The destruction that Hurricane Ian prompted when it hit Sanibel Island on Wednesday as a Class 4 storm was catastrophic, with harm so extreme that the island has been reduce off from Florida's mainland. The wreckage led the town's mayor to pen an emotional letter to residents on Thursday, during which she mentioned Sanibel is "without end modified."
"I'm struggling to search out the phrases to convey my emotions, as I'm positive most of us are as we glance to the previous 4 days," wrote Mayor Holly Smith. "All our lives and our island have been without end modified. What we do tomorrow and the times and months forward will redefine and strengthen our group."
The island is presently reduce off from Florida's mainland, after Ian destroyed components of the causeway connecting the 2.
Sanibel acquired a number of the most devastating impacts of the storm, which pummeled the southwest area. Pictures present houses with components of their partitions and roofs lacking. Some buildings that had been underneath building had their roofs totally torn off. Different houses had been seen on fireplace Thursday, a serious danger after highly effective storms amid electrical points and downed wires.
"Sanibel is destruction," Gov. Ron DeSantis mentioned throughout a day briefing on Thursday, saying it "bought hit with actually biblical storm surge."
Smith mentioned that the town's precedence within the coming days is to assist those that are stranded. She requested that individuals present officers names and addresses of family members who didn't evacuate forward of the storm, and mentioned the town requested barge service to assist get better property and folks from the island. Almost 6,500 folks reside in Sanibel, in keeping with 2021 census information.
Close by Captiva Island has additionally been reduce off. Footage of the causeways launched by Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno exhibits giant chunks damaged off and underwater. Properties within the county seem closely broken and lots of areas stay flooded.
"I understand how a lot we need to get again on our island and to our houses and companies. Please be ready that we have no idea what that may appear to be," she mentioned. "Photos we're receiving and people you're doubtless seeing present the gravity of circumstances. I ask in your endurance and I understand how troublesome which may be."
"The job forward of all of us may be very powerful," Smith continued. "We're coronary heart sick and devastated, however our group will show to be a lot stronger than Ian. Our island and our group wants us greater than ever."