HURRICANE IAN -The Documentary by Storm Chasers 

Thank you all so much for watching. Please consider donating to Tod, Annette, Roxie, and Jaxon to help them get back on their feet - www.gofundme.com/f/tod-and-annette-rocco-and-roxie

The probe on Ft. Myers Beach will go down in Hurricane History as one of the most impressive footage ever captured during a storm. Amazing!

I can completely understand your hesitation at interviewing that couple, but the way you presented this entire event is admirable. There was no sense of sensationalism and more journalistic than most things you see. I’m glad they agreed to your interview. Well done.

I'm watching your video and getting tears in my eyes. We live in fort myers and stayed home for the hurricane. Never again. We just put the House up for sale and are moving back to Michigan. Thank God the house was ok. It was terrifying!

You should win award for this! It shows exactly what I can’t describe in words, of how that wind came through my front yard on the back end in Punta Gorda, and shows exactly what happened at my Dads house in Fort Myers beach. We were lucky not so many others were. Thank you for documenting this.

Wow. Chilling video. We live in south Louisiana, and I have become so frightened of hurricanes, that we leave for any storm over a Cat 1. We have a camper for the sole use of evacuating. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats that we could never leave behind, and having the camper provides a home away from home - at least until it is safe to head home. It is also comforting to me to know that we would have a place to live if our house is damaged. Even if we decide to stay, the camper would probably flip in the driveway in high winds. We left last year Hurricane Ida, and returned home to a devastated community from wind damage. We had a direct hit. By the grace of God, our levees held. I watched Ian approach Florida with anxiety knowing it was going to be very bad. PTSD is very real after a hurricane, and these people will need time to process. It does get better, but it will take a long time. My thoughts are with them every day.

I visited Ft.Myers 6 months after Ian. It was my first time in Florida. The devastation was still very much apparent. I talked to locals and heard their stories. Man, i have the deepest respect for those folks. Their bravery, their sense of comunity and the pride in their community. Some of the friendliest and most resiliant people I have ever met. Some had nothing and were quick to invite me to a cookout in thier rubble strewn yards. Their homes were completely gutted and they still wanted to cook for and feed me! They showed this Pennsylvanian southern hospitality! I ended up throwing a big cookout at my rental for all of those wonderfully kind folks. Florida residents, dont change! Keep that perserverance and pride. To the folks of Ft.Myers, thanks for the stories and the good time, you guys are out of this world!

Omg I'm so so happy to see this couple and their dogs made it. My heart smiled.

Thanks for posting this. 44 Days later this part of Florida continues to suffer. So many are living in their cars, no help from insurance, FEMA, other countries, or other sources. I wish you could document more of the afermath and how so many of us are left to our own devices. This is a discrace and this part of Florida is suffering. So many people lost their homes, cars, loved ones, and cheerished memories. If anyone reading this has never donated money to a charity, this would be a great time to help the people of Southwest Florida. I thank you for sharing this documentary. Pray you never have to be a part of a natural distaster of this magnitude.

What I love the most is, it really gives everyone a reality check. Shows us just how powerful mother nature really is. Anything is possible. That's why we have warnings and evacuations. Thanks for being the brave soul to get this footage and information. Without people like you, there's so much we wouldn't understand. ☺️ Stay safe out there.

I’m from Ft Myers but now live in Virginia. I visit Ft Myers Beach with my sister every year and we stay at the DiamondHead, which is about 100 yards behind this camera. When I first saw your video right after the storm, I thought, “That’s the Lani Kai and there’s the red house!” Your probe must have been about 15-16 feet up on that pole. This footage is an absolute must-watch for anyone wanting to know about storm surge and the force behind the wind and water. What incredible footage! Tod and his family are a testament to the power of wanting to survive. I hope Tod and his family continue with their recovery and I wish them all the best. Stunning on all accounts.

This is my 3rd time watching this documentary and it never gets old. I was right there a few weeks before the hurricane.

I am so relieved to see that Todd and Annette and their puppos survived!!!! It's absolutely devastating how dangerous Ian became. Thank you for sharing their story and making this video. I lived in Fort Myers when it hit, running a restaurant on Sanibel Island with my parents. We stayed at our apartment in Fort Myers and rode the hurricane out. While we didn't lose any personal things, we did lose our restaurant. It was our first hurricane, too, as we've been living there for two years at that point. I don't think anyone was prepared for it to be as devastating as it was. 🥺

Incredible video. The interview at the end, and your footage make for one of the best hurricane videos / story ever. Thanks for sharing Max.

Holy crap Max, that was outstanding. Great structure and storytelling - all around phenomenal documentary of the event.

I live in Marion county Fl. Didn’t experience anything like this heroic couple experienced. What you went through is unfathomable. I admire you sharing your story.

The footage from the surge in Ft Meyers is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. The water got SO HIGH, SO QUICK! Insane!!!!! So happy to hear from Tod & Annette

Thank you for this footage. Almost 2 years later and it’s still so shocking to me. I’ve lived in SWFL my entire life. This was the worst hurricane I’ve ever experienced. I remember listening to the radio coverage once the power went out and heard them talking about how high the surge was. I sat on my couch and cried because I had never heard or seen such devastation. It was something I’ll never forget 😔

Absolutely incredible and wild footage. I used to live and grew up in the Englewood, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda areas until the end of 2019. So many of my friends and close coworkers homes were destroyed during this event. Prayers for all affected. ❤

10.5 months later and I’m just now coming across this video and it’s anxiety inducing; it breaks my heart. I live just a few miles north of St. Petersburg and for a brief period of time we were fairly certain we were going to get hit with possibly the worst storm of our lifetime. We evacuated north to Spring Hill (first time evacuating). I remember watching TV feeling so grateful that Tampa Bay was spared but at the same time I was mortified watching what was unfolding down at Fort Myers Beach. The drive south back home was eerie. Not a word was said during that car ride. To this day it’s hard watching any of the footage. Thank you for making this documentary. You did a great job documenting what happened while also being cognizant of the magnitude of what happened throughout making this video. I appreciate your carefulness and humility. As we get closer to the peak of hurricane season 2023 I can’t help but have Ian in my mind. Let’s hope this year isn’t destructive.

How fortunate that she had a life jacket and she thinking logically enough cut the strap to tie the dogs to the life vest as well as bag of important stuff. Many people would just be in panic mode and unable to even think of this stuff.

I have watched tons of videos on Ian, but this one, by far, was the absolute best! Well done, sir!

Never seen anything like it @12:25. And I was in this down in Ft. Myers. Plus I've watched dozens of footage from around SWF. This video is stunning.

Absolutely incredible documentary Max; really impactful and incredibly important for anyone who is in a potential area where storm surge could impact. I'm so glad Todd, Annette and their dogs are OK and that you got to meet them and help them share their incredible story with the world.

My dad lived in that house for years. I loved it there so much...when I saw it collapse I started sobbing because I thought I saw people were still in there. I can't be sad about the house knowing that you all made it out alive and well.

Saw your documentary on Ida, and I gotta say, it was really impressive and detailed! Ian was an absolute monster, and the footage your surge cam got was truly phenomenal. Can't wait to watch this one!

Scariest day of my entire life. I'm grateful they made it out of their house alive❤️

My family and I live on ft myers beach and decided to ride out the storm. It was the most terrifying day of my life and my family’s. We have a 2 story house and we in the second story. We had 7 and half feet of in our home. We lost everything on the first floor and all of our cars. But we all lived thankfully. We did have to make last minute plans if something happened or the surge kept coming up. No one will ever be able to describe the fear you have during that time and being trapped for hours. The next day going out was heartbreaking and asking anyone you saw if they were okay. Swapping stories of what it was like in our homes. We heard stories of those that didn’t make it and how others barely survived. We never left our home and have other stories of how we were treated by officials and a lot of them aren’t good. Even if you don’t think the storm will be that bad, leave just in case. We could’ve easily lost our lives and all our animals.

Amazing documentary, truly. Captivated the whole way through and especially the end when Tod and Annette told their story, seem like great people and they're blessed to have made it. I live in Cape Coral and also made the mistake of riding it out, and while our street and surrounding area did get flooded it was no where near Fort Myers beach level bad. We didn't even get water in our apartment complex thanks to the elevation of our parking lot and the spot we're built on being high enough to avoid it, albeit only by several feet away. Goes to show with your great footage how much worse it could've been if I hadn't been so lucky and yet my luck pales in comparison to Tod and Annette and their dogs for making it out alive.

Greetings from Germany..unbelievable film.

Mind bending reality ...wow . Saw the original footage when it happened ...and now this ...words escape me ~

Hello from the Philippines. This is the documentary I’m waiting for. Love your content, Max. Hoping that the region will fully recover from the hurricane.

Best documentary I’ve seen so far. I was in Port Charlotte and the footage you showed there was exactly what I experienced . I’ve watched other videos and they just didn’t seem to show the intensity that we experienced here . Your footage and the story that went along with it was incredible. To the woman who went out with your dogs tied to you , you are a real bad A . Just know that. I hope the rest of your life is the best of your life because you’re a hero

Absolutely astounding footage and interviews. I am just flabbergasted.

Incredible work Max and thank you for putting together this video and sharing the story, it’s very powerful and hard hitting. Take care out there and safe chasing!

Just returned from a trip to Ft. Meyers. While they've done a great job on the cleanup you still see a random boat here and there where they are not supposed to be and lots of construction going on. We went to one bar that had an Ian Water Line on the wall and it was terrifying to see. I can't imagine how scary it was for Tod & Annette. Great job documenting the storm.

Amazing video. Thanks for all the support that everyone has sent to this area. It's amazing to see and it's so helpful for those who lost everything.

Phenomenal work man. That’s a incredible real, raw story of survival.

I am so greatful that you put the interview on here. I knew someone was in the house, but didn't know their outcome, I just knew in my mind they had perished. Thanks again, what a relief.

Thank you for sharing this! I am so glad that couple and their dogs made it out alive. It has always amazed me how the water can get all the way from where the beach is to there. This truly puts it in perspective. Thank you again.

Stellar story-telling and documentation Max, thanks for putting this together and sharing Tod and Anette's harrowing experience, hopefully their story can help others who face similar misfortune.

Great work, Max. Great story and editing. Very impressive.

Born and raised, Lee county FL!!! Im hearing from multiple first responders that death toll is much higher than reported. Praise God that they lived along with their 2 dogs. Max you are a real pro!

I am shocked and impressed at the same time. This work and documentation is so important to show just how dangerous such a storm can be. With your contribution you save lives.

I was born in Fl and my family have survived 2 hurricanes that were Cat 4-5. Andrew in Miami ,my youngest son in Ft.Myers with Ian. Thank you for showing this video, when the leaders of your city say Get Out for your safety…DO IT.

This really shows what could happen, I was living in Polk county in Davenport and I stayed in my 23' travel trailer when the eye came over and the winds were coming in at 85 miles an hour. My RV felt like at any moment I was going to tip over, I could feel it lift and hit the ground, next time I am heading out.

Max thank you for making this video. People need to see what can really happen. It’s hard to imagine when it’s a place you don’t know or haven’t seen for yourself - it only feels like a movie. Seeing a familiar place that I grew up in, hits so close and hard.

What an awesome interview. Storytelling at its finest. Only this was real.

Stunning. Excellent work as always Max.

27:15 That time lapse sequence was *incredible.*

This is a very well put together documentary, Best of its kind. Thank you for Helping that Family Max. Would love to see your channel grow.

I just went to fort myers beach today for work and let me tell ya, it still hasn't changed much :[ I drove right by whete your footage was and his story had me teary eyed. God bless

Max, thank you for sharing this. Watching Todd and Annette's house be destroyed was sad until I heard Todd and Annette's story and then it became heartbreaking. This is one of the best storm chasing videos I've ever seen. I've watched some of your previous storm chases in years past- you're an excellent videographer and story teller. May Annette and Todd and the doggos be recovering well.

I followed you live that day and appreciate this follow up documentary and a huge THANK YOU !!

Absolutely incredible video and their story is definitely the most intense storm story I've ever heard. That time lapse at the end is also something no one ever captures. I've always wanted to experience a major hurricane. We had sandy here in NJ which had catastrophic surge but calmer winds and rains oddly enough. I'll be making the trip to Florida if God forbid they're in the cross hairs again

Thank you for taking the time and effort to make such an impactful video. This is seriously one of the best documentaries I've ever witnessed.

Thank you all for your incredible work continued prayers go out to all.

Incredible footage. Thank you so much for this

I was with u guys All day during the storm,lost you,but u guys came back!

This is the most well put together video Ive ever came across 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

One of the best documentaries I've seen. Very powerful and emotional towards the end. Well done Max and the team. I've been following since the Missouri Tornado. A 🇦🇺 Follower, keep up the incredible work mate. 👍

Thank you for sharing! I use to live in Florida, went through a couple hurricanes but now I live in Arizona. I was a kid, but I remember how scary they were. I would have never stayed in anything on the beach during a hurricane. I am SOOOOO happy to see they survived. I had anxiety watching the footage, and when I saw the house go, I REALLY had anxiety and started looking through the comments. Thank you for linking this video to the other. They are truly blessed and had God watching out for them.

Great video Max. While you were riding it out in Port Charlotte, I was about 5 miles away riding it out at home. Fort Myers got the storm surge but we got 5 1/2 hours of eye wall winds (never in the eye itself) and 22" of rain in 12 hours. We didn't have houses float away, but we had flooding for days and it seems half the houses here wound up with a couple of feet of water in them. And as the rivers drained down our flooding only got worse - and finally cut off I-75 entirely which is 22-25 feet above sea level. You talk about evacuation but you'll see at 4:30 why no one left. It wasn't supposed to land here. The TV shows it all - Category 1 landing on Thursday. Instead, we got a storm that was 2MPH shy of a Category 5 landing on Wednesday - and that TV shot was from just 2 days prior.

Fantastic Video Max, I rode out the storm in the Port Charlotte/ Punta Gorda area on the north side of the eyewall to avoid the onshore flow. I passed by that spot where US41 crosses the Peace River where you see those cranes collapsing. That must have happened right before I drove passed, you probably have footage of my little blue Honda FIT going by to cross the bridge. At the time I had no idea of how bad the surge had been just south of our position, I only realized the next day when reports and footage started coming in and I just had this overwhelming guilty feeling sweep over as I got to go back to my home north of Tampa while so many others didn't make it out. You continue to improve your craft with every release man, great job.

This is one of the most harrowing stories I have ever seen or heard! Brought tears to my eyes!

Thanks for the video, it is important for me as I have a condo 12 miles south in Bonita Springs. Across From barefoot beach and Docs. This gave me a visual of what happened to my building. Although most of the units had no or minimal damage the ground floor was wiped out ,it contained the electrical supply, backup elevator generator and the water pump for the units, but also fire suppression. Building will be closed for almost a year. Amazing story of the couple who ended up in the water and being blow across the canal. I would love to know what height the water level was at that location ?. I have seen the beginning video many times on RU-vid , but never seen this one at max height. There is another story of a man who was locked out of his condo and was blown with the water into a small bay near me. He was eventually was blow back to near his condo and someone let him back in. I was watching the water levels at Naples pier CAM untill the feed was lost. Some time in the morning. I would love to have the times in your video of when the water came in and went back out at the time of maximum height , or a timeline in you video. Thanks again. I might look into getting a camera like yous as well.

Yes! Been waiting for this one. Making my Friday night. Got my Dinner and ready to go!

Thanks Max for an excellent documentary on Hurricane IAN, I have friends who went to Ft Myers and other areas, they took trailer full of all kinds of supplies, toilet paper, dippers, cases & cases of water, 500 lbs of chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs ect ... a huge Bar B Q cooker and a large boat so the could do search and rescue. While out searching he said they saw things that they could never un see. They were not prepared to see hundreds of dead bodies everywhere in and around canals, He said the stench would make you gag. Can you verified this? Do you see dead bodies? The News Media has said nothing about this except to say there was hardly any life lost. I have other sources that have said the same thing.

Great work Max! What a story.

Incredible video.

I’m watching your documentary with chills and tears the entire time. I live in Orlando and Ian was strong as f wind gusts that I stayed up through the night sitting at my front door making sure no tornadoes were gonna come I have a son and an elderly mom I’m responsible for and watching that thinking about being in their situation left me broken but so thankful they made it out! I’m not casting judgement by any means because I can guarantee you that as many hurricanes as I’ve been through I’ve never been through a storm surge and I would’ve stayed also!

Amazingly put together! Rode this monster out just south of you in Punta Gorda. That back eye wall was something different…

I just saw the full 9 hour video and couldn't believe what I was watching. I remember thinking I pray there's nobody in that house. To find out there was, and they survived has to be a miracle. Also remember wondering how the camera got there, and how was it able to withstand this storm. Eye opening witnessing the strength of mother nature. What you all are doing is helping wake people up to how seriously we should all be taking Hurricane, and other natural disasters warning far more seriously than we tend to.

incredible footage. I saw it early on, so I am glad to know the full story and the creators story

I saw your other video. Now I see this one. I am so glad they made it.

Was in North fort Myers. We didn't evacuate as we had 6 pets. Worst moments of our lives. Water went up to the ceiling in our house. We had to take shelter in a neighbors garage. Never again any hurricane comes near we are evacuating. I'm glad they were able to get out. For anyone who ever finds themselves in a hurricane's path please evacuate it's not worth it.

excellent video Max, it was incredible footage

This is an absolutely incredible video. The interview with the family is bone chilling. I am Florida native and chaser myself. Because of my experience with chasing cane's since I was a 9 y/o with Ivan in '04 (thanks mom for driving me lol) and surviving Michael I know first hand the power a Cat4/Cat5 can do. I am also a Public Adjuster, and Ian was the first big storm I worked (I worked the back end of Sally in '20 and Ida in '21 but those were relatively "minor" in terms of wide spread destruction). I actually represented the folks who own the yellow 3 story house in the background at 15:38. I inspected the property with the adjuster from the insurance company towards the end of October. It was right around sunset, and there was a massive complex of sea breeze storms over the inland lee county area (backside of the house) while the sun was simultaneously setting over the gulf (front side). Of course, everyone knows that a setting sun makes for an absolutely photogenic thunderstorm display. Our inspection concluded and I walked on to the third floor balcony (it would be where the transformer is on the right side pole in between the probe and beach access marker, from the frame at 15:38) and took easily my best photograph in 28 years of living. The setting sun illuminating a bolt throwing sea breeze monster set as the backdrop for a scene of pure, raw and unparalleled destruction. Over the last year and a half I have heard story after story, told stories of my own (as somebody who came down to chase Ian and road it out near Venice, close to Englewood) and met quite literally thousands of SwFl residents but this video and interview is one of the best stories I have seen. Thank you as always for your fantastic work. If a storm brings you towards the Gulf Coast look me up! I'd love to collab with you!

Terrific Narration Sir !

Amazing Documentary. Thank you.

Amazing footage of the storm and of the miracle.

Amazing story Max, teaches us all that there’s more power to storm chasing than just metrics.

I miss U Florida ☀️☀️☀️ Thank You for this documentary Greetings from Eastern Europe ☀️ Incredible peoples 💛💛💛💛

The music at the very end where you show the sped up footage was really fantastically compelling and totally fit the mood btw.

Absolutely unbelievable! I remember seeing that same footage of the storm surge getting higher and higher and I could not believe what I was seeing as I watched 16 foot storm surge pick up, and carry away an entire house. I had no clue there were people still inside.

I am so happy they survived!! I watched the surge video first and now the documentary.

Best footage I've ever seen and very sobering of a major hurricane passing through

insanely emotional footage and interview

An absolutely amazing story, incredible footage, and inspirational people and dogs. Glad they are alive, thanks to them others will also live.

Superb work guy's , unbelievable footage .

I live in Fort Myers. Gonna take a while to rebuild the coastal areas but we'll get there. Nice couple. Really glad they made it. Great documentary.

Thank you so much for doing this Max. My family's business and house are in Bonita Beach. The destruction was like nothing I ever imagine. I feel people I know, friends and family, can't empathize because it's just unimaginable and almost inconceivable. But what you did helps people understand what we went through. Sure these are physical, material things, but the fact that everything we own/love/need can be taken away from us at any moment is the most difficult reality we have to live with. Thank you again for what you did.

Very moving….thank you for sharing!

Great Documentary bro!

We lost our entire home in the same storm just a couple miles away from this home. Absolutely horrific and really appreciate the footage and story as there was not a lot of other coverage. Brings tears to my eyes.

I came across this video and I had to watch it. It was very compelling. What Todd, Annette and their 2 beautiful dogs went through is nothing but miraculous. We were in Jamaica for my daughter's wedding when Hurricane Ian came through the Caribbean. We were very lucky it passed under under us and we only had one morning of rain. We left to come back home to Toronto on the 28th and our flight had to be diverted because of the hurricane hitting Florida. When I saw the news the next day, after our arrival home, I couldn't believe the devastation the hurricane left, especially in the Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island area. My heart goes out to the people that didn't make it and their families. To Todd and Annette, all the best to you and thank god you survived this terrible storm. Max and your crew.....absolutely amazing documentary and like some people have commented, you deserve some sort of an award.

This video deserves any Emmy!

Powerful Max.

The fact that this storm is not covered much or talked about is insane... I have never been so scared my whole life. #survivor

thank you. it's important to see.