The Sanibel Island lighthouse is seen after Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Wilfredo Lee AP
Mash image to enlarge
Don’t know if the following has been posted:
1. Sanibel Island uninhabitable. They evacuated approximately 90 by boat. Public NOT allowed on island. No idea for how long. Lighthouse suffered damage. Still standing? Don’t know. bridges also gone to Pine Island
2. No one is allowed in Ft Myers Beach. Emergency crews continue search and rescue.
3. Deaths in Lee County now at 35.
4. Florida Power and Light hopes to have power back by Sunday Oct 9th. As of Oct 2 no power no water cell phone sporadic
5. I live in Jamaica Bay in Ft Myers. We believe a conservative estimate of homes lost in our park is 500. My home survived with moderate damage. Still some side streets not easily passable.
6. National Guard has set up relief stations near us with food and water. Some gas stations open. The problem is expending the gas you have just to get gas or water is difficult. Odd situation to be certain.
7. Those who would trivialize this or blame us for living in a hurricane zone are showing the world who they at heart are. Yes, we chose to live here. Others chose to live in Tornado alley or earthquake prone places. We took our chances like anyone else. A little human compassion and decency should rule the day, not heartless snide remarks. I write this because of some comments that were made online to my neighbor who lost her home and her belongings to Ian. This historic hurricane has changed our lives forever. The residents of our community are all over 55.
May God save us all
Thank you for update. 🙏
There was some discussion on the various inter webs about FPL restoring a much larger portion of their customers than Lee County Electric Coop. But, one should take into consideration that LCEC’s service area includes the devastated islands, where they can’t even get line trucks to the areas of need, and as you noted, some of those islands are uninhabitable presently anyway.
I suspect that close to the shore, FPL is dealing with the same issues that LCEC is dealing with, and those areas will take much longer to restore than areas a bit farther inland, where most of the infrastructure is intact.
I am glad your home survived, but the rest of this news is tragic. So much is lost forever.
The problem of housing the refugees of the storm seems insurmountable.
Where would they even set up the FEMA trailers?
Its especially hard on the elderly and disabled. I’ve seen photo after photo of very elderly people carried out of their homes on stretchers.
Anyone who can joke and blame the victims is unforgivably cruel. Wait ‘til tragedy comes their way. As the old saying warns: “What goes around, comes around.”
Thank you for your detailed local report. My prayers are with you and your neighbors now and through your recovery. Pay no attention to the mean-spirited, self-absorbed people who post on social media. Check FRmail when you get a chance.
The Sanibel Island lighthouse is seen after Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Wilfredo Lee AP
Mash image to enlarge