™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. But many of those stranded on the island are waving and thanking rescuers for coming but staying put for now, he said. She told CNN’s John Berman that she was seeing some images of the damage for the first time on CNN and “it’s pretty emotional for me.”ĭeSantis said messages continued to come in from families concerned about loved ones. Smith, the mayor of Sanibel, planned to fly out to the island Friday. Residents were urged to stay inside to avoid injuries and to allow first responders to assess the damage, Lee County officials said Thursday. “But that’s not something that will happen overnight.” The causeway will be rebuilt, DeSantis said. “It washed away roads, it washed away structures that were not new and could withstand that,” he said. Ron DeSantis told reporters Thursday, adding the area was hit with a “biblical storm surge.” When you take a look at the barrier islands, particularly from the air, it’s very clear to see where the storm came onshore,” Desjarlais said. “I can tell you that in all these years I have not seen damage to Lee County from a storm like this. There was also “extensive damage to the buildings” on Sanibel Island, he said. Officials hope all bridges will be inspected by Friday, Desjarlais said. Bridge inspections were also underway across the county. We have space for about 40,000 people,” the county manager added.Ī boil water order was in place countywide, he said. “Given the amount of damage in the community, I think it’s reasonable to expect that those shelters will begin to fill up a little more. Roughly 4,000 people took shelter by late Wednesday. Lee County officials were assessing damage and also conducting search and rescue operations, Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais said Thursday.įederal urban search and rescue teams were deployed from across the country.Īll 15 shelters in the county that opened prior to the storm’s arrival remained open, Desjarlais said. The islands are home to a number of hotels and resorts, as their beaches draw a significant amount of tourists each year.Ī 2017 City of Sanibel count measured annual bridge traffic over the causeway at over 3 million vehicles. Florida’s National Guard was assisting in the efforts, Patronis added.Īn estimated 6,400 people lived in the City of Sanibel as of April 2021, per the US Census Bureau. Some rescue teams were transported by helicopter to the islands, where they went door-to-door checking on residents, according to Florida State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis. Her grandchildren contacted the Cajun Navy and Project Dynamo and begged them to check for proof of life. “I heard they weren’t going to do anything after the bridge closed down but my granddaughters are in Ohio and she was crying hysterical when I talked to her,” Nancy Sharon said. Nancy and Robert Sharon were among the people Stern’s outfit and volunteers from the Cajun Navy rescued on Thursday. “The destruction is unbelievable,” Stern told CNN. Most homes appear to have sustained roof damage, along with damage from the storm surge and flooding. Many beach cottages that lined the shores of Sanibel Island were wiped away by Ian’s storm surge, new aerial imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows. When asked if the city is currently livable, the mayor said, “Frankly, no.” Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza reported the two fatalities. Twelve people were rescued off Sanibel Island with injuries and about 40 people were rescued without injuries, the mayor told CNN on Thursday. On Thursday night, dozens of people remained stranded, according to Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith.Īt least five sections of the Sanibel Causeway - which connects Sanibel and Captiva islands to the mainland - were washed away by the storm, Lee County officials said. Ian ripped away several parts of the causeway that was the island’s only access to Florida’s mainland. We’re going to rescue some people off Sanibel, which is cut off from the world right now,” he said. Its name comes from the operation that evacuated Allied soldiers during World War II from the beaches of Dunkirk in France. Stern is co-founder of Project Dynamo, a group of veterans who locate at-risk Americans in conflict zones and transport them to safety.
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