Overview

• Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, caused significant destruction in Southwest Florida with winds up to 155 mph and a 13-foot storm surge.
• The new remote sensing method allowed for rapid, detailed assessments of damage, surpassing traditional field reconnaissance methods.
• A total of 2,427 structures on Estero Island were affected, with 170 suffering extensive damage and more than $200 million in estimated losses.
• The study highlighted no correlation between the age or elevation of buildings and the extent of damage, underscoring the storm's indiscriminate impact.
• This technology promises to enhance disaster response and planning, offering high-resolution data crucial for emergency management.