Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

DEVASTATION AND RESOLVE

The Sanibel Causeway — heavily damaged, with a 50- to 60-foot section of the A-span collapsed and one of the supporting “spoil islands” awash.

Matlacha Bridge — “the fishingest bridge in the world” — breached at its foot.

Fort Myers Beach’s iconic Time Square and the Beach pier — gone.

Cape Coral’s historic Yacht Club pier — no more.

Hundreds of houses and a multitude of businesses on Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Matlacha and along Cape

Coral’s Gold Coast and all along the Caloosahatchee riverfront and Gulf-access canals — destroyed or heavily damaged.

Death, injuries and countless lives and livelihoods left behind in the wreckage wrought by Hurricane Ian, which roared ashore on Cayo Costa just shy of a Category 5 hurricane with winds topping 150 mph and catastrophic storm surge estimated as high as 18 feet.

Hurricane Ian was Florida’s deadliest hurricane since the Great Labor Day Hurricane that swept over in the Keys with storm surge of up to 20 feet and winds hitting 183 mph in 1935, leaving 423 dead. Ian’s death toll is expected to exceed that of Hurricane Andrew, which devastated the Miami and Homestead area in 1992, killing 62 in South Florida.

As we write this, 123 have been reported dead, including 53 of our neighbors — ages 19 to 96 — here in Lee County. Another 24 died in Charlotte, another six in Sarasota County.

Damage estimates range from $41 billion to $70 billion.

We’ve taken a catastrophic hit.

We’re suffered a devastating loss.

But we will rebuild.

It is what we do.

It is what we have done when times have been tough and tough they have been for Southwest Florida over the last couple of decades.

Hurricane Charley hit us hard in 2004, also coming ashore at Cayo Costa, with Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva heavily damaged.

We built back.

We were the epicenter when the real estate bubble bust nationwide, spawning the Great Recession in 2006.

We hung tough, building back livelihoods and businesses to create an economy that was stronger than ever.

Hurricane Irma gave us a wack in September of 2017, causing $829 million in damages throughout Lee County. Cape Coral saw significant losses along its canal fronts where miles of seawalls collapsed due to receding and returning waters.

We built back.

And we will build back, have, in fact begun to do so.

In the grieving wake of loss of life.

From the little to nothing left of lives lived in homes and businesses no longer standing.

From the memory of what we, as a community, as a region, can be.

And will be again.

#SanCapStrong

Resilient community newspapers for resilient communities

The team at Breeze Newspapers has dealt with hurricanes, large and small, many times over the past five decades, but Ian was my first.

When I took over the role of publisher of Breeze Newspapers in 2019, I knew hurricanes were something I’d have to deal with. To drive that point home, Hurricane Dorian threatened my travel plans as I arrived in Florida on Labor Day Weekend of that year before eventually making landfall in the Bahamas.

As a transplant, I learned the intricacies of the forecast cone and hurricane kit, but for three years — week after week, month after month, season after season — no hurricanes, a few close calls, but nothing more. That is, of course, until Ian first showed his face in the Caribbean and the local TV weather’s usual bubbly presentations got more stone-faced each day. We talked in the same tones here. It just felt different. And it was.

Ray Eckenrode Publisher’s Message

For Breeze Newspapers and likely for each of you, Ian marked a turning point in our lives, now on a course much different than just a few weeks ago.

We suffered serious damages from Ian. Our Fort Myers Beach office is barely standing and suffered catastrophic storm surge damage. Our Cape Coral office, which houses the Breeze operations and Ogden Digital and Directories, suffered heavy wind and water damage and is partially inoperable right now. Our offices on Sanibel and Pine Island are standing, but we’ve been unable to assess them much beyond that. Our printing plant on Jetport Loop in Fort Myers weathered the storm well and is up and running again.

At the Breeze, we’ve been on dual paths since Sept. 28, trying to begin picking up the pieces of our own lives at the

same time as getting back to the business of community newspapering. I’ve watched in amazement our teams have gathered news, largely without the aid of Wi-Fi or even cell service in many cases, and assembled makeshift quarters for sales, ad design and accounting. With the support of our corporate offices, we were able to publish e-editions in four of our markets on Oct. 5 and a few days later the special print edition you’re reading now.

As we recover along with the rest of Southwest Florida, you’ll see some changes in our operation.

The big absence in our operation will mirror the big absence in Southwest Florida as we’ll temporarily suspend publication of our many tourism-related products until tourists return — and they will return.

There will be an increased focus on realtime digital news gathering and digital advertising sales via our web sites: capecoralbreeze.com, captivasanibel.com, fortmyersbeachtalk.com, northfortmyersneighbor.com and pineisland-eagle.com.

We’ll continue to publish weekly e-editions for Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel-Captiva and Pine Island and, as the pace of recovery quickens, we’ll return to limited print editions, likely distributed at just a few key locations at first, until we’re back to full capacity.

In Cape Coral, we’ll resume printing Wednesday and Friday Breeze newspapers, beginning next week, Oct. 12 and Oct. 14.

We’ll also continue to publish our monthly Community Lifestyles magazine, which is distributed by direct mail.

In short, we’ll do our very best to do what any good community newspaper should do: reflect its community. In this case, a community that is resilient and determined.

President Biden, Gov. DeSantis meet on Fort Myers Beach

By CJ HADDAD Cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis met to discuss releif and held a press conference in one of the most heavily impacted areas: Fort Myers Beach.

The president said he and Lee County Commission Chair Cecil Pendergrass went on a helicopter tour of the area that included Sanibel, another highly-devastated island town.

He described the many disasters in various areas of the country he’s visited during his presidency, and said, “There’s a lot going on. And I think the one thing this has finally ended is the discussion of whether or not there’s climate change and we should do something about it.”

As Biden stood at disheveled Fisherman’s Wharf, he shared him sympathies for residents and business owners who will surely have to build from scratch.

“It’s going to take years to get everything squared away in the state of Florida,” Biden said. “To fully recover and rebuild.”

Biden said his trip was centered around one job, and that was “to make sure the people of Florida have everything that they need to fully, thoroughly recover.”

He added that the United States is the only nation to come out of disasters better than before, and envisions the same for Southwest Florida.

“This is the United States of America, and I emphasize ‘united,'” Biden said.

The communication among state, local, and federal government was praised by Biden, who credited DeSantis for his work. He said the country pre-positioned the largest number of search-and-rescue teams in its history.

Biden described that as of his Wednesday visit, teams had knocked on more than 70,000 doors and completed or carried out more than 3,800 rescues.

More than 24,000 structures were examined on Tuesday in Lee County alone. Thousands of utility workers from across the U.S. have come to the region.

“This is about America coming together,” Biden said. “And I really mean it.”

A Disaster Recovery Center was opened Tuesday in Fort Myers at Lakes Regional Library, and Biden said three more would be open in Southwest Florida by Thursday, with more locations to come.

There, residents can find a one-stop-shop for FEMA and insurance claims.

Biden said 200,000 Florida families had registered for Urgent Assistance to date, and that low-interest Small Business Association disaster loans are available.

The state has activated its hotel program for those looking for temporary housing, where they can get a room free of charge.

Biden said those without insurance and those who are under-insured could be eligible for federal funds up to nearly

Biden

President Joe Biden visited surrounding areas of Southwest Florida throughout Wednesday afternoon flying in on Air Force One, surveying the destruction of Hurricane Ian first-hand.

ABOVE: President Joe Biden speaks after touring Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian on Wednesday with Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy (far left), Florida Department of Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (second from far left) and Gov. Ron DeSantis, second from right, and his wife Casey DeSantis (far right) listen.

Joe Biden hugs Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Rexann Hosafros as he tours Fort Myers Beach on Wednesday. At left

of

Myers Beach Councilmember

Allers

AP PHOTOS/EVAN VUCCI

ABOVE: In this aerial photo, damaged boats and debris rest against the shore of San Carlos Island in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29,

LEFT: Damaged homes and debris are shown in the wake of Hurricane Ian, Thursday, Sept. 29, on Fort Myers Beach.

AP PHOTOS/WILFREDO LEE

Shocked, shattered, resiliency tested on Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com

A week after Hurricane Ian struck Fort Myers Beach, bodies were still being found under debris and under receding water from a Category 4 storm which brought 150 mph winds to the island, 16-feet storm surges and turned the lives of thousands into nightmares with destruction not seen on a scale in these parts in anyone’s lifetime.

There were 54 people believed to be dead in Lee County, with a significant portion in the Fort Myers Beach area where the storm’s impact was felt more than anywhere else in Florida.

On the only way by road to Fort Myers Beach down San Carlos Boulevard two days after Hurricane Ian struck, yachts and other large boats lined the sidewalks and blocked streets Friday.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Fire Department was forced to close off the island for a week to residents seeking to return to their home in order to continue search-and-rescue operations with the National Urban Search and Rescue Team.

On Main Street, a boat blocked the middle of the road that leads to Salty Sam’s Marina, single-family homes and mobile home communities.

Scores of homes and businesses were totaled on Fort Myers Beach, including most of Times Square — the town’s tourist destination. Rubble lined the streets, the sidewalks, places where homes used to stand, and even blocked the middle of roads in some locations. Destroyed boats upon boats, were left on top of each other like ancient shipwrecks.

Some bodies have not yet been identified. Most of the dead range from their 50s and into their 90s.

Among those who didn’t survive the hurricane was Fort Myers Beach resident Mitch Pacyna, who was as popular as anyone on the island and well-known for his extravagant Christmas decorations and for his sports lounge which he created in his garage.

“We’re heartbroken by Mitch,” said Sea Gypsy Inn coowner Scott Safford. “We can replace buildings but we can't replace somebody as good as Mitch.”

The outpouring of emotion for the loss of Pacyna was evident on Facebook, where numerous tributes flowed.

“You will be missed by all especially by us at the Library,” Fort Myers Beach Library Clerk Debby Heffner Ashby said.

Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Bill Veach lost his home, one of four council members left homeless from the savagery of the storm. Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt’s home burned down. Hernstadt was dis-

traught by his loss but stated he wished to focus on town recovery operations rather than speak on his own personal loss.

“As a community we have all suffered, most tragically with the loss of life of our friends and neighbors,” said Jessica Hernstadt, wife to the town manager and a participant in several goodwill nonprofits in town.

“This is a time for all of us to come together and support each other in any way we can,” Ms. Hernstadt said.

Hernstadt noted that several community organizations are working hard to help the FMB community in many ways. The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation’s #WeAreFMB fundraising efforts are in progress at FMBCommunityFoundation.com and The Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Beach is providing clothing and housewares to Fort Myers Beach residents outside 11050 Summerlin

Square Drive. “While I am saddened over the personal loss of my home and business, I find inspiration in one of my favorite quotes by Booker T. Washington, ‘If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else,’” Mr. Hernstadt said.

“I personally feel kind of detached from the loss,” Veach said. “The violence and destruction is almost beyond comprehension. We lost our lovingly restored, historic beach cottage, and our lifetime of collections. But we are OK. I went onto the island with Roger on day one, where we were cut off from the outside world. My 4WD truck could go no further than the Lani Kai. Cars had floated into the road, wires lay across it. We hiked it to where our house used to be, seeing friends along the way. Then we staggered around like movie zombies, and saw another friend,” he said. “It was a day later when I was driving I was surprised when my almost useless phone rang. Is was my panicking sister, not sure if we were alive or dead. I understood her relief. While checking on friends and neighbors and their houses, I was stuck by the sense of euphoria when seeing a friend among the wreckage, someone who you weren’t sure made it. It is a staggering loss, like it washed the delightful funky right off our island. But stuff is stuff, people are people. And it’s the people that make this island home.”

Veach cautioned residents against wading into the water due to the high-level of pollutants believed to have entered the bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Nearly every building in town has suffered some type of flooding damage and countless amounts of debris were scattered along the streets. Some streets were blocked off with debris.

“We took a real bad shot. A real hard hit,” Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy said.

“There is a lot of destruction. The island was devastated and now the cleanup begins.

The U.S. Coast Guard, which has a base in Fort Myers Beach, has reported rescuing 255 people as of Saturday in operations which extend from the coasts of the waters around Lee County and Collier County. Lee County Sheriff Carmine

A man carries gas canisters along Fort Myers Beach.

PHOTO BY VANDY MAJOR

At left, debris is scattered across the road in the intersection of Fifth Street, Old San Carlos Boulevard and Estero Boulevard (photo by Vandy Major).

Above, a Lee County EMS workers walks toward a home damaged by Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach.

Island Winds Condominium (at left) was “decimated” with flooding from Hurricane Ian though the buildings withstood the onslaught, Island Winds Condominium Association President Dave Nusbaum said.

PHOTO BY DAVE NUSBAUM.

At right, the Lani Kai Island Resort took heavy floding on its first floor.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALAN MISHAGA.

AP PHOTO/WILFREDO LEE Damaged homes and debris are shown in the wake of Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach.

Beach residents, businesses face a long road to recovery

Marceno said there have been more than 800 rescues in all.

“It’s going to be a long recovery,” Fort Myers Beach resident Kevin Cochrane said. Cochrane said he and his wife Theisen’s home was flooded onto the second floor. They lost their appliances, television and their laundry machines. Cochrane said a neighbor was watching the home for them while they evacuated and reported a 10-feet surge of water.

Cochrane has been on the island about 35 years after moving from Buffalo, where the hazards are blizzards of seven to eight feet of snow. His wife Theisen was born on Fort Myers Beach 60 years ago during Hurricane Donna. Theisen teaches physical education at Cape Coral Elementary School while Mr. Cochrane is a retired special education teacher from Royal Palm Exceptional Center.

“We will start over from scratch,” Mr. Cochrane said.

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak and husband Scott Safford said nothing was left of their business the Sea Gypsy Inn, on Estero Boulevard. Most of the dozens of vacation rentals they operate, were totaled or heavily damaged, they said.

“It’s like you came back to another planet,” Liszak said. Liszak said Hurricane Charley in 2004 was like a “rainstorm” compared to Hurricane Ian.

“I wouldn’t even call it a hurricane after this,” she said.

“This community is going to change. A lot of people aren’t going to come back,” Safford said.

“Together, we will figure our way through it,” Liszak said.

Liszak said the website for the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce will be providing information to people and businesses looking for help and assistance. Liszak said her chamber team is still working and the chamber is receiving support from other chambers who have been through hurricanes in the panhandle.

Liszak’s first floor of her residence was “decimated,” she said. The second floor took about a foot of water, she said. Safford said there was a 15-feet surge of water during Hurricane Ian. They are hopeful they can save some artwork. They were able to save wedding photos.

Among the businesses totally wiped out by the hurricane were Shucker’s at the Gulfshore and Cottage Bar, The Salty Crab, The Beach Bar, Junkanoos, The Pierview Grill & Famous Blowfish Bar, Sunset Beach Tropical Grill and others.

The Red Coconut RV Resort was particularly hard hit, with much of it wiped out.

Liszak, who owned the Sea Gypsy Inn for 10 years, said she has started a GoFundMepage to assist staff at the inn. The GoFundMe page is one of a number of such pages for area businesses. The Pink Shell Resort, Sunset Beach Tropical Grill and Sandpiper are among the other businesses with GoFundMe pages to assist staff.

Pink Shell Resort owner Robert Boykin said his hotel was structurally sound though it did sustain a lot of water damage. Boykin said water even reached the lobby, which is 22 feet above the ground. Some glass on the first floor was broken. He said the key was to dry out the resort before mold could grow.

Boykin is hoping he can gain permission from authorities to bring on a large electric generator truck to power his resort and help restore it quicker and get it up and running in order to use the hotel to house workers repairing the island. Boykin said workers at his property had to go almost two hours north to Sarasota to find lodging.

“We’re in the best position to get back up and running,” Boykin said. “We could be lodging search and rescue (personnel).”

“We’re mostly new construction post-(Hurricane) Andrew. This is my seventh hurricane,” Boykin said. “We don’t have any structural damage,” he said. Boykin said the resort held up the way it was designed to. “We’ve had contractors inside assessing the situation,” he said. “We can serve an important function to the rest of the community.”

The damage from the hurricane caused the closure of Big Hickory Pass Bridge, which is the only connection to Bonita Beach from the south end of Fort Myers Beach.

At a press conference in Fort Myers Saturday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he believed county officials were ready for “some level of displacement” among residents.

“These are resilient folks,” he said. “They will bounce

back. We just have to pave the way for them.”

S’iva Goodman, who lives on Palermo Circle, said her home sustained major flooding damage and she lost a large number of belongings.

“We live on the bottom floor so it was flooded to the ceiling,” Goodman said.

“It was definitely over 12 feet,” Goodman said of the storm surge. Goodman said her sailboat cut loose and drifted down the street but was saved. Goodman said she stayed with her mother during the storm. Goodman was able to save some clothes and personal items such as some seashells.

Goodman works at Dixie Fish Co. and Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. Marty Harrity, a partner in the ownership of the restaurants, said the restaurants incurred “major flooding damage.” Harrity called the situation “an enormous disaster.”

Off island, two friends described a last-minute escape from a flooding home.

Ally Caudill, of Iona, said she drove her car to pick up her friend Cole Mazza but soon found her own car flooded. Mazza said he escaped from his home with a suitcase and two cats and had to swim to safety. A bartender at Shucker’s, he said he lost his car. “We’re doing our best,” Caudill said.

“I can’t really find words for it,” Mazza said. Just a few days earlier, he said he was prepping Shucker’s for a major storm, not knowing it would cost him his home.

“It was like a tsunami hit,” Mazza said. Mazza said he worked at Shucker’s for five year. “It was like a family,” he said.

Dave Nusbaum, president of the Island Winds Condominium Association said the building took a lot of water in the first floor.

“We got hammered,” Nusbaum said.

Power and water was lost to the island for days and could be out an extended time. Cell towers were also damaged, leaving limited cell phone coverage.

DeSantis encouraged those considering joining in volunteer efforts to go to volunteerflorida.org.

“My favorite party place and it’s gone,” said Angela Wingate, of San Carlos Boulevard.

“My pier is gone. The Dairy Queen. My old stomping grounds from the ’70s. A lot of memories are wiped away with my grandkids,” said Angel Roman, of Fort Myers. Roman said he once put in irrigation pipes on Fort Myers Beach near Times Square.

Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Jim Atterholt stayed on the island throughout the hurricane and only recently left because his condo became uninhabitable.

“We are so very thankful to our public safety professionals as they risk their lives to protect us. It has been a very difficult time for our island but as long as I have breath in my lungs, I am going to fight for an even bigger and better Island Renaissance in our future,” Atterholt said.

Atterholt said damage on the south end of the island “has a wide spectrum. Most of the condo buildings had their first floors almost completely wiped out with the upper floors fairing relatively well. Structural engineers are going to have to make the ultimate decision on if the condos are safe. The homes on the south end also have a wide range of damage levels depending on when and how they were built.”

It appeared that the Margaritaville construction was largely still standing.

Asked why he wants to return to Fort Myers Beach and rebuild after such a hurricane, Cochrane said “I just love the island. I love the history and the fact that my wife was born here.”

Cochrane said they wanted to redo their home “better so that we can survive if it happens again.”

Cochrane said they loved the town’s “quaintness and the history and the weather, of course, until now.”

Fort Myers Beach residents survey the damage to Times Square, which was almost completely wiped out by Hurricane Ian. PHOTO BY NATHAN MAYBERG

Following evacuations, recovery efforts begin on islands

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

In the days after Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa as a Category 4 storm, those who had remained on Sanibel and Captiva were being evacuated to the mainland — by boats and ferry.

Parts of the Sanibel Causeway, including a section of the bridge, had been washed away.

On Sept. 28 at about 3 p.m., the storm came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, just shy of the 157 or higher mph required to make it a Category 5. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it brought intense winds and heavy rainfall, including storm surge with an unprecedented inundation of 12 to 18 feet above ground level in Lee County and along the coastline.

Ian tied the record for the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States. It was the strongest one to hit Florida since Michael in 2018 and was the first

Category 4 since Charley in 2004.

A week after the storm, residents and business owners could return to the islands with a hurricane re-entry pass issued through the city of Sanibel — again, only by water. As of mid-week, the Florida Department of Transportation had begun construction on the repairs required to reopen the causeway.

Officials reported that they anticipate having the causeway accessible by the end of October.

According to the city of Sanibel, those who wish to travel to, from or about the island will need to rely on their own resources and do so at their own risk. No ground transportation is available on Sanibel.

In addition, no public boat ramps on Sanibel nor Captiva were open for landing and debarking.

There was no power, water nor sewer available for either island, with restoration efforts underway.

There is a curfew for Sanibel of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with no exceptions. Also, the Army National Guard has been

brought in to augment the efforts of the Sanibel Police Department and emergency crews.

The National Guard is also stationed on Captiva, along with the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

As an unincorporated area, Captiva is under Lee County’s curfew of 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

At a press conference on Oct. 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Fort Myers, where a Temporary City Hall has been set up, Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza confirmed that four people died from the storm.

“Our fatality count remains at four,” he said. “We had more happy endings than sad endings.”

Souza spoke to the heart of the island.

“We have a strong constitution in this community,” he said. “I know we are going to come out on the other side much brighter.”

Following the storm, Mayor Holly Smith sent out a statement to the island.

The only roadway access to Sanibel and Captiva, the Sanibel Causeway sustained damage in several parts — including a section of the bridge washing away — from Hurricane Ian. The Category 4 storm made landfall on Sept. 28 near Cayo Costa with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph./ AP

PHOTO/WILFREDO LEE

Sanibel: Long recovery process just beginning on the barrier islands

page 9

“I am struggling to find the words to convey my feelings, as I am sure most of us are as we look to the past four days,” she wrote. “All our lives and our island have been forever changed. What we do tomorrow and the days and months ahead will redefine and strengthen our community.”

“The job ahead of all of us is very tough. We are heart sick and devastated, but our community will prove to be so much stronger than Ian,” Smith added. “Our island and our community needs us more than ever.”

She also addressed the steps for island re-entry.

“Like search and rescue, this will be a methodical and long process. After the rescue efforts, police then go island-wide for safety and clearance, then the structural safety inspections teams conduct an islandwide inspection of every property on island

for structural integrity or damages,” Smith wrote. “Once these actions are completed, the city will transition to re-entry if possible.”

A new number has been established for contacting the city. For reporting wellbeing checks or to volunteer resources, services and such, contact 239-603-7261.

Those with email access can:

Well-being check

If you are aware of an individual(s) who remained on island and you need report a well-being check, email wellcheck@mysanibel.com and provide your name and number as well as the following:

■ Name(s) of individual(s)

■ Address ■ Phone number

Volunteering

If you have resources, such as boats, equipment, services, skills and such, and

would like to volunteer, email volunteer@mysanibel.com and provide the following information:

On Captiva, Captiva Island Fire District Fire Chef Jeff Pawul has been providing updates.

“We have opened Captiva Drive and all roads in the village. South Seas provided us with a large tractor, which helped immensely,” he wrote on Oct. 2. “We are working to make arrangements with a barge operator to bring all of our fire equipment back to Captiva. We hope this can happen soon, and will provide more specific information as we finalize plans.”

People are asked not perform work on their property until there is adequate fire protection services.

“The use of generators and the transportation and storage of fuel creates a sig-

nificant fire hazard, and we simply do not have the ability at this time to manage the potential dangers associated with comprehensive restoration activities,” he reported.

Pawul also noted there have been issues with propane LP gas tanks.

“It would be best for people to call 911 if they know they might have a problem with their tank,” he wrote. “These are potentially very dangerous situations and should be addressed through 911 if they know there is an issue.”

As of Oct. 1, approximately 25 people had been evacuated off the island to safety.

“So far, we have not reported any deaths or serious injuries on Captiva,” Pawul wrote.

“However, we did have one structure fire that occurred during the storm,” he added. “The homeowner has been notified, and the damage was limited to one building.”

Water streams past buildings on Sanibel’s oceanfront on Sept. 30 following the passing of Hurricane Ian. The storm brought intense winds and heavy rainfall, including storm surge with an unprecedented inundation of 12 to 18 feet above ground level in Lee County and along the coastline. / AP

PHOTO/STEVE HELBER

ABOVE: Damaged condominiums along the Sanibel beachfornt on Sept. 30 after Hurricane Ian passed by the area. BELOW LEFT: Destroyed homes are seen on Sanibel on Sept. 30 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

BELOW:

Residents Jim Delaney, left, and Judy Hicks, center, speak with Project DYNAMO rescue personel on Sept. 30 before being transported to Fort Myers after Hurricane Ian moved through the area.

AP PHOTOS BY STEVE HELBER

ABOVE: A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter takes off on Sanibel on Sept. 30 with people affected by Hurricane Ian, as seen from inside a damaged home.

RIGHT: Residents of Sanibel are moved to a waiting U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on Sept. 30 after weathering Hurricane Ian on the island.

BELOW: Brian Stern of Project DYNAMO walks through debris on Sanibel on Sept. 30 in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Gov. DeSantis assesses damage on Pine Island, Matlacha

By CJ HADDAD Cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com

A week after high-end Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall across Southwest Florida, a passageway to badly-battered Pine Island opened Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis made the announcement on Matlacha Wednesday morning before meeting with President Joe Biden while final inspections were being done. He said a temporary reconstruction of the bridge connecting the island area to the mainland would be open to the public later that day. While that did not come to fruition and the bridge did not open to the public, it was used on Wednesday for emergency vehicles, power company trucks, debris removal trucks, and supply trucks.

The bridge opened to residents and other select individuals on Thursday. Cape Coral Police Department and Lee County officials said checkpoints to gain access to the bridge are being manned by law enforcement. As of Thursday, police said only residents, first responders, utility providers, tele-com companies, supply vendors and debris removal haulers were permitted to access the bridge.

Drivers will have to show proof of residency, whether that be a driver’s license, utility bill, lease, or other proof of residency.

Police said contractors for individual property owners, insurance company employees, and others who do not fall into the previously stated categories, would need to show documentation that states the address with which they are affiliated.

“A lot of the folks in the area wanted the access, so I tasked the Department of Transportation to figure out a solution so that we would restore access so that folks could live on the island which is what they want to do, but also to be able to get off to go about their lives,” DeSantis

Emergency vehicles would start going over the patchworked Matlacha Bridge roughly an hour after the noon press conference to ensure its safety.

Island residents told The Breeze the public has not yet been given access.

“I just ask everyone to be patient as they work through these last little kinks,” DeSantis said. “They have to make sure that some of the emergency (vehicles) can get on. I know Publix is staged and ready to go and bringing their trucks across and reopening their store.”

The governor called the residents of Pine Island and Matlacha “resilient” and said the opening of the bridge will allow for more debris to be cleared and power restored.

“I think we have a chance to bounce back a lot quicker than people think,” DeSantis said. “I think there’s a great spirit on the island.”

He advised residents to take their time going over the roadwork.

“Just go easy on this thing, DeSantis said.

FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue said the project took more than 50 hours to complete and was days ahead of schedule. His team was willing and eager to step in to help.

“As soon as the governor gave us the direction to work on this facility, we mobilized our contractor and internal forces across the entire state,” Perdue said, adding FDOT has cleared more than 5,000 miles of state roads. “Crews were determined to restore access to Pine Island as quickly as they possibly could.”

DeSantis said he was able to visit Sanibel on the ground for the first time and said it was the first area to remind him of 2018 Category 5 Hurricane Michael.

“There’s more debris I think on Sanibel than any place I’ve been thus far in terms of what we’ve been able to do,” he said. “Of course, there’s a lot of vegetation there generally, so you understand why that would be the case.

“I saw more damage to the power infrastructure on

For additional Hurricane Ian coverage, visit Pineisland-eagle.com

Sanibel than anywhere that I’ve seen, and maybe even more than Fort Myers Beach. I saw concrete utility poles snapped in half. I saw a lot of places where the lines were totally down. That’s going to require rebuilding of the power infrastructure and the debris removal efforts are going to be really, really massive.”

He said a contract for temporary reconstruction such as the one done for the Matlacha Bridge has been executed and officials hope to have the causeway safely passable by the end of October.

Florida Department of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie provided updates on relief efforts.

Guthrie said all 13 water treatment plants were operational and pushing water in Lee County as of Wednesday.

Florida Points of Distribution (PODs) had provided 34 million bottles of water, 9 million meals and 500 generators, with hundreds more expected to arrive as of Wednesday.

He added debris removal efforts are now being performed on the islands.

It total, Guthrie reported that $70 million has already been paid out by FEMA at the time of the conference, and that those that fall into Category A or B claims have 60 days to file instead of 30.

The Army Corps of Engineers Blue Roof program is in Lee County. Call 1-888-766-3258 (ROOF-BLU) to apply or visit BlueRoof.us.

On Thursday, DeSantis highlighted significant efforts to restore power to Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian. His office said as of Thursday afternoon, nearly 2.5 million accounts had been restored across the state, representing 92% of accounts impacted by the storm. DeSantis said the effort includes the complete rebuild of substations, power poles and transmission lines.

The state continues to provide significant resources to

utility providers to ensure power can be restored as quickly as possible. This effort is supported by more than 325 Florida Highway Patrol Officers helping to transport utility crews.

Regarding power in Lee County, LCEC has accepted assistance from the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association, Duke Energy, Florida Power & Light, and additional crews from across the country to support restoration efforts in Southwest Florida, including transmission and substation rebuilds.

Since the additional aid was implemented, more than 60,000 additional Lee County LCEC accounts have been restored, and LCEC has moved its restoration timeline for accounts that can receive power from Oct. 23 to Oct. 8 for accounts in impacted areas except Pine Island and Sanibel.

DeSantis said following the completion of repairs to the Pine Island bridge, Duke Energy has deployed crews and assets to begin restoration work on Pine Island. He said Florida Power & Light has expanded its support to LCEC by providing resources to mitigate supply chain shortages, additional base camp resources for linemen, and engineers with expertise in restoring substations.

“An additional almost 1,500 linemen and restoration workers are on the ground in Lee County, representing both cooperatives, municipalities, and utility companies with more currently deploying to support Pine Island over the coming days,” DeSantis’ office stated.

The Florida National Guard has transported restoration crews into Pine Island and Sanibel Island to complete damage assessments and restoration planning. At the request of LCEC and Duke Energy, DeSantis said the state has secured four additional staging sites to support power crews throughout Southwest Florida. The Division of Emergency Management and the Florida National Guard have been directed to provide resources to support the planning and deployment of assets to support the restoration of power on Sanibel Island.

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks in Matlacha, where the bridge was breached by Hurricane Ian. Temporary repairs have been made and the bridge is open with access limited to residents and certain others, including insurance company employees.

Above, Amanda Webster, a resident of Pine Island who evacuated and since returned to retrieve some of her belongings, sits and waits for a boat to take her off the island, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Pine Island Oct. 1. The only bridge to the island was heavily damaged so it could only be reached by boat or air. At right, in this aerial photograph made in a flight provided by mediccorps.org, damage from Hurricane Ian is seen in St. James City on Pine Island on Sept. 30.

PHOTO/GERALD HERBERT

Islanders still weathering the storm on Pine Island

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

Captain Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in local waters. As a professional charter captain, she specializes in dolphin and nature tours, however during this time of cleanup from Hurricane Ian, she’s taken a break from her regular gig to help other islanders.

From giving cans of gas to passing vessels who may be running low out on the water, to bringing groceries, by boat, to neighbors in need, who have no way of leaving their waterfront homes, and more importantly, shuttling islanders to what’s left of their homes in order to assess damage. Eagle has undertaken the role of caretaker to everyone around her, and right now, it seems to be a need that’s insurmountable.

“My nephew, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was on board and also my brother who flew helicopters and was doing rescues in Vietnam — well they both said this is a war zone,” Eagle said.

At the time of this interview, Eagle, who had been on the water for eight days, said most people have only seen Pine Island from the air. Not yet having access to television or the internet has given her a uniquely limited perspective, forcing her to live in the moment firsthand.

“All I see is at eye level, in real time, every day. It really is a war zone. That to me is the most poignant thing. As I’ve been out with some home and business owners — it’s been up to four and five times for some of them — each day they take in a little bit more and begin to realize the gravity of the situation,” Eagle said.

Pine Island Kiwanian Darcy Conner and her husband, Chamber Board member Dave Conner, decided to vacate Pine Island and head to Port St. Lucy at the last minute, just before Hurricane Ian hit.

“We finished boarding up the house, we looked at the news and then loaded the dogs up with our toothbrushes for the next day and that was it. We left everything behind,” Conner said.

While Conner said she was relieved not to have irreparable damage to her Bokeelia home, she said she came back to what seemed like a completely different place. Having three dogs to move with each journey is an issue for the Conners, who have already made several post

Many island businesses and homes will need to be rebuilt due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Many who live on the island have said it looks like a “war zone.”

hurricane trips back and forth to the island, which she now describes as a war zone.

“I have no words. People who are just coming back and seeing things for the first time — well, the pictures don’t do it justice. The life that we know — our routine — everything is gone. It’s not about rebuilding. Of course, we can rebuild. There are people still missing. It’s not about property,” Conner said.

Greater Pine Island Chamber Board Administrator Tammy Aeschliman spent her time during Hurricane Ian by herself.

“I was preparing to stay on the island with my husband and our dog and then at the last minute I have some friends (up north) who called and asked what we were doing. I told them we were going to stay on the island and they insisted we go to their winter house in Cape Coral,” Aeschliman said.

At the last minute, she packed her things and headed for Cape Coral. Aeschliman’s husband, Daniel, who she

LEBLANC

A welcome sight on Pine Island was the passing of a Publix truck onto the island after crews quickly repaired the roadway and Matlacha Bridge leading to the island. The Publix truck was one of the first vehicles to cross the repaired span / GIBSON AND CAPT. CATHY EAGLE

At left, Hurricane Ian severely damaged Pine Island Road leading to the Matlacha Bridge for a time leaving many islanders stranded on Pine Island -- and emergency and service vehicles unable to get there. Below, a makeshift sign points the way to Matlacha Park for the ferry to take people off of the islands once the storm had passed. /

PAULETTE LEBLANC

At left, the colorful shops and businesses along Pine Island Road in Matlacha all suffered damage. Above, a Lee County ambulance makes its way onto the island. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

Above, Tami Tackett hugs her husband Dewey Tackett as he evacuates by boat and she remains, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Pine Island, Oct. 2. At the time, the only bridge to the island was heavily damaged so the island could only be reached by boat or air. Above right, the bridge leading from Fort Myers to Pine Island is seen heavily damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on Pine Island Oct. 1. Due to the damage, the island could only be reached by boat or air. / AP PHOTO/GERALD HERBERT

More examples of the destructive force of Hurricane Ian when it struck the islands, above and below. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

An islander relaxes on his deck in the post-storm sunshine. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

Weathering the storm: Ever resilient islanders looking to the future

described as a determined Pine Islander, works at Tarpon Lodge and decided to stay on the island through the storm.

“He wanted to stay close by so that after the storm he could help out at Tarpon,” Aeschliman said.

Although she knows many people were scared in the storm, being all by herself through Hurricane Ian was terrifying, she said.

“I just stayed in a closet for about 11 hours,” Aeschliman said.

The people who evacuated for the storm and have yet to return to the island, she said, are there in their hearts and souls and would do anything for Pine Island.

"We’re going to rebuild. They can’t run us out. My house is there, but everything washed out the door. I’m going to help out until I’m no use anymore. I’ll stay with a friend off the island and keep coming to clean up,”

“As a chamber, we try to do so much for the community. We also want to help rebuild, so we have a Go Fund Me page. We’re a strong community and we’re all pulling together. It saddens me, but instead of being sad, we need to start saying, look, this is what we’re doing,” Aeschliman said.

John Hayes, who is helping to clean up the mess Ian left behind at the Blue Dog Restaurant, lives just across the street. Although his house has been left in shambles, like most islanders, he’s happy to help out in any way he can.

"We’re going to rebuild. They can’t run us out. My house is there, but everything washed out the door. I’m going to help out until I’m no use anymore. I’ll stay with a friend off the island and keep coming to clean up,” Hayes said.

Maria Steelman is a Matlacha resident with minnows swimming in her pool. She finds herself amazed at how closely the community has been pushed together in the wake of last week’s hurricane.

“We were neighbors, but now we’re family. We went from not even really knowing each other to being a family,” Steelman said.

Jesse Minoski is a fishing guide who said his business has been hit hard by hurricane. Trying to find a way to help, he’s been running insurance adjusters back and forth by boat while sharing whatever he has of use onboard.

“Our fishing business is hurting but there’s work. We’re taking people out to see their houses on Pine Island, Sanibel and Captiva. You gotta find the positive in all of this. It will all rebuild, everything will come back. Everyone will want to come down in season to see it. There will always be something, even if we’re giving tours. It will never die — there are too many positive people,” Minoski said.

Tari Riechers is busy getting her 88-year-old mother’s house gutted and cleaned out, without revealing too much to her to save her from the shock.

“I displaced my mom up to Bradenton. Her house is a teardown. We have friends on Burnt Store Road, where we went and stayed during the storm. She’s doing better than I am but I don’t want her to see the house. I try not to tell her too much. To the other islanders I’d say, next time get off the island. There were so many people that stayed. Get off,” Riechers said.

A dump truck delivers fill for roadway repair. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

— Islander John Hayes

Pine Island Road leading to the Matlacha Bridge has been temporarily repaired and cleared, and is open for residents and essential service providers. The roadway was damaged by Hurricane Ian and covered with debris. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

Devastating winds from Hurricane Ian peeled shingles off roofs and siding off of buildings, above, and, along with a powerful storm surge, left trash and debris everywhere on the islands. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

A big sailboat, above, was pushed up on a dock by Hurricane Ian. Below is some of the damage and debris along Pine Island Road near where the roadpartially collapsed just east of the Matlacha Bridge. / PAULETTE LEBLANC

The Cape Coral Yacht Club, the city’s oldest and most iconic public complex, incurred severe damage from Hurricane Ian, which took out the historic pier that was popular for strolling and fishing. At left, the yacht basin suffered damage as did a number of boats moored there; below, the Yacht Club itself suffered damage but remained standing; below left, rising water caused by storm surge lifted boats from the city’s Gulf-access canals along the riverfront, including the Yacht Club area, and left numerous vessels grounded along roadways and in yards from the south Cape to Tarpon Point.

Gov. DeSantis provides update in Cape Coral

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com

While surveying Lee County for damage wrought by Hurricane Ian, Gov. Ron DeSantis made a visit to Cape Coral on Monday night.

According to the governor, more than 1,900 rescues have already been made. USAR teams have been going door to door, to check on occupants, in areas which were hit hard by the storm, such as the barrier islands, he said, and Emergency Management teams continue to bring large quantities of water, food and supplies.

“The new construction in Florida seemed to have held up very well. I thought with something coming in at 155 miles per hour there would be roofs everywhere,” DeSantis said.

There are 28 Points of Distributionin affected areas across Florida, including eight in Lee County. Non-profit organizations, including Florida Baptist, Disaster Relief, Red Cross and World Central Kitchen, have lent a tremendous amount of support delivering hot meals, he said, adding 1.6 million gallons of fuel had been delivered to south Florida, although many gas stations that are too small to require generators, were without power. Statewide, approximately 95 percent of utility customers (over 2.1 million) have had power restored so far.

to everyone here, he said, reporting that 375 Starlink devices have been installed, to support internet access to impacted areas.

The satellites, currently positioned over Southwest Florida, will allow phones and other devices online access. Other actions underway included the temporary

For additional Hurricane Ian coverage, visit capecoralbreeze.com

bridge fix for Pine Island, which opened to emergency vehicles Wednesday and then Thursday to allow cars to travel safely back and forth between the island and the mainland.

“They’re going to be able to get that done relatively quickly,” he promised Monday. “This is not necessarily going to be a bridge you’re going to want to go over at 45 miles per hour over maybe, but at least you have connectivity to the mainland. Their goal is to have it completed by the end of this week… You’re going to now be able to have those residents be able to get back to (the mainland). They’re offering evacuations for those residents, but most of them want to be on the island. They just want to be able to go back and forth, so we’re going be able to do that, and I’m happy to do that.

“We also are going to try something similar for the causeway, going to Sanibel Island. So right now, Florida Department of Transportation is putting together a plan for a temporary fix, and there is a request for bids—emergency request for bids for the work,” DeSantis said.

“You saw major flooding, you saw major interruptions to critical infrastructure… by and large (those places) were in Southwest Florida,” DeSantis said, calling it a massive effort to get the power back on across the state.

Now it’s time to bring all the resources

Gov. Ron DeSantis and Mayor John Gunter provides an update in Cape Coral. / CITY OF CAPE CORAL

YACHT CLUB PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CITY OF CAPE CORAL

Buildings throughout the South Cape incurred varying degrees of damage from Hurricane Ian last Wednesday, leaving Cape Coral Parkway, Southeast 47th Terrace and nearby streets strewn with construction debris, fallen trees, branches and a carpet of leaves and other vegetation stripped by high winds. Uprooted trees left sidewalks and curbing broken and blocked portions of the area’s roadways. Top, Tylan Reynolds, along with Top Hat Classic Tattoos owners Michelle and Chad Clark, tarps the roof of the business along Southeast 47th Terrace. At left, Steve Lane, owner of Cape Life Apparel, sweeps waters from a shared interior hallway so his business stays dry. Above, the 7-Eleven on Cape Coral Parkway had heavy damage to the pump area but residents lined up to buy sundries inside following the storm. / VALARIE HARRING

Hurricane Ian severely impacted infrastructure throughout Lee County, affecting power — and so traffic lights — as well as water and sewer utilities. At left, crews work along one of Lee County’s arterials, U.S. 41. Bottom left, traffic signals are larger — and much heavier — than they appear from the ground; below, LCEC linemen work on a pole along Southeast 15th Place. At bottom, the Lee County Civic Center is serving as a depot for all power-line related vehicles with hundreds from around the country parked there and along Bayshore Road in the lot leading to the Posse Arena in North Fort Myers. / VALARIE HARRING

North Fort Myers heavily hit, works to recover

This home in Lake Fairways was destroyed by Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds, which uprooted trees throughout Southwest Florida.

CHRIS STRINE

Hurricane Ian caused severe damage in the North Fort Myers area, nearly leveling homes and lanais, lofting carports and leaving vast amounts of debris and downed trees and branches in its wake. At left, a resident checks what’s left of a nearby home.

additional Hurricane Ian coverage, visit northfortmyersneighbor.com

VALARIE HARRING

An electric company crew, at left, utilizes two bucket trucks to work to restore power in the North Fort Myers area. Above, many residents quickly began the cleanup process, clearing debris and trash left in their yards by Hurricane Ian. / VALARIE HARRING

Downed lanais and tossed carport roofs in Lake Fairways. / CHRIS STRINE

A stunned North Fort Myers residents surveys all of the damage in her neighborhood.

VALARIE HARRING

A resident checks his phone sitting in his driveway. / VALARIE HARRING

District’s goal is to open schools on Oct. 17

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com

Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier announced Friday during an afternoon press conference that the district’s goal is to return to an educational environment on Monday, Oct. 17.

“Unfortunately I have to report that schools will remain closed. Certified inspectors have evaluated our buildings and special centers,” he said. “The majority of our schools are considered what is called a low needs environment. Meaning they need very little more in order to open.”

The reason the schools will remain closed this upcoming week is the district still has significant and disproportional challenges to overcome as not all the district's buildings were impacted in the same manner by the storm. There are at least eight schools that do not have power.

“Some schools, most schools, do not have suitable drinking water. Most of our schools remain on a boil water notice. We still have safety and debris issues, which will impact the safe pick up and delivery of our students both to and from our schools,” Bernier said. “We have to reopen in a way that is safe for our students and staff and sensitive to their needs, while being effective enough to be able to provide teaching and learning that we expect.”

There are schools that remain in the high needs category with some significant damage, with some needing time for repairs and some needing longer to rebuild.

The list of schools not ready to open include Fort Myers Beach Elementary, Hector Cafferata Elementary School, Heights Elementary School, Pine Island Elementary School, Skyline Elementary School, Caloosa Middle School, Cypress Lake Middle School, Diplomat Middle School, Gulf Middle School, Lexington Middle School, Mariner Middle School, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, Trafalgar Middle School, The Sanibel School, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts, North Fort Myers High School, Fort Myers Tech Center and Success Academy.

Bernier said they have plans in place for the schools that are not able to reopen to ensure they have educational environments for those children. He said they will do their very best to keep those communities of learning, those students, teachers and principals together in the process.

“There could be the possibility of double sessions based upon the buildings that we have ready to go,” Bernier said.

As of Friday the calendar has not been revised to show the days students have missed because they do not have an official reopening date. When that date is finalized they will work with the Department of Education and unions to ensure they revise their calendars.

The community, he said, has rebounded nine days post hurricane, but they are just

not ready to reopen next week. In the upcoming week debris will continue to be removed, power will be restored, drinking water will return to the school buildings, as well as further assessing staff's ability to return to work.

“My academic team, my cabinet and my board members are committed to developing a plan and revising plans to return all of our students, no matter the status of our school buildings, to an educational environment. There are still many factors that I previously mentioned that must be overcome,” Bernier said.

Teachers need the opportunity to return to the school buildings, set for Thursday, Oct. 13. Bernier said that will begin with a reunification of staff and support to help them in the transition. He said depending on where families live and where the school their child attends, their return and how the district goes about will reflect the disappropriate challenges.

“Their response and our support professionals' response will provide another critical determining factor to reopening,” he said. “That is our staff, our support professionals and teachers' readiness to return. We cannot ignore this storm has impacted all of us.”

Bernier said he realizes that all students, just like staff, may not return.

“We as a district will remain flexible with our parents and students during this period of time, just as we will remain flexible for staff,” he said. “When we return to an educational environment we will be and have the opportunity to provide our students with the learning they need.”

The return also will depend on staff, as the district wants to be sensitive to their needs as well.

“We have staff that has been impacted by complete loss of home, flooding, all their personal belongings. We continue to work with what we refer to as the coalition of willing.”

On Oct. 5 the district surveyed its staff, including support professionals and teachers, which revealed that 65 percent at the middle and elementary schools are already in the position where they believe they can return.

“We saw a number approaching 65 percent with our high school people as well,” Bernier said. “That was on Oct. 5 and that was a staff check-in.”

On Oct. 13 staff will have the chance to reunify and those without a school building will be provided with another location.

“We understand there is a lot of displaced people in the community. We also know there are a lot of people that have lost their jobs. Our Human Resource Department is ready, willing and able. We have great jobs here in Lee County,” Bernier said.

On Wednesday, Oct. 12, the School Board discuss an updated reopening plan.