Wow! The narrator knows this area WELL. When I was younger my family used to own a timeshare at Sanibel Cottages, which is why I was watching this video. Although she didn’t point out the cottages, she explains she got married at the resort right next door! How heartbreaking! Sanibel Cottages are visible around timestamp 10:15 to 10:18, but unfortunately the camera turns way too quick to get a good look. I’m grateful to this narrator for doing an amazing job identifying the road names, specific resorts and landmarks that viewers connected to Sanibel and Captiva wanted to see. When these islands get rebuilt, she should be elected mayor! THANK YOU!!
You did a great job narrating this. You filmed my childhood and you gave it way more justice than any other video I’ve seen. Thank you. The emotion in your voice when you were above where you were married I felt it.
Thank You! Your's is the only video I've been able to find that included the damage on Captiva. Even though I bought my condo in the 80s it appears to have made it. It's been awhile since I've been down there but I've always had a very soft spot in my heart for Sanibel & Captiva, I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend there. Thank you again for the video and I'm so sorry for all those who have lost so much and RIP to those who lost literally everything, God Bless you all!
Hoky Pokey do you still own your condo there? If so do you know it’s condition? 🙏🏻This is 💔Have stayed at many places on this beautiful island and we have always hoped to retire here. Would love to physically helped here but don’t know where to begin 😢
@@elaineploof1348 I sold the condo about 15 years ago. I was just curious how things on Captiva were in comparison to Sanibel & Ft. Meyers as I loved that whole area so much. Actually I did have the thought that maybe it would be a good place to move to, I'm already retired but would like to move away from the White Mts in NE AZ. Hope your place came through without damage, God Bless.
It's been our "happy place" for many years. We live on the East side of the state in Sebastian and we feel we "dodged a bullet" on this one. Sustained high winds and rain for a couple of days. We happened to be in Rochester, NY during the hurricane and, by the day, our hearts ached at seeing the destruction on Sanibel/Captiva. This was by far the most comprehensive video footage of the utter devastation that took place. Brutal to watch, but so incredibly well done and documented. Thank you for this. I'm sure it will bring relative relief to some, but more than likely it will bring heartache to so many others. God bless Sanibel and Captiva and their residents.
Oh no rich man lost his summer vacation home.. Boo Hoo. Dont worry Disantos want’s your campaign contributions and is using taxpayer money to fly people to use more poor man taxpayer money to fix your community. Even though your islands combined income is probably more than some states annual budget.
Excellent job documenting the locations and areas. This will be a testament to what designs should be implemented for future storms as certain structures and homes faired quite well comparatively
Pro design tip. Dont want to lose your home to flood and hurricanes dont build 10ft above sea level on an island in a hurricane prone area. The combined annual income of this basically private island is more than somw states annual budget. But the us middle class white collar men and women will have their taxes go to fixing their community. This is just a tax right off for them. Makes me sick that all the focus is on these rich people who own boats that are more expensive that 3/4 of the rest of america makes in 10 years. Oh no rich white people lost their vacation homes. Im so sad for them.
@@diemaschine2287 I don’t know if you know this but dozens of those people in sanibel drowned and died terrible deaths. I know there’s a way you can say they should’ve left. And they should have, but people lost more than a house. They lost their lives, or were severely injured, or lost their career, lost their livelihood. Many more things than what you are imagining. I agree with you 10’ above sea level should be an abolished practice
Unfortunately, those man made islands never withstand the impacts of a large hurricaine, when looking down from the air , you can see where buildings are built on what is fragile land . As long as FL keeps building on shifting sand it will always be a battle to keep the waters away , long term it's impossible.
Bunch of crazies insisting on living on what used to be pristine coast line rather than inland where the coastline, left natural, would provide safe harbor.
Humans do enjoy a measure of safety, and still seek exploration and danger - say, all those crazies across the globe driving vehicles, climbing mountains etc..
Yup building on nature. The ocean will take back The land . Ppl need to stop 🛑 digging in the ocean .. not good .. protect GODS earth … stay in ur lane .. sorry for the lost . Climate change .. 😊
Wow this video really shows the amounts of damage was very extensive the lady kept talking about the force of the wind and rain but if you look at the roofs of the structures in general they held up pretty good. I believe most of the destructive damage was done by the inundation that is the surge which in some places may have been between 12 to 18 feet, and that is lots of powerful water and waves pounding the structures you can see how some of the garages in the houses were blown by the pressure of the water. I think people should pause for a second before deciding to rebuild on what is essentially barrier islands.
You were a lot nicer than I in your final assessment. I am blunt and to the point. This was 100% preventable and never should have happened. Barrier islands serve a vital purpose but money and selfish pleasure will always rule over common sense.
Beginning 13.31 to 14.05 is The Island Inn. Large gray building recently redone Matthew’s Lodge. Looks like the old wooden building - reception, sitting areas, gorgeous collection of local shells, irreplaceable photos - all gone. The restaurant too, Traditions on the Beach, an upscale recent addition, nothing left. My heart goes out to Mr. D and the wonderful staff.
Thank you for this video. Literally cried. Saw every restaurant hotel corner & beach side I had ever been too. Saw the road we rode bikes on mini vacations from MIAMI. I LOVE U SANIBEL CAPTIVA 🥹🤍
What you can’t see from the air on Sanibel Island is all the horrific water damage inside all those buildings from the catastrophic storm surge. Many of those buildings are completely gutted and destroyed on the inside. Most of what you see on most Sanibel is probably a total loss for insurance purposes.
The narrator did mention that there was probably water damage and because they won't be able rehab the buildings quick enough whatever damage is there will also become moldy which means things will have to be destroyed then the question is and I'm asking that's not the narrator is it worth it to rebuild it? I don't think it I don't think it's worth the life that will be lost the next time or the expense to repair it when it will probably be damaged again. This is make a beautiful nature preserve that people can visit. No one should live on it. Also that Lighthouse needs to be fixed and it needs to be both heavy duty.
@@taradid409 mold remediation would need to be done whether demolishing or not and once it's done you are ready to do repairs and finishes, would be dumb if your house is not structural unsafe to not rebuild.
Just unimaginable!!! The woman narrating was so incredibly thorough in explaining the towns, roads, and the folklore!!! Although devastating, it was enjoyable because of the woman narration!!!
OMG the lighthouse is practically on the water’s edge! I have a photo on my desk that I took of it in the mid-80’s with the quaint building at its base. I always loved going to the nearby beach, and all that is just … Gone. I am stunned by the changes.
I'm sure that many will share their Sanibel stories I first started going to Sanibel in the early 1980s, usually to bowman's beach. parked and spent the day, often eating at the Bubble Room I left florida in 1989 but returned annually in center part of state north of Okachobee so not every year was I able to visit. Of course, we always enjoyed driving around the island, then to Ding darling where I always hoped to spot roseated spoonbill. This past March I returned for the first time in about 10 years. there was bumper to bumper over the causeway, Turned left to go to the lighthouse, traffic crept along. all public parking full. Decided to go north. Every public parking, including Bowman full. Roads and sidewalk congested with bicycles. Spent most of the day in Ding darling, and walked to the beach from a ding darling parking area. Eventually ended up on Captiva and I was not able to find a parking space until 5:10 pm. A small public lot where if I recall two hour pass was $40, Was able to watch an incredible sunset so was worth it. No parking, no tables at the bubble room But I left so disappointed that the island I love to visit thirty years ago had lost its charm and was now so congested and seemingly inaccessible to day visitors. But, of course everything changes. I just hope that when rebuilding, it will return less commercialized and preserving what the island's atmosphere was for so many years
The high rise type speculators are licking thier chops at the thought of all the smaller mom and pop structures that are gone now. Insurance will deny, deny and deny until only the billionaires are left to carpetbag their way in.
@@mistersteve383 to have what can be taken away so instantly. Insurance companies have gov people working in the who defraud strangers policy, deny you and take the insurance payouts for themselves. All Insurance in USA is frauded and ruined due to false claims.
You hope so. Global warming rising sea levels this will keep happening more frequently. These are called barrier islands for a reason! No more bailout for people who can’t pay to rebuild themselves!
Glad to see less dstruction on Captiva. Happy to see the Bubble Room survived!. Been going to Sanibel and Captiva since the i970's when very little was on either island. Its disheartening to see how much constrution was allowed to be crammed in by these building depts and counties.
I've only been to Sanibel Island once, but it is one of my favorite places of all time. All of this damage is heartbreaking. so many homes and businesses lost. I appreciate the time you put in to make this video. It is by far the best footage of the devastation. Your explanations of where the resorts and roads are is helpful. You just can't tell which road is which. This is all so horrible.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was finally able to see Sanibel Sunset Beach Inn and verify the Lone Palm Tree that millions watched take a bashing on @Severestudios Cam5 is still standing - may it be a symbol of courage for all those who were hit by Hurricane Ian.
I appreciate how you documented this journey. It's just so hard to comprehend the strength of the water! We also live in Sanibel full-time. We haven't been to our place yet and your video was very helpful as we prepare for our journey. Take care.
Kellie Burns: there is a fire burning inside that house that your cameraman zoomed in on: it is on the house which looks like it had been on fire already....looks like it's where the chimney is, so it could be the fireplace, I don't know.....go to the time @ 15:45, that house right there that you pulled in on until about 15:57, you can see a fire/flame burning inside there ( I also just noticed there is another one burning on the back left hand side of the house as well @15:54-15:57)....do you see that? I wanted to inform you, don't know if you can do anything about it...but do you see that too? I was hoping that you would say that you noticed it, but I guess you didn't...please let me know. Thanks...
I think the problem is no one can get to those areas she said it's going to take months. The infrastructure is gone. The bridges to get to the island is gone and the roads are damages and even the bridge in island are damaged. Whatever is there has water damage so whatever water damage is there that can't be fixed immediately and it can't he's going to end up with mold It seems like most or all of this island is going to be total wash and I question anybody sanity (D safety) if they build there.
I have rented a house on Sunset Captiva Lane a few times. We love the Bubble Room at 23:15. Also the mucky Duck, we could walk to it from the house on Sunset Captiva Lane. In fact I see the house at 24:33. The brown roof top center screen. glad it's still standing. Such a beautiful house, hope to go back one day.
Best footage I've seen so far.. Thanks.. Nice to hear from someone who knows where they were.. Can't tell you how many years I've spent writing my Christmas cards from that beach just over the Sanibel/Captiva bridge!!
Thank you for for doing such a fantastic job of identifying and narrating. So sad!!! My favorite place in the world is/was Castaways cabins, the Bubble room deserts and the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva.
I do hope your house is OK, but just realize that the views from the air have often been deceiving. Closer expectation from the ground often reveals much more of what truly happened. Several feet of storm surge washed across the entire area. Most buildings, if not raised on stilts, have significant damage. I wish you the best of luck. God bless.
Great video. Loved that you know the island so well, as some things were unrecognizable. Been going there for 40 years. Were coming in January for 3 weeks, so I wanted to see how the island faired. I knew it was bad, but seeing it was really stunning. Thanks
This is so heartbreaking for me. In my 10 yrs or so visiting Sanibel, Beachview Cottages was where I stayed and now other than the office building and 1 other is gone. Great narration, Kellie really knows this Island well.
On top of all the damage is the damage you can't necessarily see, the foundations being eroded out making even more uninhabitable even though they might look okay.
Foundations have to extend pretty deep to reach load bearing capacity, if the building is on stilts I wouldn't concern myself one bit about the foundation
In Canada when this happened on Coquihalla highway washed out due to atmospheric river storm last November they made a temporary bridge with large “rif-raf. There were all roadways connecting BC Canada to the rest of Canada.
If you have ever built a sandcastle on the beach you should know that sand is washed away by water. Barrier islands, manmade islands like the causeway are composed of sand. No surprise that they washed away. Despite the hubris of man, they will always wash away. I have survived hurricanes and seen the landscape destruction and rebirth. Sanibel will be lush and green again when the native plants return in a year or so but the island should be left to the wildlife.
I agree 100 percent. No more tax dollars to rebuild on barrier islands!!! They are called barrier for a reason. I’m sick of greedy developers and governments
They MUST raise the entire bridge to prevent this from happening again. No more man-made “islands” in the middle of the causeway. I live here. I’ve been across this bridge many times.
No there is no reason to rebuild the causeway the appropriate action would be to move away and perhaps move out of Florida unless you have enough money to bail yourself out do not expect the rest of the Americans to be pleased about their increased Insurance expenses and billions of tax dollars
@@KC-dr3cg So let me get this straight. You are happy to send billions to other countries like Ukraine, but get mad when US citizens need help? Hurricanes can happen from South America all the way up to NY. This is one in a hundred year event. I don't mind paying taxes to help others in need (specially for natural disasters). THAT'S what taxes are for (maintenance and emergencies). What pisses me off is to pay for others student loans and shit like that. Every time there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world, WE HELP.
This is so sad to see the destruction of Sanibel Captiva. Captiva was a lime plantation that was destroyed by a hurricane in the 1930's I believe. It left the soil too salty to farm any longer. I went to Cypress Lake High school in Ft. Myers and graduated in 1976. If Mother Nature doesn't destroy the beauty around those parts then man will. For instance, the really cool swing-bridge that used to span San Carlos pass at Ft. Myers Beach. They tore it out and built a ridiculous gigantic concrete bridge in it's place. Way out of scale for that little area. It destroyed what little charm that beach had. Now of course not much is left of the place. Back on Sanibel, I was heart broken years ago when those beautiful windswept Australian pines that lined the edge of the road, on the gulf side ,of Captiva had disappeared after a storm/erosion. Man can rebuild but Mother Nature takes a long time repairing to her former beauty. Godspeed Sanibel/Captiva.
Around time marker 15:15 was Mitchells Sand Castle- with the modern white house to the south. The Old Florida cottages, 2 swimming pools, tennis court all washed away. We are glad we got to experience MSC ! Love to all.
Just because they look like they are intact does not mean they are not destroyed. These houses could have been built to withstand a hurricane with double paned windows that are intact YET like Mississippi, many houses seeped much water in up to second stories and sat in a house for days before seeping back out slowly. And.... Folks were not allowed to return to their homes from August to February in many areas...... So one could have imagined the smell and molded homes. Molded, electrical, drywall, all wood, everything was destroyed .... Unlivable and could not even be sold unless county signed off (approved) no structural damage first. Although structures were intact, because of mold and mildew damage that kept growing and growing years later....no one would buy. Lost. No insurance, no pay whereas wind came before water or ...did water come before wind? Anyway no payoffs to majority and, very few grants paid out that would have afforded to buy an equitable home. Just sad. Sad.
What an excellent video an commentary! Thank you for giving us a real view of the damage that IAN brought to Florida's beautiful Sanibel. My favorite island and beach of all, with the best shells. It is hard to tell those are Daniels beaches at. So sad.
One thing I notice is the empty concrete slabs which tells us , whatever structure was on that slab is gone . One wonders how many people are missing ? How many actually remained in some of those buildings that was on those empty slabs .
The long row of buildings that are torn up shown at 12:18 was the Seashells of Sanibel. My family stayed there in 2013 and it's where my husband and I got engaged. 😔
My friend in SC have already been told that their insurance are increasing $700 more next bill. So YA! We're ALL going to pay for this. Everything should be leveled off, buldozed. Bridge dismantled. It will be more costly to rebuild. Plus Insurers will all pull out of Florida so even if people want to rebuild they won't be able to get insurance. Turn these islands in nature preserves and sandbars only accesible by boat. BAM! Fixed.
My wife and I stayed on this beautiful island in 1992, the year Florida was hit by hurricane Andrew. We were supposed to stay somewhere in the Keys, but the hotel was destroyed and our tour operator rebooked us into the West Wind Inn on Sanibel at very short notice. Despite us being there about 3 weeks after Andrew had hit, Sanibel had somehow avoided the worst of the damage even though the hurricane eye passed pretty much straight over the island. I remember everyone being very upbeat and saying that they were used to bad storms and would rebuild. We send love and best wishes for the future to everyone affected by this monster storm and hopefully, we can one day revisit this little slice of paradise.
Yes the buildings may have survived but they were all pretty much flooded so they will still have to basically tear many of them down to the studs and rebuild and possibly even tear the whole place down depending on how structural it is or is not
@@MsMoople some somewhat newer houses are built up higher on Cement pillars and made out of so call hurricane materials..but many of the houses were built 15 20 years or older they aren't those are the ones that were probably completely washed out..others with all the water in them are also a complete loss because of mold so they have to tear it all out and all lost thier personal belongings xlothes furniture..pictures everything..
Me too. My friend and I ate at The Bubble Room 20 years ago around Christmas time. It was a 3-hour wait.. My friend and I just went shopping for that time and came back and it was well worth the wait. Even though the building Still Standing hopefully the inside didn't get damaged to much
This is clearly a job for the army core of engineers. This is exactly one of their primary roles, both taking out and restoring bridges and roadways. the only issue, is that whatever they do, they must rebuild with intent for it to withstand even another storm. As we are not out of hurricane season. I would also be highly advisable for all other gulf coast county's to re-asses their plans to deal with a major hurricane. This storm could have hit tampa, st. pete or sarasota. all of whice would see similar outcome if not worse. as they to have barrier islands that even more populated that FT.Myers beach.
I'm not sure rebuilding areas like this is going to be helpful but making sure areas that haven't been hit can withstand a storm like this is definitely important.
@@taradid409 Historically speaking Florida's most travelled living and vacation spots have all seen mass destruction from storms, but its not usually the case that they occur annually, so investors eventually roll the dice and re-invest in such regions, and buyers do the same. It will take a cool decade before we see these hit areas re-emerge.
Better than all the drone stuff taken by people who don't know the islands. She seemed to be at least somewhat familiar with them. Because she spent a lot of time filming Casa Ybel and its 130 year old Thistle Lodge, where Edison and Ford stayed. At 9:00. And she seemed to know the Bubble Room, at 23:00. And the Mucky Duck - 24:30
I caught a brief view of SONG OF THE SEA, a small hotel/resort on E Gulf Dr. I worked as grounds/maint.there in 89/91. Sad to see all the damage. We went through Laura and Delta in 2020 here in SW Louisiana. We feel your pain. Best wishes to all.
Such destruction- this makes me so sad and my heart goes out to the people in distress the families of those who are missing or perished in the storm 💔😥
I was actually expecting worse. It’s amazing to see how much all those buildings could withstand. I know there’s got to be a tremendous amount of water damage and needs for serious renovations, but the fact that all those buildings are still standing at all is amazing. I’ve stayed in the Sundial resort a few times and that definitely hurt to see
its not just water damage, this is nasty salty ocean water. those houses are full of bacteria, fuel, debris from, we don't know where, mold, sand etc.. it all needs to be leveled and left alone for wild life.
This is the first time I've been able to watch a video, no one would let me, when you panned W. Gulf drive I saw the remains of my home and I couldn't hold back the tears,, it's so surreal to look at some place that's been home to several generations of family and see most of it gone, you think of the silliest things like what was in my bedside table drawer or the Blue Rendezvous menu hanging on the wall ,,, thank you for such a good video , most have been so hateful because evidently if you lived on Sanibel you deserved this,,, people are so very mean😔
MARYLANDER here! We have a Barrier Island , Assateague Island! It was formed by a hurricane in the 1930's! Developers are forbidden to build on this wonderful Barrier Island. It is a Maryland State Seashore and National Park! Only camping is permitted on Assateague! Assateague Island is the home of the famous Chincoteague Island ponies! 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎"Man belongs to the Earth . Earth does NOT BELONG TO MAN"! Chief Seattle!
I've always wanted to do an aerial tour to see these islands. This wasn't what I ever wanted to see. They will always be our favorite vacation place each year. We'll be back!
Having seen same footage on all 'news' networks for the past 8 days, non-stop, over and over, I'm beginning to wonder what exactly we are being distracted from..
Having talked to my Aunt and Uncle daily since they survived the hurricane, you can put away your fake conspiracy bs. They got hit hard. Next hurricane head down and ride it out. Then maybe reality will resonate with you.
The fact that it's all destroyed and it shouldn't be rebuilt. I probably should have never been built on it should have been a nature hopefully that's what I will become. Hopefully people who have homes there will get enough money to move to someplace safer.
And FYI , my father had a home on Sanibel Island years ago! During Hurricane Charley he evacuated back North to his home. Dad lost 1 shingle ! "Keep giving to the Little Sisters of the Poor dad"! I told him ! Someone up there is watching out for you! 🥰💙🌊💙🌊🌊
I realize the islands have been revitalized over the years due to hurricanes, storms etc. Were they ever natural at one time in history? Excellent video and commentary. Thank you.
They had to have been natural and just plants and animals with no humans at one point and I hope that it goes back to that. I imagine if there's another storm the same thing will happen again it could be worse.
I was there in the 60s. We stayed at a campground on the beach and everyone woke up in the middle of the night to observe a giant turtle dig a hole on the beach and lay her eggs. She covered it up, and headed out to sea. What a sight! The island seemed mostly green and wild.
Fla. is a nice place to visit but not to live in from late may to mid Dec cause of hurricanes I lived 20 years in the panhandle of Fla & 08 is when I was done with the weather & moved.
I think we need to be teaching students how to read satellite weather images in our schools. When you have one of those big storms right off your coast that has that classic buzzsaw appearance on satellite, then that’s your warning that it’s time to get the hell out of Dodge! A giant atmospheric buzzsaw is exactly what that storm is!
So much damage. We spent time on Sanabel and Captiva several times. Excellent documentary. I remember The Mucky Duck and South Seas plantation. Hopefully the Ding Darling Nature Center can be restored.
My Massachusetts neighbor lost his Sanibel condo to Ian. As of October 2024, it is still not repaired. I was not aware of how severe the damage was. This video is very sad to see. I can now understand the situation better. I don't think my neighbor has much hope of ever rebuilding. I can't see how Sanibel can ever recover.
Maybe we should look at these barrier islands as protective natural structures against hurricanes and limit building on these barrier islands. Just a thought!🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
The salt water destroyed the plant life in Florida. No one has yet to report the devastation to the Florida agriculture. The salt water damage will remain in the soil for the next five to ten years. Every home was flooded with SALT water that will corrode all the metal nails and brackets holding most of these homes together. The vehicles will all have rust damage as they will be inaccessible for a few months allowing the salt to erode the metal. Any home with flood damage should be considered a total loss from a structure standpoint as the salt will rust the joist supports and the mold will have set in the walls and wood. I wouldn't be surprised to see this state loose much of the residences after this.
No one mentioned the salt water before and I was curious about it. I wasn't sure if the plants on the island would be able to tolerate the salt or not. Do you think Island will survive or should it be become a nature preserve - which is what I think it should happen.
I was hoping, the plants could, after some fresh water, revive. Doesn't sound good for the plants OR the people that have suffered this devastating loss.
My dad left during Hurricane Charley! He lost 1 shingle! "Keep giving to the Little Sisters of the Poor Dad"! Someone up there is watching out for you! 🥰
Everyone is talking like this is a once in a lifetime event and everything is going to be peachy. Your governor is wrong in calling this a 500 year event. It could happen again next year.
I am surprised that not one person is visible! There must be someone there, so sorry to see such loss and damage to the environment. Thanks for the coverage. Super sad. Poor little animals and birds too. Ugh🥺
Great job by Kellie Burns just some notes: the original causeway (with a drawbridge) was from the early 60s. When some corrosion was found in 2003 they decided to build a new one. That one opened in 2007
I'm wondering if it's now a foreign concept to live in a house that you can repair yourself. It was maybe like 2 generations ago that building your own house was normal, or even adding an addition. Family and friends would pitch in, maybe a couple of things would get hired out. Things like replacing your roof or windows, soffit, trim, floors, etc because a storm hit wasn't a big deal because practically every man new how to do it, and the houses weren't so big that it was overwhelming. I look at this and I know, it will be an ant colony of insurance adjusters and the contractors and laborers streaming in and out until things are back to normal. I can't help but think: Why do people build so big and put themselves at the absolute mercy of a hired workforce?
I get the feeling from what I've heard and read is a lot of people don't have the insurance they need to repair this damage and that by the time people are able to get into rebuild/repair there will be so much damage that a lot of the stuff won't be repairable. Then there's a question of even if they do rebuild this is anybody going even offer insurance for these areas? It makes no sense to offer insurance for these areas. It's like giving money to a gambler that never wins. It's really sad to see all the destruction but it's a Barrier Island let it be a Barrier Island get rid of the houses let the trees and whatever else grows their grow to protect the land Beyond it. This would make an awesome Park / Nature Preserve. Knowing this country people rebuild it in the next storm will take it all out.
Well on Sanibel you don't have a choice, you have to hire licensed and insured workers to do the big stuff the city can see or they hit you with a stop work order. Also as of the most recent code updates for Sanibel you gotta have a roof truss system engineered to withstand 170 MPH winds, you aren't designing that yourself and you can't install it yourself unless you are a licensed contractor.
@@taradid409 People are talking out their asses, a simple search reveals you can get Insurance that covers Hurricane damage, the interesting side note is that Wind Policies can be split off and shopped for separately on the islands instead of being part of your main insurance policy. Also if you are financing the property you are required to get Flood Insurance.
@@taradid409 Sanibel already is mostly a park/nature preserve. Most of the island is a federal nature preserve. Look up J.N. "Ding" Darling Nature Preserve for info.
@@DanielRichards644 Sounds like what I'm talking about. Throw money at it to make it work, when it gets messed up the insurance companies throw even more money at it and then leave and never come back. The rest of the residents anywhere close to that area suffer not being able to buy insurance because the money that the super nice houses cost the ins companies and made them leave.
The homes that did well were built after Hurricane Charlie. A lot were built to withstand a cat 5, but not the surge. My friend's house has crews doing the roof this weekend. Next week interior starts a remodel. Causeway open on Oct 21 to residents and contractors.
Wow! The narrator knows this area WELL.
When I was younger my family used to own a timeshare at Sanibel Cottages, which is why I was watching this video.
Although she didn’t point out the cottages, she explains she got married at the resort right next door! How heartbreaking!
Sanibel Cottages are visible around timestamp 10:15 to 10:18, but unfortunately the camera turns way too quick to get a good look.
I’m grateful to this narrator for doing an amazing job identifying the road names, specific resorts and landmarks that viewers connected to Sanibel and Captiva wanted to see. When these islands get rebuilt, she should be elected mayor! THANK YOU!!
You did a great job narrating this. You filmed my childhood and you gave it way more justice than any other video I’ve seen. Thank you. The emotion in your voice when you were above where you were married I felt it.
Thank You! Your's is the only video I've been able to find that included the damage on Captiva. Even though I bought my condo in the 80s it appears to have made it. It's been awhile since I've been down there but I've always had a very soft spot in my heart for Sanibel & Captiva, I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend there. Thank you again for the video and I'm so sorry for all those who have lost so much and RIP to those who lost literally everything, God Bless you all!
Hoky Pokey do you still own your condo there? If so do you know it’s condition? 🙏🏻This is 💔Have stayed at many places on this beautiful island and we have always hoped to retire here. Would love to physically helped here but don’t know where to begin 😢
More like a death trap
@@elaineploof1348 I sold the condo about 15 years ago. I was just curious how things on Captiva were in comparison to Sanibel & Ft. Meyers as I loved that whole area so much. Actually I did have the thought that maybe it would be a good place to move to, I'm already retired but would like to move away from the White Mts in NE AZ. Hope your place came through without damage, God Bless.
It's been our "happy place" for many years. We live on the East side of the state in Sebastian and we feel we "dodged a bullet" on this one. Sustained high winds and rain for a couple of days. We happened to be in Rochester, NY during the hurricane and, by the day, our hearts ached at seeing the destruction on Sanibel/Captiva. This was by far the most comprehensive video footage of the utter devastation that took place. Brutal to watch, but so incredibly well done and documented. Thank you for this. I'm sure it will bring relative relief to some, but more than likely it will bring heartache to so many others. God bless Sanibel and Captiva and their residents.
Oh no rich man lost his summer vacation home.. Boo Hoo. Dont worry Disantos want’s your campaign contributions and is using taxpayer money to fly people to use more poor man taxpayer money to fix your community. Even though your islands combined income is probably more than some states annual budget.
Excellent job documenting the locations and areas. This will be a testament to what designs should be implemented for future storms as certain structures and homes faired quite well comparatively
In 2018 the water was this color from the releas of blue algae from lake O all those toxic runoffs killed millions of sea life!
Rrr44
Yup...making islands around Florida, you gotta prep for hurricanes.
Pro design tip. Dont want to lose your home to flood and hurricanes dont build 10ft above sea level on an island in a hurricane prone area. The combined annual income of this basically private island is more than somw states annual budget. But the us middle class white collar men and women will have their taxes go to fixing their community. This is just a tax right off for them. Makes me sick that all the focus is on these rich people who own boats that are more expensive that 3/4 of the rest of america makes in 10 years. Oh no rich white people lost their vacation homes. Im so sad for them.
@@diemaschine2287 I don’t know if you know this but dozens of those people in sanibel drowned and died terrible deaths. I know there’s a way you can say they should’ve left. And they should have, but people lost more than a house. They lost their lives, or were severely injured, or lost their career, lost their livelihood. Many more things than what you are imagining. I agree with you 10’ above sea level should be an abolished practice
People who have homes on barrier islands know that it's a matter of time before a big storm comes and creates major destruction.
Unfortunately, those man made islands never withstand the impacts of a large hurricaine, when looking down from the air , you can see where buildings are built on what is fragile land . As long as FL keeps building on shifting sand it will always be a battle to keep the waters away , long term it's impossible.
Bunch of crazies insisting on living on what used to be pristine coast line rather than inland where the coastline, left natural, would provide safe harbor.
Humans do enjoy a measure of safety, and still seek exploration and danger - say, all those crazies across the globe driving vehicles, climbing mountains etc..
@@loukenthompson2365 and people live in tornado alley and in Earthquake prone regions too but you don't complain about that you kid fucking nazi.
Yup building on nature. The ocean will take back
The land . Ppl need to stop 🛑 digging in the ocean .. not good .. protect GODS earth … stay in ur lane .. sorry for the lost . Climate change .. 😊
@@jholland2323 people conveniently forget that part when loads of dollars are involved.
very helpful to hear someone who is native to the area tell us from her perspective. I am sorry for your loss.
Wow this video really shows the amounts of damage was very extensive the lady kept talking about the force of the wind and rain but if you look at the roofs of the structures in general they held up pretty good. I believe most of the destructive damage was done by the inundation that is the surge which in some places may have been between 12 to 18 feet, and that is lots of powerful water and waves pounding the structures you can see how some of the garages in the houses were blown by the pressure of the water. I think people should pause for a second before deciding to rebuild on what is essentially barrier islands.
You were a lot nicer than I in your final assessment. I am blunt and to the point. This was 100% preventable and never should have happened. Barrier islands serve a vital purpose but money and selfish pleasure will always rule over common sense.
@@deborahwood9304 I agree with you 100%
1 cubic yard of water weighs 1,755 pounds. That's 3*3*3. Let that sink in for a while.
Beginning 13.31 to 14.05 is The Island Inn. Large gray building recently redone Matthew’s Lodge. Looks like the old wooden building - reception, sitting areas, gorgeous collection of local shells, irreplaceable photos - all gone. The restaurant too, Traditions on the Beach, an upscale recent addition, nothing left. My heart goes out to Mr. D and the wonderful staff.
Thank you for this video. Literally cried. Saw every restaurant hotel corner & beach side I had ever been too. Saw the road we rode bikes on mini vacations from MIAMI. I LOVE U SANIBEL CAPTIVA 🥹🤍
This video was very well made, thank you for documenting this. Prayers to everyone who suffered this tragedy.
Not well made. Nauseating. Could do better with a drone.
@@rfh1234 😂 Maybe you could buy a drone and see if it comes out better
👍👍
What you can’t see from the air on Sanibel Island is all the horrific water damage inside all those buildings from the catastrophic storm surge. Many of those buildings are completely gutted and destroyed on the inside. Most of what you see on most Sanibel is probably a total loss for insurance purposes.
Wow
The narrator did mention that there was probably water damage and because they won't be able rehab the buildings quick enough whatever damage is there will also become moldy which means things will have to be destroyed then the question is and I'm asking that's not the narrator is it worth it to rebuild it? I don't think it I don't think it's worth the life that will be lost the next time or the expense to repair it when it will probably be damaged again. This is make a beautiful nature preserve that people can visit. No one should live on it.
Also that Lighthouse needs to be fixed and it needs to be both heavy duty.
Yes. The island American Legion posted photos on Facebook of their interior. Trashed and flooded.
first floor drywall and finishes, really not as bad as it looks if you know construction, just because you see studs doesn't mean total loss.
@@taradid409 mold remediation would need to be done whether demolishing or not and once it's done you are ready to do repairs and finishes, would be dumb if your house is not structural unsafe to not rebuild.
Just unimaginable!!! The woman narrating was so incredibly thorough in explaining the towns, roads, and the folklore!!! Although devastating, it was enjoyable because of the woman narration!!!
OMG the lighthouse is practically on the water’s edge! I have a photo on my desk that I took of it in the mid-80’s with the quaint building at its base. I always loved going to the nearby beach, and all that is just …
Gone. I am stunned by the changes.
I'm sure that many will share their Sanibel stories
I first started going to Sanibel in the early 1980s, usually to bowman's beach. parked and spent the day, often eating at the Bubble Room
I left florida in 1989 but returned annually in center part of state north of Okachobee so not every year was I able to visit.
Of course, we always enjoyed driving around the island, then to Ding darling where I always hoped to spot roseated spoonbill.
This past March I returned for the first time in about 10 years. there was bumper to bumper over the causeway, Turned left to go to the lighthouse, traffic crept along. all public parking full. Decided to go north. Every public parking, including Bowman full. Roads and sidewalk congested with bicycles.
Spent most of the day in Ding darling, and walked to the beach from a ding darling parking area.
Eventually ended up on Captiva and I was not able to find a parking space until 5:10 pm. A small public lot where if I recall two hour pass was $40,
Was able to watch an incredible sunset so was worth it.
No parking, no tables at the bubble room
But I left so disappointed that the island I love to visit thirty years ago had lost its charm and was now so congested and seemingly inaccessible to day visitors.
But, of course everything changes.
I just hope that when rebuilding, it will return less commercialized and preserving what the island's atmosphere was for so many years
Was this during spring break? Always more congestion.
everytime i go to sanibel, i get 50 bug bites that scar me for months.
The high rise type speculators are licking thier chops at the thought of all the smaller mom and pop structures that are gone now. Insurance will deny, deny and deny until only the billionaires are left to carpetbag their way in.
@@mistersteve383 to have what can be taken away so instantly. Insurance companies have gov people working in the who defraud strangers policy, deny you and take the insurance payouts for themselves. All Insurance in USA is frauded and ruined due to false claims.
You hope so. Global warming rising sea levels this will keep happening more frequently. These are called barrier islands for a reason! No more bailout for people who can’t pay to rebuild themselves!
Such devastation to a beautiful area. So very sorry for everyone’s loss.
Glad to see less dstruction on Captiva. Happy to see the Bubble Room survived!. Been going to Sanibel and Captiva since the i970's when very little was on either island. Its disheartening to see how much constrution was allowed to be crammed in by these building depts and counties.
I've only been to Sanibel Island once, but it is one of my favorite places of all time. All of this damage is heartbreaking. so many homes and businesses lost. I appreciate the time you put in to make this video. It is by far the best footage of the devastation. Your explanations of where the resorts and roads are is helpful. You just can't tell which road is which. This is all so horrible.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was finally able to see Sanibel Sunset Beach Inn and verify the Lone Palm Tree that millions watched take a bashing on @Severestudios Cam5 is still standing - may it be a symbol of courage for all those who were hit by Hurricane Ian.
I appreciate how you documented this journey. It's just so hard to comprehend the strength of the water! We also live in Sanibel full-time. We haven't been to our place yet and your video was very helpful as we prepare for our journey. Take care.
So sorry for your loss , Charleston, South Carolina
had HUGO ! We feel your pain and keep you in our thoughts 🙏
Kellie Burns: there is a fire burning inside that house that your cameraman zoomed in on: it is on the house which looks like it had been on fire already....looks like it's where the chimney is, so it could be the fireplace, I don't know.....go to the time @ 15:45, that house right there that you pulled in on until about 15:57, you can see a fire/flame burning inside there ( I also just noticed there is another one burning on the back left hand side of the house as well @15:54-15:57)....do you see that? I wanted to inform you, don't know if you can do anything about it...but do you see that too? I was hoping that you would say that you noticed it, but I guess you didn't...please let me know. Thanks...
I think the problem is no one can get to those areas she said it's going to take months. The infrastructure is gone. The bridges to get to the island is gone and the roads are damages and even the bridge in island are damaged. Whatever is there has water damage so whatever water damage is there that can't be fixed immediately and it can't he's going to end up with mold It seems like most or all of this island is going to be total wash and I question anybody sanity (D safety) if they build there.
Good eye!!
@@taradid409 why would anyone live there seriously I think they need to condemned all of it and bulldozed everything. It’s not safe!
@@johnlng6680 thanks...I wonder if it's still burning :(
@@espressosplanners7765 mind over matter. if you don't mind wasting another few hundred thousand bucks for your castle on the beach it doesn't matter
I have rented a house on Sunset Captiva Lane a few times. We love the Bubble Room at 23:15. Also the mucky Duck, we could walk to it from the house on Sunset Captiva Lane. In fact I see the house at 24:33. The brown roof top center screen. glad it's still standing. Such a beautiful house, hope to go back one day.
Amazing coverage. You are the bomb girl. None of the big networks gave us the real story like you have. Kudos to you. Prayers for the victims
excellent coverage Kellie. Thank You.
I am so sorry for your great loss. thanks for posting.
Best footage I've seen so far..
Thanks..
Nice to hear from someone who knows where they were..
Can't tell you how many years I've spent writing my Christmas cards from that beach just over the Sanibel/Captiva bridge!!
Thank you for for doing such a fantastic job of identifying and narrating. So sad!!! My favorite place in the world is/was Castaways cabins, the Bubble room deserts and the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva.
Outstanding report. Thank you!
Thank you! I was able to see my house, and it appears to be okay.
I do hope your house is OK, but just realize that the views from the air have often been deceiving. Closer expectation from the ground often reveals much more of what truly happened. Several feet of storm surge washed across the entire area. Most buildings, if not raised on stilts, have significant damage.
I wish you the best of luck. God bless.
I am on stilts. Hoping for the best. 🙂
Great video. Loved that you know the island so well, as some things were unrecognizable. Been going there for 40 years. Were coming in January for 3 weeks, so I wanted to see how the island faired. I knew it was bad, but seeing it was really stunning. Thanks
This is so heartbreaking for me. In my 10 yrs or so visiting Sanibel, Beachview Cottages was where I stayed and now other than the office building and 1 other is gone. Great narration, Kellie really knows this Island well.
Best Ariel View Yet of this Island!
On top of all the damage is the damage you can't necessarily see, the foundations being eroded out making even more uninhabitable even though they might look okay.
Along with mold and anything electrical being junk.
@@akbychoice have you lived through a flood? I have you'd be surprised how little damage occurs to the houses electrical system.
Foundations have to extend pretty deep to reach load bearing capacity, if the building is on stilts I wouldn't concern myself one bit about the foundation
@@DanielRichards644 saltwater is a different creature.
@@akbychoice you didn't see how nasty and sticky everything was
In Canada when this happened on Coquihalla highway washed out due to atmospheric river storm last November they made a temporary bridge with large “rif-raf. There were all roadways connecting BC Canada to the rest of Canada.
This damage will not only continue, it will get worse.
Thank You for posting this, It hurts to see all the damage .
If you have ever built a sandcastle on the beach you should know that sand is washed away by water. Barrier islands, manmade islands like the causeway are composed of sand. No surprise that they washed away. Despite the hubris of man, they will always wash away. I have survived hurricanes and seen the landscape destruction and rebirth. Sanibel will be lush and green again when the native plants return in a year or so but the island should be left to the wildlife.
I agree 100 percent. No more tax dollars to rebuild on barrier islands!!! They are called barrier for a reason. I’m sick of greedy developers and governments
They MUST raise the entire bridge to prevent this from happening again. No more man-made “islands” in the middle of the causeway. I live here. I’ve been across this bridge many times.
Are you and your family okay? Everyone safe?
No there is no reason to rebuild the causeway the appropriate action would be to move away and perhaps move out of Florida unless you have enough money to bail yourself out do not expect the rest of the Americans to be pleased about their increased Insurance expenses and billions of tax dollars
@@KC-dr3cg doesn’t affect you in that way so stop it
@@KC-dr3cg So let me get this straight. You are happy to send billions to other countries like Ukraine, but get mad when US citizens need help?
Hurricanes can happen from South America all the way up to NY. This is one in a hundred year event.
I don't mind paying taxes to help others in need (specially for natural disasters). THAT'S what taxes are for (maintenance and emergencies).
What pisses me off is to pay for others student loans and shit like that.
Every time there is a natural disaster anywhere in the world, WE HELP.
@@KC-dr3cg FO
This is so sad to see the destruction of Sanibel Captiva. Captiva was a lime plantation that was destroyed by a hurricane in the 1930's I believe. It left the soil too salty to farm any longer.
I went to Cypress Lake High school in Ft. Myers and graduated in 1976. If Mother Nature doesn't destroy the beauty around those parts then man will. For instance, the really cool swing-bridge that used to span San Carlos pass at Ft. Myers Beach. They tore it out and built a ridiculous gigantic concrete bridge in it's place. Way out of scale for that little area. It destroyed what little charm that beach had. Now of course not much is left of the place. Back on Sanibel, I was heart broken years ago when those beautiful windswept Australian pines that lined the edge of the road, on the gulf side ,of Captiva had disappeared after a storm/erosion. Man can rebuild but Mother Nature takes a long time repairing to her former beauty. Godspeed Sanibel/Captiva.
Australian pines if I’m not mistaken we’re brought to Florida to help with erosion but caused more problems than they did good.
Around time marker 15:15 was Mitchells Sand Castle- with the modern white house to the south. The Old Florida cottages, 2 swimming pools, tennis court all washed away. We are glad we got to experience MSC ! Love to all.
Just because they look like they are intact does not mean they are not destroyed. These houses could have been built to withstand a hurricane with double paned windows that are intact YET like Mississippi, many houses seeped much water in up to second stories and sat in a house for days before seeping back out slowly. And.... Folks were not allowed to return to their homes from August to February in many areas...... So one could have imagined the smell and molded homes. Molded, electrical, drywall, all wood, everything was destroyed .... Unlivable and could not even be sold unless county signed off (approved) no structural damage first. Although structures were intact, because of mold and mildew damage that kept growing and growing years later....no one would buy. Lost. No insurance, no pay whereas wind came before water or ...did water come before wind? Anyway no payoffs to majority and, very few grants paid out that would have afforded to buy an equitable home. Just sad. Sad.
What an excellent video an commentary! Thank you for giving us a real view of the damage that IAN brought to Florida's beautiful Sanibel. My favorite island and beach of all, with the best shells. It is hard to tell those are Daniels beaches at. So sad.
What you’re looking at is the damage that was done to the natural habitat there.
One thing I notice is the empty concrete slabs which tells us , whatever structure was on that slab is gone . One wonders how many people are missing ? How many actually remained in some of those buildings that was on those empty slabs .
The long row of buildings that are torn up shown at 12:18 was the Seashells of Sanibel. My family stayed there in 2013 and it's where my husband and I got engaged. 😔
Excellent work!!! Very informative and clearly spoken. Thank you
My friend in SC have already been told that their insurance are increasing $700 more next bill. So YA! We're ALL going to pay for this.
Everything should be leveled off, buldozed. Bridge dismantled. It will be more costly to rebuild. Plus Insurers will all pull out of Florida so even if people want to rebuild they won't be able to get insurance.
Turn these islands in nature preserves and sandbars only accesible by boat. BAM! Fixed.
Yes all the barrier islands should be nature preserves or state parks
the beginning view shows how exposed to the elements this area is, I am surprised there is not more frequent damage than there is
My wife and I stayed on this beautiful island in 1992, the year Florida was hit by hurricane Andrew. We were supposed to stay somewhere in the Keys, but the hotel was destroyed and our tour operator rebooked us into the West Wind Inn on Sanibel at very short notice. Despite us being there about 3 weeks after Andrew had hit, Sanibel had somehow avoided the worst of the damage even though the hurricane eye passed pretty much straight over the island. I remember everyone being very upbeat and saying that they were used to bad storms and would rebuild. We send love and best wishes for the future to everyone affected by this monster storm and hopefully, we can one day revisit this little slice of paradise.
An absolutely terrifying sight. Thanks for sharing
Yikes. I was a science teacher for more than 30 years, worked for NASA, and...I don't even know how to process this.
Yes the buildings may have survived but they were all pretty much flooded so they will still have to basically tear many of them down to the studs and rebuild and possibly even tear the whole place down depending on how structural it is or is not
Would it not make sense to rebuild in concrete and on Stilts to protect buildings from future storms?
@@MsMoople some somewhat newer houses are built up higher on Cement pillars and made out of so call hurricane materials..but many of the houses were built 15 20 years or older they aren't those are the ones that were probably completely washed out..others with all the water in them are also a complete loss because of mold so they have to tear it all out and all lost thier personal belongings xlothes furniture..pictures everything..
So happy to see the bubble room standing!!
Me too. My friend and I ate at The Bubble Room 20 years ago around Christmas time. It was a 3-hour wait.. My friend and I just went shopping for that time and came back and it was well worth the wait. Even though the building Still Standing hopefully the inside didn't get damaged to much
We were at the Sundial last November and had a great time on the island. I hope they can all rebuild. It’s a gem.
Thanks for this excellent review by somebody who actually knew the islands
This is clearly a job for the army core of engineers. This is exactly one of their primary roles, both taking out and restoring bridges and roadways. the only issue, is that whatever they do, they must rebuild with intent for it to withstand even another storm. As we are not out of hurricane season. I would also be highly advisable for all other gulf coast county's to re-asses their plans to deal with a major hurricane. This storm could have hit tampa, st. pete or sarasota. all of whice would see similar outcome if not worse. as they to have barrier islands that even more populated that FT.Myers beach.
Yes, They know how to do this.
I'm not sure rebuilding areas like this is going to be helpful but making sure areas that haven't been hit can withstand a storm like this is definitely important.
and rebuilding beaches to protect against hurricanes, the Core also does that routinely across the country
@@taradid409 dumbass, you need the barrier islands rebuilt, they protect the main land from more damage.
@@taradid409 Historically speaking Florida's most travelled living and vacation spots have all seen mass destruction from storms, but its not usually the case that they occur annually, so investors eventually roll the dice and re-invest in such regions, and buyers do the same. It will take a cool decade before we see these hit areas re-emerge.
Better than all the drone stuff taken by people who don't know the islands. She seemed to be at least somewhat familiar with them.
Because she spent a lot of time filming Casa Ybel and its 130 year old Thistle Lodge, where Edison and Ford stayed. At 9:00.
And she seemed to know the Bubble Room, at 23:00.
And the Mucky Duck - 24:30
Howdy Jim Beckman!
"He", "Guy". Sorry, that is the voice of a Woman! Listen up!
So very sad seeing all this destruction 😢 I'm in Pensacola Fl and my heart and prayers go out to all involved in this destruction 💔
Professionally done thank you
Wow this is a great video. I live here in Cape Coral and never saw all the area damaged especially the causeway. Wow.
What a GREAT job, thank you. Our houseboat Airbnb is featured in this as well. Broken hearted for all of us who lost a piece of our souls!
I caught a brief view of SONG OF THE SEA, a small hotel/resort on E Gulf Dr. I worked as grounds/maint.there in 89/91. Sad to see all the damage. We went through Laura and Delta in 2020 here in SW Louisiana. We feel your pain. Best wishes to all.
Such destruction- this makes me so sad and my heart goes out to the people in distress the families of those who are missing or perished in the storm 💔😥
I was actually expecting worse. It’s amazing to see how much all those buildings could withstand. I know there’s got to be a tremendous amount of water damage and needs for serious renovations, but the fact that all those buildings are still standing at all is amazing. I’ve stayed in the Sundial resort a few times and that definitely hurt to see
its not just water damage, this is nasty salty ocean water. those houses are full of bacteria, fuel, debris from, we don't know where, mold, sand etc.. it all needs to be leveled and left alone for wild life.
Great effort - thank you very much for sharing!
This is the first time I've been able to watch a video, no one would let me, when you panned W. Gulf drive I saw the remains of my home and I couldn't hold back the tears,, it's so surreal to look at some place that's been home to several generations of family and see most of it gone, you think of the silliest things like what was in my bedside table drawer or the Blue Rendezvous menu hanging on the wall ,,, thank you for such a good video , most have been so hateful because evidently if you lived on Sanibel you deserved this,,, people are so very mean😔
MARYLANDER here! We have a Barrier Island , Assateague Island! It was formed by a hurricane in the 1930's! Developers are forbidden to build on this wonderful Barrier Island. It is a Maryland State Seashore and National Park! Only camping is permitted on Assateague! Assateague Island is the home of the famous Chincoteague Island ponies! 🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎🐎"Man belongs to the Earth . Earth does NOT BELONG TO MAN"! Chief Seattle!
I've always wanted to do an aerial tour to see these islands. This wasn't what I ever wanted to see. They will always be our favorite vacation place each year. We'll be back!
Having seen same footage on all 'news' networks for the past 8 days, non-stop, over and over, I'm beginning to wonder what exactly we are being distracted from..
Having talked to my Aunt and Uncle daily since they survived the hurricane, you can put away your fake conspiracy bs. They got hit hard. Next hurricane head down and ride it out. Then maybe reality will resonate with you.
Probably the proxy war being waged in Ukraine.
The fact that it's all destroyed and it shouldn't be rebuilt. I probably should have never been built on it should have been a nature hopefully that's what I will become. Hopefully people who have homes there will get enough money to move to someplace safer.
And FYI , my father had a home on Sanibel Island years ago! During Hurricane Charley he evacuated back North to his home. Dad lost 1 shingle ! "Keep giving to the Little Sisters of the Poor dad"! I told him ! Someone up there is watching out for you! 🥰💙🌊💙🌊🌊
8:41 That is Oceans Reach. Casa Ybel is farther west.
Great narration Kellie .
very well done. thank you.
They should have a 20 year plan to go out there and remove everything man made and then make it a wilderness refuge.
Thanks for this video-- great footage!
I realize the islands have been revitalized over the years due to hurricanes, storms etc. Were they ever natural at one time in history? Excellent video and commentary. Thank you.
It’s a man made disaster
They had to have been natural and just plants and animals with no humans at one point and I hope that it goes back to that. I imagine if there's another storm the same thing will happen again it could be worse.
6,000 year old islands
Sanibel-Captiva are natural islands, the 2 causeway islands are the manmade ones.
I was there in the 60s. We stayed at a campground on the beach and everyone woke up in the middle of the night to observe a giant turtle dig a hole on the beach and lay her eggs. She covered it up, and headed out to sea. What a sight! The island seemed mostly green and wild.
Very good descriptions of location
West Wind Inn is actually the white-roofed, U-shaped resort at 14:08, FYI.
Camera moves too fast, in out and side to side makes you dizzy to look at it.
As a Californian, I don't understand why people choose to live at sea level, in an area prone to annual hurricanes.
Fla. is a nice place to visit but not to live in
from late may to mid Dec cause of hurricanes
I lived 20 years in the panhandle of Fla & 08
is when I was done with the weather & moved.
The water damage is going to be horrific.
I think we need to be teaching students how to read satellite weather images in our schools. When you have one of those big storms right off your coast that has that classic buzzsaw appearance on satellite, then that’s your warning that it’s time to get the hell out of Dodge! A giant atmospheric buzzsaw is exactly what that storm is!
@Yosef Binyamin it’s a death trap
So much damage. We spent time on Sanabel and Captiva several times. Excellent documentary. I remember The Mucky Duck and South Seas plantation. Hopefully the Ding Darling Nature Center can be restored.
And the Bubble Room 😞💕
It’s been 20 years since we visited Sanibel. So sad to see the destruction. It was a magical place.
My Massachusetts neighbor lost his Sanibel condo to Ian. As of October 2024, it is still not repaired. I was not aware of how severe the damage was. This video is very sad to see. I can now understand the situation better. I don't think my neighbor has much hope of ever rebuilding. I can't see how Sanibel can ever recover.
Well done! As a kid we used to frequent Sanibel every sumer
Maybe we should look at these barrier islands as protective natural structures against hurricanes and limit building on these barrier islands. Just a thought!🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
The salt water destroyed the plant life in Florida. No one has yet to report the devastation to the Florida agriculture. The salt water damage will remain in the soil for the next five to ten years. Every home was flooded with SALT water that will corrode all the metal nails and brackets holding most of these homes together. The vehicles will all have rust damage as they will be inaccessible for a few months allowing the salt to erode the metal. Any home with flood damage should be considered a total loss from a structure standpoint as the salt will rust the joist supports and the mold will have set in the walls and wood. I wouldn't be surprised to see this state loose much of the residences after this.
No one mentioned the salt water before and I was curious about it. I wasn't sure if the plants on the island would be able to tolerate the salt or not. Do you think Island will survive
or should it be become a nature preserve - which is what I think it should happen.
@@taradid409 much of the island is a preserve.
I was hoping, the plants could, after some fresh water, revive. Doesn't sound good for the plants OR the people that have suffered this devastating loss.
Plenty of vegetation has no problem with salt water, like several varieties of mangroves , sea grapes and other tropical island plants.
My dad left during Hurricane Charley! He lost 1 shingle! "Keep giving to the Little Sisters of the Poor Dad"! Someone up there is watching out for you! 🥰
Praying God is going to help you all people are praying hold on don,tgive up you are loved 🤲🙏🕊️👍💗
Everyone is talking like this is a once in a lifetime event and everything is going to be peachy. Your governor is wrong in calling this a 500 year event. It could happen again next year.
He's a COMPLETE MORON....
As a local window & door salesman it brought tears to me eyes my first trips to Sanibel & Fort Myers beach. I could NOT wrap my head around the damage
Captiva Island is the most adorable place I’ve ever been to…and maybe, if humans wake up, it will be left to flora and fauna only
I am surprised that not one person is visible! There must be someone there, so sorry to see such loss and damage to the environment. Thanks for the coverage. Super sad. Poor little animals and birds too. Ugh🥺
Coast Guard was airlifting people out. Maybe most decided to leave until they could get back in with resources, etc.
Great job by Kellie Burns just some notes: the original causeway (with a drawbridge) was from the early 60s. When some corrosion was found in 2003 they decided to build a new one. That one opened in 2007
What about Doc Fords on Captiva?
I'm wondering if it's now a foreign concept to live in a house that you can repair yourself. It was maybe like 2 generations ago that building your own house was normal, or even adding an addition. Family and friends would pitch in, maybe a couple of things would get hired out. Things like replacing your roof or windows, soffit, trim, floors, etc because a storm hit wasn't a big deal because practically every man new how to do it, and the houses weren't so big that it was overwhelming. I look at this and I know, it will be an ant colony of insurance adjusters and the contractors and laborers streaming in and out until things are back to normal. I can't help but think: Why do people build so big and put themselves at the absolute mercy of a hired workforce?
I get the feeling from what I've heard and read is a lot of people don't have the insurance they need to repair this damage and that by the time people are able to get into rebuild/repair there will be so much damage that a lot of the stuff won't be repairable. Then there's a question of even if they do rebuild this is anybody going even offer insurance for these areas? It makes no sense to offer insurance for these areas. It's like giving money to a gambler that never wins.
It's really sad to see all the destruction but it's a Barrier Island let it be a Barrier Island get rid of the houses let the trees and whatever else grows their grow to protect the land Beyond it. This would make an awesome Park / Nature Preserve.
Knowing this country people rebuild it in the next storm will take it all out.
Well on Sanibel you don't have a choice, you have to hire licensed and insured workers to do the big stuff the city can see or they hit you with a stop work order. Also as of the most recent code updates for Sanibel you gotta have a roof truss system engineered to withstand 170 MPH winds, you aren't designing that yourself and you can't install it yourself unless you are a licensed contractor.
@@taradid409 People are talking out their asses, a simple search reveals you can get Insurance that covers Hurricane damage, the interesting side note is that Wind Policies can be split off and shopped for separately on the islands instead of being part of your main insurance policy. Also if you are financing the property you are required to get Flood Insurance.
@@taradid409 Sanibel already is mostly a park/nature preserve. Most of the island is a federal nature preserve. Look up J.N. "Ding" Darling Nature Preserve for info.
@@DanielRichards644 Sounds like what I'm talking about. Throw money at it to make it work, when it gets messed up the insurance companies throw even more money at it and then leave and never come back. The rest of the residents anywhere close to that area suffer not being able to buy insurance because the money that the super nice houses cost the ins companies and made them leave.
Tragic. What greed and ignorance will do🥺
AMEN...
The homes that did well were built after Hurricane Charlie. A lot were built to withstand a cat 5, but not the surge. My friend's house has crews doing the roof this weekend. Next week interior starts a remodel. Causeway open on Oct 21 to residents and contractors.