Ian was a 5 when it hit. There were 155 MPH sustained winds around the eye. Hurricane strength drops fairly quickly once it hits large size portions of land as opposed to islands, though high mountains like those in some of the islands will deplete strength. By the time it crosses Florida, it will be a 1 at best or maybe a tropical storm.
Our DD and DGDs are in the area where the eye passed, Charlotte Harbor, Port Charlotte, North Punta Gorda area. It was still pretty nasty a couple of hours ago where DD and DGDs are when i got the last text . Cell service is in and out, which is normal when a major hurricane passes through an area. When the last one to hit our area passed through, we were only able to text on cells for a week or so.
It was really bad over there. Local news stations weren't showing video from that area, just north and south of there.
I fully expect the area to look like Punta Gorda did when Hurricane Charlie passed through years ago, which was a weaker and much smaller storm and a fast moving one. Ian slowed down to 8 MPH when it hit land. Charlie was moving along at 20 MPH. Charlie devestated Punta Gorda. Craig's brother was alive then and lived there. We went over to help him salvage what he could right after the storm. It was as bad over there from Charlie as it was when Andrew hit South Dade County. Concrete brick buildings were just gone in lots of places .
Storm surge was really bad from Ian. Water was up close to second stories in some areas per local news videos. There was video of a Naples fire station. The fire engine trucks had water half way up the doors.
People's homes and lives have been destroyed. I doubt the vast majority in the hardest hit areas will be worried about tourists coming for a vacation for months.
By the way, Ian is following Charlie's track almost exactly. It will exit Florida around Daytona Beach, which is what Charlie did. We happened to be in Daytona Beach when Charlie went through attending and exhibiting at a trade show. It still wasn't pleasant at a Cat 1 and most of our fellow attendees made butts out of themselves partying and getting drunk, and going outside as the hurricane passed over us.