Hurricane Ian downgraded to tropical storm as it continues to batter Florida

Florida woke up Thursday to the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Ian, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States, wreaked havoc across the state, cutting power to 2.5 million customers, leaving several hospitals without water and trapping thousands of residents in their homes.

Officials said it would take days or longer to assess the total destruction of the storm.

Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson told NBC's "TODAY" show that Ian was one of the most ferocious storms he had witnessed in decades, gutting him emotionally.

"Watching the water from...