Ian, which hit the United States twice as a hurricane, left many areas unrecognizable after it caused catastrophic flooding, strong winds and a devastating storm surge in Florida and the Carolinas. Search and rescue operations continue a thunderstormThe death toll is rising and communities are reeling from the destruction.

on wednesday Ian went ashore in southwest Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Rushing across the peninsula and out into the Atlantic Ocean, the storm did second landfall — this time as a Category 1 hurricane — in South Carolina on Friday.

At least 28 people have died as a result of the storm and many others have been left homeless. New photos show extensive damage from what could be one of the strongest storms to ever hit the US:

Tropical weather
Holly Chaglia looks through her and her partner Evan Mackay’s personal belongings at the Red Coconut Park RV in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. Two days earlier, their mobile home had been destroyed by Hurricane Ian.

Rebecca Blackwell/AP


Hurricane Ian hit Florida
A damage survey after Hurricane Ian brought high winds and heavy rain, causing power outages and downed trees in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 1, 2022.

Peter Zai/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images


Tropical weather
University of Central Florida students try to get to their apartment near the campus that was completely flooded by rain from Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Orlando, Florida.

John Rau/AP


Tropical weather in South Carolina
A car drives through high water caused by Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Alex Brandon/AP


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A Sanibel Island resident hands her dog over to Project DYNAMO rescuers after she was rescued and brought to Fort Myers on Sept. 30, 2022.

Steve Helber/AP


A hurricane
An unidentified volunteer and Ken Diesel (R) help prepare food for people in need in Fort Myers, Florida on September 30, 2022.

Getty Images


Tropical weather in South Carolina
A motorist drives through high water in Charleston, South Carolina, as another turns around on September 30, 2022.

Alex Brandon/AP


Tropical weather in Florida
University of Central Florida students evacuate after severe flooding from an apartment complex near campus on September 30, 2022.

John Rau/AP


Hurricane Ian hit Florida
A view of high water in North Port, Florida on September 30, 2022.

Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images


Tropical weather
Wreckage is seen on Sanibel Island, Florida, on September 30, 2022.

Steve Helber/AP


Tropical weather in Florida
This aerial photo taken during a flight, provided by mediccorps.org, shows damage from Hurricane Ian on Esther Island in Fort Myers Beach, Florida on September 30, 2022.

Gerald Herbert/AP


Tropical weather
A damaged seawall near Sanibel Island in Florida is seen after Hurricane Ian on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.

Wilfred Lee/AP


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The devastation left by Hurricane Ian in Pine Island and Matlache, Florida. “The devastation is staggering,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office posted on its Facebook page on September 30, 2022.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office


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The devastation left by Hurricane Ian in Pine Island and Matlache, Florida on September 30, 2022.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office


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A damaged restaurant on Matlacha Island, Florida, with debris strewn across the street on September 30, 2022.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office


Tory B. Powell


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Tory B. Powell is a breaking news reporter for CBS News. Reach it in tori.powell@viacomcbs.com

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-ian-photos-catastrophic-damage/

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