34. The Storm Surge That Swallowed an Entire Coastline
As Hurricane Ian approached Florida, cameras recorded the ocean rising before landfall. Storm surge pushed seawater miles inland, swallowing roads, homes, and marinas in a slow but unstoppable advance.
Unlike waves, the surge behaved like a creeping tide on steroids. Boats floated into neighborhoods, and palm trees stood half-submerged. Experts emphasize storm surge causes more fatalities than wind, yet footage of the creeping ocean shocked many who underestimated hurricanes’ true danger.
