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Pine Islander here- we are all still in recovery.... will be years. thank you for remembering us all

Captiva and Sanibel were 2 of my most favorite places on the West Coast of Florida. So rustic, rural, peaceful, and beautiful. ❤

Sanibel & the rest of coastal SWFL is just another major storm away from a repeat of the devastation it experienced from Ian.....every year going forward is just "Russian Roulette" with hurricane season and another possible 9' - 15' storm surge. I lived there for the last 17 years and was fortunate to have sold my home last summer, just before Ian hit. With climate change I've seen these storms get bigger and more destruction over the years, and with the upside down insurance situation in FL, its just too expensive and risky now to maintain any real estate investment along the coastal areas.

When we moved to the USA we spend our first Christmas in Sanibel. That was December 1970. It was a paradise for us children. Coming from Germany it was the first time we experienced Aligators, Dolphins, Craby, Flamingos, Pelicans etc.. We stayed at a Campground. At night we took some night walks with flashlights looking for the Gators eyes lighting up.

I was in Ft. Myer’s February 1st. When I showed people the pics.& videos they were so taken aback that it’s still so devastating. He’s right about people not “getting it”.

I was down in Florida a month and a half ago. The damage between Naples up to Punta Gorda is devastating. My parents place in Naples miraculously didn’t flood which is near the gulf. The only savior was that there were mangroves in front of the condo buildings.

My heart goes out particularly to the elderly - this is more than likely their entire life that was washed away.

We’ve been down to Sanibel three times since hurricane Ian. It’s heartbreaking to see what has happened to the island but I’m happy to see the progress that’s being made since our first time over after the storm. We’ve been to the beach nearly every day of our stays. In fact, we finally made it to Blind Pass today. It was beautiful! 🌴💕

And thank you President Biden for giving federal funds immediately. DeSantis really did slam this out of the park (getting that bridge back up). I wish he'd help us with our home owner's insurance costs. I'm middle class on a fixed income and it's rough. I can't imagine how people affected by Ian are doing. Sending love and support from the treasure coast.

in the early 60s we'd travel to Englewood to visit my grandparents. we would go to Sanibel Captiva island and spend the day there. it was undeveloped, there was a sandy road running down the island with picnic areas set up with tables and grills. we'd spend the rest of the day swimming and shelling.

As a past Florida resident, I just want to thank you for keeping updated on the demise & progress of SANIBEL/Captiva/ Boca grande! We lived in Cape Corol for 12 years and still hold southwest Florida close to our hearts!❤️🙏

Who knew that building there would put you at risk of hurricanes? I don't want to sound unsympathetic or mean but its hard to feel sorry for them. They obviously believe living there is worth suffering through the occasional & devastating storms. It comes with the territory. I don't live anywhere near such beauty but I'm safe.

I have severe roof damage from that storm. About 20K to fix. My insurance sent me a check for 3K so I can't cash it or that becomes my settlement. We went to arbitration to try to get a fair settlement. They keep delaying in hopes we give up and pay out of pocket but we can't afford that. So rain has kept coming into the house and we're sick every day from the mold caused by the insurance company's delays. I think they are waiting for the mold to kill us so they won't have to pay. If you are thinking about moving to Florida, DON"T! our governor encourages this because insurance companies are big campaign contributors. Florida government will do nothing for you.

Good job on this video Chris. You gave us on the ground footage and aerial views as well as an interview with a homeowner. I think you guys gave us an idea of future issues these residents will have to deal with aside from hurricane survival.

Our visit to Sanibel over 20 years ago is still remembered as one of our best vacations. The beach was beautiful and yes, we did collect a lot of shells. We also visited Captiva and it was also very special. I pray for the recovery of these wonderful places that were also homes for so many and not just vacation destinations.

Thank you for your video. I had always planned to live on Sanibel but life had something different in store for me and I wound up in Seattle. My heart goes out to everyone there. I am watching all these videos praying that you all get the help you need.

My heart goes out to you and all the folks on the island. Thank you for putting up this video. Hilton Head Island, SC

Finally checked this video out. Chris what you have done here in addition to your usual excellent quality is a real public service and public good. I experienced the direct hit of Hurricane Hugo a catergory 4 hurricane in Charleston SC in 1989. One of my first uplifting memories is of a church group from Georgia waiting for the hurricane to pass then rushing in to set up a free food and hydration station in the impact zone. We were not alone! That is what you have done with this video. You are shining a light in so many ways in so many places with your creative work!

Thanks so much! I finally know that the home we spent many Christmases in from 65' - 82' made it through the storm. The home was located next to blind pass bridge on Sanibel side. Seen at frames 29:18 and 30:05. We called it pelican point. I remember the owners were the Kessler family. Brought tear to my eyes.

Thanks for the video. We stayed at the Lobster Cottage in Blind Pass in March of 2022. We fell in love with all the local places Mike mentioned and were heart broken by the devastation of that special area. The man that owned Lobster Cottage and the others nearby was so wonderful. We’ve prayed for him and those effected and hoped that his special properties survived.

I lived thru hurricane Andrew here in Miami in the coconut Grove area..3 yrs after the storm..the area was still a mess...Homestead took about 5yrs to develop again

I’m from Panama City which took a good almost direct hit from Hurricane Michael (cat 5) a few years back (2018)…it will take Sanibel a good 5-6 years to almost fully recover. The insurance finally finished the pay out 4 years later. .. in the meantime businesses have boomed and for the most part Home owners recovered within 3 years. “Michael killed at least 45 people, damaged 60,000 homes and caused about $25 billion in total damages, including $18.4 billion in Florida.” Tyndall AFB had to be almost 98% completely rebuilt and they are probably at 30% completion.

Thanks for the update... I've stayed at the Sun Dial many times and at the resort on Captiva... crazy that the bridge was back up in 2 weeks yet Sanibel is taking months just to stamp a piece of paper..

My parents got a place there in 2019 since we have been visiting forever…then Ian came and changed everything. People definitely have PTSD from it

Chris, excellent video. You did a wonderful job telling the recovery story to date.

Great vid. Mom rode it out in Bonita Springs. Made it out ok. Said they were finding fish in the tops of tress all over the place

We went thru the same issues on Long Beach island, nj. Building regs and permitting was eased a bit to allow faster recovery and this proved successful and actually improved the island.

That hits home for me, bro. I’m from Metro Detroit and my Mom and Dad used to take me to Sanibel in the early 90’s and I would find beautiful Sand Dollars and went to the Ding Darling National Refuge ❤

I saw my house on Oct. 22nd after 2 weeks in an evacuation shelter, then with friends and FEMA hotel. Though some roofing was gone, all windows and doors and house were standing, but after 4 weeks of no electricity, the mold conquered all. There had been 8ft. of water insideHigh bio bacterial matter forced demolition because that stuff gets in every little nook and cranny. Yuk!I was finally booked for demolition by New Year's Eve. Including the brand spanking new H/AC. My life has changed.

I'm from Cape Coral. It will be many years before it gets back to normal here. Worst storm I've ridden out in 27 years living here. Seeing the eye from the inside was cool but unnerving.

I stopped going to Sanibel because the traffic on the island was terrible. It takes almost an hour and a half waiting in line to get off the island at times which is crazy.

I am a full time resident of Mexico Beach(hurricane Michael 2018) and from my experience the answer is never. My town died that day and what has been rebuilt is something most long term residents and visitors do not recognize. Our mayor was just kicked out of office(voted out) and his councilman friends because of what has happened. Big money came to town and integrity left.

You've done a great job depicting the devastation and continuing efforts on Sanibel. Visitors have said, "the news media made Sanibel sound worse than it was, I just saw it, it wasn't that bad." They are clueless. The clean up has been incredible. The day the causeway opened up to residents is a day I will never forget.

Building in a flat, hurricane prone area like that (or much of coastal Florida) you're just gambling it won't happen to you while you live in that property. Chances are it will eventually. It may not wipe out your home like this, but it may damage it quite a lot. I'm actually moving to NE Florida in October (building a home), but its going to be four miles inland and I checked to make sure the lot was not in a FEMA designated flood zone. Plus being new everything will be to code. That's the best I can do. I wouldn't want to take the chance of ending up like these folks.

So sad and also shows the difference between the structures on Ft. Myers Beach vs. Sanibel! We used to go every year. Back in the 90's, there was a Best Western on Sanibel that was very affordable! And I loved the peaceful feeling on Sanibel, while Ft. Myers Beach just kept building. Unfortunately, we haven't visited those places in 10 years, and seeing how "overbuilt" Ft. Myers Beach came to be really shows how nature always wins. I'm not saying that ANYONE deserved this, but I hope valuable lessons are learned! If one has to mortgage their permanent home up North to buy a piece of paradise, they should consider the cons that can outweigh the pros! For full-time residents, I think their situation is much worse! The one area that breaks my heart is the trailer park on San Carlos right before the Big San Carlos bridge. Used to be a restaurant called the Chanel Mark, and my dad had a Condo right across from that park. In fact, that set of Condos were on Buttonwood Drive and called Sportsman's Cove. I met some of the Seniors at the bar at Chanel Mark, and they seemed to be living their retirement dream. But sold everything up north in order to afford this land. It's sad because I understand that the inner coastal waterway formed between Sportsman's Cove and the trailer park was formed by Hurricane Carmen in the 60's. As a recent owner of a park model at a resort campground up north, I know those units aren't built to withstand extreme weather. Whomever developed that massive trailer park must have had a different set of codes, such as building codes, upkeep, etc. That's alot of retirees that are left homeless! I loved visiting my Dad's place on Buttonwood. He had a boat and would take us to Ft. Myers Beach. Unfortunately, he passed away 20 years ago. Had he been living during Ian, I can't imagine how he could have afforded to stay, and he had no other home. There had been a few smaller hurricanes in the late 90's where he got sludge in his unit, but clean up came quick. It's a cautionary tale. For me, coastal communities are great to visit. But I wouldn't consider buying! Chicago gets cold, but we rarely get extreme weather that could displace us. One day, the area Ian destroyed will be a good place to visit, and likely more expensive. But I would want to go and feel the $ I spend will help the future of those rebuilding!

I grew up in Florida before Sanabel was developed by the wealthy. Barrier islands were not intended to be developed-they are to be a protective barrier…I worked in Coastal Management so i do understand a bit of this. The wealthy developed this area and its been hit multiple times. Sorry if this sounds hateful but if you stay on an island when you are told to leave, you should be the LAST people helped. Rich privilege. Poor people who lost everything in other parts of the state are not getting this rapid recovery. If your place there gets destroyed more than once, should not be allowed to rebuild.. So sick of seeing entitlement….

Chris, what a great watch. This vid was a bit PSA, part human interest/backstory and current history. Thanks again for your time and hard work.....

I'm working right now and limited with my phone but I'll definitely have to watch this on the big screen tonight like I usually try to.

Great vid. I was here for Charley , too. It turned fast and was over within the hour. Ian was like nothing I’ve seen. I even went through Andrew in Miami. No comparison

Desantis really did a great job on the roads for rebuilding !

GOOD VIDEO, THANKS TO THE GENTLEMEN THAT YOU WERE TALKIING TO, FROM INDIANA, SAD SITUATION

Great very sad video!! Just no words to describe it!!

If I lived in Florida I would hightail it out every time I heard a hurricane might come anywhere near where I live. I am definitely a fraidy cat when it comes to hurricanes!

Thanks for the video. I subscribed !

Sanibel will always be a beautiful place in our memories. An absolute favorite family vacation place. Here's to the resilience of Sanibel Islanders.

First I love Sanibel. We sold just before the storm. And while I'd not expressed it as well as this gentlemen, part of my reasons was the obstinacy of the building department. I tried to talk to them about building a unique home on Sanibel that was slightly untraditional and hurricane proof in the winter of 2018 (I had one of the most traditional homes on the island - an actual Old Florida cottage) and in each meeting with each question I could feel they wanted me to only build what was already there - and me knowing it would never make it through the storms to come - how sad - I hope they get it together - there is a way to protect what the Sanibel Plan offers and the future (which is more Charlies' - more Irmas' more Ians') - I think they will miss the opportunity unfortunately.......One more thing - I was a refugee to the other coast too and my take away was the EXACT opposite - every night Id go to the dog park - and every night Id meet someone who did not know or remember what Ian was - when Ian was or what it did - we cant all just only worry about our own corner of the world - but given the temp of the Gulf Id say its too late to fix any of that.now.

I've been living in Cape Coral for over 20 years and in my opinion no-one should be living on Sanibel or Captiva. These are barrier islands and to vulnerable to storms and climate change. I would like to see the State take these over and only allow them to be used for beaches or some limited boat launches. I don't feel sorry for the people who live there. They do so at their own risk and their insurance claims only drive up the cost for the rest of us. As the sea continues to rise and the Gulf warms even further we will see stronger storms and even greater devastation.

sad to see what happened there! about 5 years ago when i was there followed an alligator down the beach. good half mile letting people know! love that island!

I am 72 yrs old I have been coming to Sanibel since 1961. 1980 brought my wife on our honeymoon to Sanibel, I brought my daughter and now we visit with my daughter and grandchildren. Absolutely not forgotten!

It;s never recommended to live near the sea. But, don't worry, people quickly forget and rebuild right at the same danger zone. Humans are slow learners.

People will always build in high-risk areas. It’s a roll of the dice.

Several coastal counties have limits for building height, like Sanibel/Lee county, such as Martin County (south of Vero). This also helps the environmental impact with the storm serge. I was born in Florida, moved to Michigan 20 years ago. My heart always sinks, and I worry about family that is still there. My son and his family is in valusia county they sustained some damage, but not like the west coast!

I live here. Every barrier island was destroyed. Its going to take 10 year's before it looks like a new normal. It will never look the same

I don't feel sorry one bit for anyone who lives in Sanibel, if you can't afford to play then get out!

Unfortunately, this will keep happening, insurance costs, if even available will be huge. As will HOA on condos.

Correction: The eye of a hurricane is very calm and can look like the storm has passed. The eyewall is the part of the storm that has very high and dangerous winds.

At 8:32 I’m certain that is me with my workers. The white trailer by the Heinz Brothers trailers that is a silver F-150 with the 17” white trailer.

No one wants to see anyone's property destroyed but some of these areas condo buildings and home structures should be built up higher on higher land when they are rebuilding. Otherwise it's just going to keep happening over and over again.

I've never been to that part of FL. Sanibel definitely looks like paradise if you can afford it. Not to be a doggie downer, but looking at roughly the last 20 or so years, it looks like all of FL is a ticking time bomb for the next big storm whether its flooding or loosing your foundation. For me, it's a real estate fantasy simply because the most expensive expense in your life, a house, could be gone in 20 minutes or less. Car insurance is doable, but house--no way. I do like this vid. Thank you.

Their story of pain is echoed every time a major hurricane comes ashore. The Federal Govt needs to enact strict Bldg codes for any structure in those zones. (I remember diving in the Keys in the early 80s and seeing their codes that all new construction had to be on pilings.) As a result of these continued massive losses the Flood Ins program is defaulting, most Insurance Cos are leaving Florida, and costs have gone up $1,000 when you renew. It is also time to stop construction and reconstruction in dangerous areas. Build RV parks only, so a storm can come and go without leaving a trail of destruction.

Maybe DeShamtis should do a book tour in Sanibel.

Heartbreaking for all those that pour their hearts and money to live the island life! I took my boys there in the summers and it’s just unrecognizable! 💔

My parents lived close to Sanibel and Captiva (the way the crow flies), and I had spent nearly 4 weeks a year there, every year, since 1990. They were such peaceful and beautiful places. Bigger developers came in at the end of the 1990s, but much of the islands remained the same. It was like paradise on earth. Our family went back in late February 2023, and we were shocked by the loss. Nonetheless, Peoples love for the islands is very deep. I hope the islands can rebuild so that my daughters can experience its tranquility and the warmth of the people - residents and visitors alike. JH.

At 0:34 seconds I worked those Condos “Lighthouse” they are called. Where the building was undermined from the storm surge. The whole first floor of all of them were about 5’5” underwater and fully ruined!! Last time I was there was January of 22 working the remediation efforts with my friends company @Floodzone Restoration.

Wow, I have eaten on the porch of the sunset grill. Shocking

The lesson to be learned is that you cannot encroach on mother nature, this has nothing to do with climate change is due to the fact that we push mother nature back and build where we shouldn’t

It looks a ghost town. Hurricanes are frightening for sure. The problem with rebuilding there is people won’t be able to get insurance

Keep rebuilding on barrier islands and coast lines. MO' Cat 4 & 5 Canes coming soon! 😂

Stayed at Sun Dial years ago, God Bless the people of Sanibel.

That was a devastating blow, but I really want to send a bell island to be open by the time we get down to Florida in the fall

So sad to see this, my family for the past 35 years has vacationed on Sanibel!! 😢😢😢

It’s still looking rough May 2024, but the bridge causeway is looking much wider. Lighthouse is in scaffolding. Ft myers beach is humming back to life.

I don't see how some of these properties will ever be brought back to normal.....???! I did not realize the extent of damage here.

Build with concrete or don't build, no insurance will be needed, why rebuild conventionally? The next hurricane will just start the process all over again, it's stupid to construct expecting no weather event in the future.

Of course it's sad to see the destruction. But the cleaned up areas of vegetation and debris, does have a fresh reset look about it. It reminds me of 1920-40's photos of Early Florida. A rare chance to start over with a town. Remember how disease took out all of the palm trees while a purge of evasive species combined to change the look of the town? The whole horizon sadly was changed. But time and planting brought it back. After 30 years in West Palm Beach, I moved on. I'll finish my years in Wyoming. Mostly just to experience a different setting. Life is short!

They NEVER should have built anything on a barrier island.

We're about 2 or 3 months away from another Hurricane season. ...

“An amazing show of leadership”, please.

Can you imagine if a Tsunami like the one in Japan in 2011 hit a barrier island in the US?

I Was there exactly 6 months before the hurricane stuck. This place was the most beautiful place I'd EVER seen. What this hurricane did to economy & ecosystem is so severe I hardly recognize any of the areas. The Flamingo, The Island Cow... Both restaurants are gone. The place I stayed with the yellow house hotel on Captiva beach gone. I swam in that pool that was once there! You could go all the way to the far end of the island (was a real tropical rainforest in my eyes!!) & there were manatees swimming in the coves down there. The place I stayed... you could walk right across 20 yards right up to the beach. Ian was a mother fucker of a storm & no ordinary storm. That island won't be able to recover easily for a good 10-15 years to become what it once was all beautiful again.

It would've been nice had the state or the Feds offered these property owners who couldn't afford to rebuild a buy-out so they wouldn't be struggling trying to get money out of their insurance companies. The goal of the buyouts should be to restore the properties to their natural state or in strategic spots as state recreational areas.

I really like your videos

having lived in Sarasota and st.pete clearwater, and now in Puerto Rico i very well always understood the threat of hurricanes. even with those near misses we've experienced would see storm surge in tampa bay both the surge and the drain. its amazing how much of the water in the bay particularly around Fort de soto could get sucked out exposing the sea bed hundreds of yards into the bay. And along the coast with such low laying lands the homes just 12 feet or less above sea level, you always understood that one day.. sooner or later such a thing would happen. It also had me to wonder about the native american mounds, found around the area. it had me to think that maybe those mounds were not just burial or ritual mounds, but rather a means of escaping storm surge. so many of those mounds are 30 plus feet tall and higher and are wide enough that a reasonable amount of people could retreat upon them should a hurricane bring in a storm surge. If you think about it, in such a situation where else would those people seek safety? anyways, the sacking of fort Myers and Sanibel hit home. Ian was different in that it developed below us here in Puerto Rico off the north coast of Venezuela. most hurricanes develop off of Africa's west coast as the Sahara pipes off its heat into the Atlantic, more over with the changing of climate things have surely been different with these storms, different paths, and more powerful. considerably more powerful.

Very tough, very sad. 😢

The cost of home owners insurance has skyrocketed.

Rebuild so you can get it all nice for the next hurricane.

Do you have pictures of Casa Ybel? We used to go down there, to their beach, when we were in town. We have a house in Cape Coral, it is still getting rebuilt, from the surge.

I know It was so sad I watched it on TV I have cousin's that live down there ,And I have two niece that live down there ,They rode the storm out..

What happened to the old Holiday inn on Sanibel is it standing or habitable?

10 years. but we will be well into the great reset by then.

The meatball is out promoting a book he cant even give a way so good luck with the recovery!

We just visited Sanibel and Captiva beaches for shelling last week. Both are hugely F up’d. Most of the islands look like a small nuke leveled the landscaping. You can tell who has money because many of the most elite properties are already repaired or under repair by contractors. There are a couple restaurants with limited hours attempting to make a comeback but let’s say, the non elite properties, are still in need of major repairs.

so at the end of a catastrophe at the end of the us geographically they're are looters who survived the storm and ready to loot?

Low property taxes? Hahahaha

It will take at least 10 years to rebuild, Emerald Coast is my favorite now

Florida should have to pay for it's own storm damages. They have allowed buildings to be built in unsuitable areas. Those taxpayers need to foot the bill for their mistakes. I bought land on high ground and dont want to pay for anyone else's property. They chose to live next to a flooding body of water, not me.

These islands will come back better then before. The new buildings hopefully will have the next CAT5 in mind, and be built accordingly. Its just a shame the arm level effort to repair the bridge, wasn't also used to repair the whole area. F-Insurance, when a property is desimated its time for eminent domain and rapid reonstruction based on a master redevelopment plan. The peicemeal isnruance bs, is why some areas take forever to rebuild if that even happens. It's time the government be used the right way, and that's when you run it like an effiient army.

If you live on an Island that is in the Gulf of Mexico. You should be ashamed if you whine about your bad luck. And you certainly should not be eligible for any tax payer assistance at the state or federal level.

I suspect it'll take years and tons of money to rebuild the island. Many property owners probably don't have deep enough pockets to rebuilt. I would imagine most will have to sell their properties at land value less demo cost. So a bunch of new deep-pocket owners will come in, probably corporations who will build hotels.