Fallen palm trees. Stranded cars submerged in water. Collapsed bridges.

Images and videos that became clearer in the light of day Thursday showcased the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian. 

Ian hit Southwest Florida as a Category 4 storm Wednesday afternoon, battering the coast with heavy rainfall and winds that extended outward up to 415 miles. The storm, which dropped down to tropical storm level Thursday morning, is expected to strengthen as it heads toward South Carolina Friday as a Category 1 hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said on "Good Morning America" fatalities from the hurricane could be in the “hundreds.”

Meg Kinnard and Adriana Gomez Licon

Ian lashes South Carolina as Florida's death toll climbs

The Sanibel Causeway this morning following Hurricane Ian@ABC7SWFL @NBC2 pic.twitter.com/lgrTmjoqGJ

— Anyssa Bohanan (@AnyssaBohanan) September 29, 2022

Joe Dalton, on vacation from Cleveland, Ohio, checks out beached boats at Fort Myers Wharf along the Caloosahatchee River Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Fort Myers, Fla., following Hurricane Ian.Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis described Hurricane Ian’s impact as “historic” during a press conference held Thursday morning. He said rebuilding could take years.

“The impacts of this storm are historic,” DeSantis says of Hurricane Ian.

“The damage that was done has been historic and this is just off initial assessments…We’ve never seen a flood event like this. We’ve never seen storm surge of this magnitude.” https://t.co/mR3bpoXRPF pic.twitter.com/yjHFbN4PPB

— ABC News (@ABC) September 29, 2022

Vehicles make their way through a flooded area Thursday after Hurricane Ian passed through in Fort Myers, Fla.(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Damaged boats lie on the land and water in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Fla.(Wilfredo Lee/AP)

A section of the damaged Sanibel Causeway seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Thursday.(Wilfredo Lee/AP)

Firefighters in Orange County, Fla., help people stranded by Hurricane Ian early Thursday.(Orange County Fire Rescue's Public Information Office via AP)

Damaged homes are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Ft. Myers, Fla.(Wilfredo Lee/AP)

News outlets around the area posted to social media Thursday morning highlighting Hurricane Ian’s destruction. 

.@JimCantore and @StephanieAbrams showed us some of the damage they're seeing today from Hurricane #Ian and shared how mitigation efforts kept it from being worse. pic.twitter.com/xe9eoGiyWa

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) September 29, 2022

HURRICANE IAN DAMAGE: Here's a first look at aerial footage of the damage left behind by Hurricane Ian, courtesy of ABC affiliate WPLG.

LATEST: https://t.co/1HJLkbakSQ pic.twitter.com/nOBOBq8Mas

— WFAA (@wfaa) September 29, 2022

As winds calm and daylight is available we are seeing the damage from #HurricaneIan in Punta Gorda where there was landfall of the storm yesterday. As you are cleaning up in SW Florida please be safe and use extreme caution. pic.twitter.com/a3QUEmAF7w

— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 29, 2022

Today we are out surveying the damage caused by #HurricaneIan. Lots of trees down in Brandon/Valrico. Setting up now for a news conference with @JaneCastor at 11:30a - watch live @10TampaBay pic.twitter.com/ItXvwsGWbT

— Daisey Charlotte (@DaiseyWTSP) September 29, 2022

I’m in Fort Myers this morning, where Hurricane Ian has left devastation in its wake

Heartbreaking scenes as the full scope of damage comes into view pic.twitter.com/J8godyttJN

— Max Chesnes (@MaxChesnes) September 29, 2022

First Published: September 29, 2022, 5:10 p.m.