Florida calls off search for hurricane survivors

More than 1,000 search and rescue personnel checked 108,000 structures in Florida after Hurricane Ian hit almost two weeks ago. On Monday, the state called off the search for storm victims. State and local officials are now turning their attention to long-term recovery. Officials say the hurricane killed over 100 people, mostly in southwestern Florida.

What will the recovery look like? Mountains of waterlogged carpet, ruined furniture, and other debris await removal on the side of the road. On the way to Estero Island, boats of all sizes block roads and sit atop buildings. DeSantis said he will bring in leaders from cities hit by Hurricane Michael in 2018 to offer advice on the cleanup. Michael was a Category 5 storm.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read Kim Henderson’s report on the recovery from Hurricane Michael.