina.