Lee County, FL, USA April 29, 2024

Following Hurricane Ian's devastating impact in Lee County, Florida, researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) developed a revolutionary remote sensing technique to quickly assess storm damage. Using aerial imagery and LiDAR technology, they conducted a comprehensive impact analysis, providing important information about structural damage and changes in beach morphology.

Hurricane Yang, a Category 4 storm, struck Lee County, Florida on September 28, 2022, producing winds of 155 mph and a record storm surge of up to 13 feet. The severity of the storm required rapid and accurate damage assessment to facilitate rescue and recovery efforts.

The analysis revealed a staggering statistic: Of the 2,427 structures on Estero Island, 170 suffered significant damage, with a total estimated cost of more than $200 million. The hardest-hit areas are predominantly located in the central and northern parts of the island, where single-family and multi-family residential buildings took the brunt.