Tornadoes have spun off from Hurricane Ian as it ploughed into Florida's Gulf Coast, with catastrophic force leaving power out and forcing residents into a curfew.
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More than 2.5 million people have been ordered to evacuate the category four hurricane.
As the storm smashed into the coastline, the ocean was swept up and inundated homes, businesses and streets.
A shark was even swept into the street in Fort Myers.
Drenching rain and wild winds have brought down trees and powerlines.
![A shark was swept into the street as Hurricane Ian tore through Florida in the United States. Picture by @BradHabuda/Twitter A shark was swept into the street as Hurricane Ian tore through Florida in the United States. Picture by @BradHabuda/Twitter](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yqbYpxNMru7TBX8VR5QF63/b18e7a46-9ac9-4d15-93c6-1f0eb41078fb.JPG/r0_52_285_229_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The hurricane sparked its own weather patterns, with five tornado warnings issued and people told to stay indoors.
Collier County emergency management director Dan Summers said Florida is "not out of the woods yet".
"We still have to watch the storm go past us. We still have a significant opportunity for storm surge inundation," he said.
Mr Summers said the category four storm could escalate to a category five.
Curfews are in place in a number of counties, including Naples and Collier, and people are urged to stay off the road and out of the water.
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Naples Fire-Rescue Department station was inundated with water from the ocean surges, with firefighters forced to push partially submerged trucks out of the station when they were called to help at a flood rescue.
The United States Navy ordered its 4th Fleet ships and aircraft out of the hurricane's way.
![King Point resident Maria Esturilho is escorted by her son Tony Esturilho as they leave behind the damage from an apparent overnight tornado spawned from Hurricane Ian at Kings Point 55+ community in Delray Beach. Picture by Carline Jean /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP King Point resident Maria Esturilho is escorted by her son Tony Esturilho as they leave behind the damage from an apparent overnight tornado spawned from Hurricane Ian at Kings Point 55+ community in Delray Beach. Picture by Carline Jean /South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yqbYpxNMru7TBX8VR5QF63/a4cc678e-1413-4148-9f11-054bd3e290f7.jpg/r0_0_5392_3043_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Ships began departures from Naval Station Mayport yesterday [Tuesday]," the US Navy said.
"Naval Station personnel have completed heavy weather mooring for those required to stay in port. Aircraft completed all evacuations from area airfields and the rest are secured in hangars rated to withstand hurricane force winds."
Two dead as Ian plunges Cuba into darkness
At least two people have died in Cuba as Hurricane Ian tore across the island country on its way to the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.
Cuba's electrical grid collapsed, leaving the entire country in the dark shortly after Hurricane Ian ploughed through the western end of the island leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
Power outages as Ian batters Florida
![Florida has been battered by Hurricane Ian. Picture by City of Naples, FL Florida has been battered by Hurricane Ian. Picture by City of Naples, FL](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yqbYpxNMru7TBX8VR5QF63/ab8ebc05-2fec-4438-a76a-dede8d9e8102.jpg/r0_115_1440_1049_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
More than 500,000 homes and businesses are without power, with local utilities battling to restore energy amid the storm surges.
"Hurricane Ian's catastrophic winds will mean parts of our system will need to be rebuilt - not restored," Florida Power & Light said on Twitter.
"Be prepared for widespread, extended outages as we are assessing the damage. We are already at work restoring power where we can do so safely."
![There are extensive flash flood warnings (pictured in red) in place for areas around Florida. Image by National Weather Service There are extensive flash flood warnings (pictured in red) in place for areas around Florida. Image by National Weather Service](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/yqbYpxNMru7TBX8VR5QF63/a27c689c-90b5-463c-bceb-65ac55994fb4.JPG/r0_30_789_502_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)