I don’t even know where to begin. Hopefully this hotspot holds up long enough to transmit. Thanks Ad Rem for earlier.
First things first, myself and family are okay. We are blessed and fortunate. Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and well wishes.
For those who are familiar with Hurricanes, Ian was unique; painfully slow and painfully unique. However, it had similarities to three previous storms, Frances (location), Michael (intensity) and Andrew (aftermath). What made Ian very unique was the duration.
Normally there is 1 hour scary, 1 hour hell, 1 hour scary. Soup to nuts three to four hours. For Ian, that was just the first half. With a start time around 1:30pm and a finish time around 9:30pm this one was brutal. That’s why so much infrastructure failure.
When I saw the search and rescue flight path overhead at daybreak this morning, I knew the barrier Islands were catastrophic. Indeed, Fort Myers beach, Sanibel Island, Upper Captiva and Pine Island all suffered topography changing events. People will reevaluate living on barrier islands.
The Sanibel Causeway is destroyed. The three spans still exist, but the spoil islands which held the road are totally wrecked. No way on/off the island by vehicle. The Pine Island bridge also failed. The only way to Sanibel or Pine Island is by boat. The dozens of air national guard flights today were all heading to those locations. Regional Southwest Airport (RSW) remains closed except for rescue flights.
Several major piers are also gone. Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Pine Island. At this moment 98% of Lee County, Florida is without power and there are major utility infrastructure failures. Electric sub stations completely wiped out. Utility water pumping stations also ruptured and failed. Cell phone towers also wiped out.
The entire shrimp boat fleet docked at FM Beach was destroyed. Boats now sit on houses with trailers on top of the boats and mobile homes from somewhere on top of the houses, boats and trailers.
Most people are shell-shocked at the scale of the damage from this storm. Indeed, I doubt there is a community in Southwest Florida that not massively effected. Marco Island, Naples, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and all of the inland communities all feel the impact from a major hurricane evdident.
Locally, it’s even more stunning. We haven’t even left the neighborhood today and couldn’t even if we wanted to. Roads are blocked by trees and debris. When you think of debris, normally we think about small bits of stuff the size of a shopping cart or smaller. Ian moved debris weighing tons. Chunks of concrete from who-knows-where can be found randomly all over. Concrete slabs from collapsed seawalls are blocks away from the water.
Every direction of wind was just as intense as the direction before it and we felt every direction. As the front of Ian made debris, the backside then had ammunition for wind weapons of jaw-dropping scale. The sounds of that “stuff” slamming into homes was just incredible. Casa del Sundance has serious steel shutters with double drilled anchor bolts and several of my shutters were hit by something turning them into crash test discards. Just, well and unreal amount of wind power.
Like many others, we had our roof compromise in the second half of the storm. Massive trees that withstood Charley and Irma were no match for Ian’s rage. Thankfully, many people evacuated. If you are one of those people, stay put. Wait until after the weekend before making a decision to return home. Heck, there ain’t no power or water anyway – and word on the street is no gas for miles.
Like hurricane Michael, this was a storm of total utility failure. It could take weeks, depending on the neighborhood because the transfer and sub stations were hit hard.
Today was all about debris removal and that work will obviously continue. It’s easy to be overwhelmed, but industrious people doing the next step, then the next, is the way to get it done. How do you eat an elephant….. One bite at a time. Lots of bites to go.
As noted, the coastal areas took it worst. My gut tells me there are still places we have yet to hear about.
Another odd thing about this specific storm, an alarmingly fewer number of generators running. Easily 75% fewer generators running in the aftermath around me. Perhaps because the outcome was just too bad to try and inhabit while recovering; perhaps more evacuated this time; perhaps with the economy means fewer financial resources to try and cope. Regardless of reason, the drop in the number of people running generators is odd.
Tomorrow, we continue to put a few more layers on those callouses. After mostly securing the immediate homestead, we can now look to help others. This is going to be one long recovery effort.
Thanks again for all the well wishes. Love to all,
Sundance
Glad to here you and your family are okay and the home standing.
Very interesting read about how it feels to endure such a storm, many thanks for taking time to share with us.
Sending prayers for you, your family and community. May you stay strong and steadfast in the days ahead.
We vacationed on Sanibel one month after Irma. While the damage was no where close to what Ida did, there was quite a bit, and even one month after, cleanup efforts were in full swing. The time we went was perfect, mostly locals before the Snowbird Invasion. The people and businesses were fantastic and as fellow Irma survivors, we all shared our stories.
I was shocked at the damage of the causeway and the area in general. My prayers for you Sundance, and the great people of SW Florida! Please keep us up to speed on everything.
Correction: I said “Ida” and meant “Ian”.
Apologies!
Sundance is amazing. God Bless and protect Sundance. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“Word on the street is there is no gas for miles” Bro, there ain’t any gas outside Ocala. Might be some today. After I get the staples pulled out of Mama Katts belly I am taking the saws and non ethanol gas to Orlando to help my cousin. After that I will probably head to the St. Augustine area with the johnboat because the standing water on the north side of Orlando will all drain into that watershed leading to weeks worth of flood conditions. Any of us Treehousers from the Nature Coast, Big Bend and Panhandle that are ready, willing and able to help need to do all they can because next time it will be us.
God Bless you. This willingness to come to the aid of those stricken is the grit and soul of America.
Thank you, Ma’am. I believe the Creator has positioned me to help as I am only employed part time at this juncture. I already sent my good-for-nothing sister who exists in Orlando money because “her roof blew off” only to find out from my cousin that her roof was fine and she had sent me pictures of one of her ne’er-do-well friend’s houses. I haven’t given her any cash in years and the upside is I will not feel shame saying no in the future. I would not feel good resuming my lifestyle with all the creature comforts I am Blessed to have while my Statesmen, women, children and pets are in a World of hurt.
That sister will be dealt with by God. God will bless you and you should feel no shame in not giving to her again. I hope you told her you know she lied and there will be consequences — from God. When she cheats on of God’s people, she steals from God Himself as He gave you what you have. Shame on her. Good on you. You did the right thing to give, but not again. May god protect you as you go forth to help others.
I usually don’t fall for stuff like that, but something has lit a fire under me to pass on the Blessing after stressing out for a week and all we got was a drizzle and a few wind gusts. We didn’t even lose power which is unbelievable because we go dark in afternoon rain storms year round.
You did the right thing. You didn’t “fall for stuff”. You gave to a sister in need. That’s all you knew at the time. Now you know the real truth.
My sisters did some despicable things to me after our mom died and it cost me a bunch of money. One has never repaid me. I have forgiven them but I still remind her that he legally under legal documents owes me the money. She can lie to herself until the day she dies, but God is going to be speaking to her about what she did to His children — me and my mom.
What she took from you God will repay in some manner. You will be blessed. She will be cursed. God says so. Deut. 27-28.
Try to get to the point of forgiving her. That will free you.
I always say to people when someone does something really bad in the eyes of God —“Stand back. Lighting might fall on the person!” It did in the Old Testament.
Stay well.
I has the same issue with my brother.
How did you forgive her? I pray but it’s hard.
For me, forgiving injustices has been getting to the point that it doesn’t eat me up inside anymore. Prayer helps, and realizing anger at what has been done hurts only me. In more than one situation, I’m not there yet. Blessings
Ask God to give you a forgiving heart or if you in a heart felt moment in prayer tell God you forgive her then God will heal the bitterness of the situation, but it does not erase what they did. Your love for your sibling will outweigh the bitterness. Keep ask God to help you on this issue. He will. Keep praying.
Exactly, Nancy
CR…just woke up to see your post, my friend.
You may find this hard to believe, but I have no words… other than these…
Most here have seen pictures of the devastation, but it is (I know) an entirely different and soul destroying thing to be right in the middle of it and being unable to see the day when all will be right again.
But it will be. First steps, then larger ones. You and your fellows in Florida and from elsewhere, each is a blessing for someone else, whether you realize it or not. All together those blessings, no matter how small they may seem, are the grace and mercy of our Almighty God.
May the Lord make His Face to shine upon all in Florida enduring the unimaginable. He hears and will answer.🙏
Thank you for your never ending kind and thoughtful words and prayers, Bet.
Heartfelt, CR, believe me😘
God bless, Sundance and family.
It never amazes me the power of nature and the resilience of people to recover.
Prayers up for you guys and keep safe as this will take time to fix.
The Lord bless you, keep you, and shower all those affected in his tender love and mercies, Sundance. Love you, Brother.
Praying for you.
So much history over many years with Sundance and the struggles against the Left.
In your own time of great trial, you are loved my friend.
May you be protected and may God strengthen as the days unfold.
Thank you for so, so, much.
Hurricane Ian approaches the Carolinas, heavy flooding expected | LiveNOW from FOX
https://commoncts.blogspot.com/2022/09/hurricane-ian-approaches-carolinas.html
If I may be so bold as to suggest that those of us too far away to physically assist that we might send money to aid in the recovery efforts in Florida? Knights of Columbus Councils are active thru out Florida. Pick a zip code of a city or town in Florida to find the nearest council. https://www.kofc.org/en/get-involved/find-a-council.html I am sure it is only a matter of time before the KofC national website provides a specific donation link for Florida. Thank you Sundance for the updates.
Also Cajun Navy or
Samaritan’s Purse.
I am in awe of the grassroots Cajun Navy!
Wow, all the best to you, Sundance, and your family and friends.
I can’t imagine what people are going through, although your description helps to comprehend the magnitude of it.
Hopefully people will donate, donate, and donate some more.
I’m sitting here in tears. My heart breaks for you all. I cannot even fathom it. I know the resolve is strong, as it must be to live on the coast of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, etc., but that certainly can’t make it any less devastating. I have clothes and food to donate from Virginia. I’ll see if any local churches are putting together any trucks to send down. God Bless and Godspeed!
Sundance-if you need anything at all- contact me.
I am close.
God Bless. Continue to stay safe.
Many heartfelt prayers to you and your family Sundance. I’ve been here long enough to have ridden out a few hurricanes with you and it always amazes me the resilience and fortitude you display through each one. I have no doubt this one, though possibly, the most severe will be the same. The wonderful people in Florida always bounce back and always are there for each other. No whining or complaining but stoically hunkering down and helping their neighbors in need. May God rain down many happy sunny days to the beautiful Sunshine State. May He bless you one and all.
Thank you for the updates as you start the process of clean up.
I lived on Pine Island (St. James City) for several years and Ft. Myers after that in the early seventies.
Such a beautiful place. So many great memories. Cabbage Key, Boca Grande, La Costa, the South Seas Plantation all beautiful places. My brother had just completed a home in Bokeelia and was planning to move into it mid October. His plans to retire and spend his days fishing are gone for now.
He currently lives in Tice near the Caloosahatchee River that home is under water.
My prayers are with him and his family, with you and your family, as well as all the other people that have suffered in the Southwest Florida area.
The Treehouse is the first place I read every morning. Thank you Sundance for years of truthful information.
Your calm and step by step approach to the work ahead of you will help a lot of people.
Much love and healing to you Sundance, your family and your neighbors as you begin and endure the process. I suspect there will be a lot of blue roofs for a while.
If you need anything I’m sure you need only ask and the CTH community will come through for you!
Many prayers to you all.
Thank you so much for this description of the event and aftermath destruction.
God bless and prayers to all are trying to cope.
“People will reevaluate living on barrier islands.”
Lets hope so.
Will never happen. They will be built back up and people will rush to move there.
Though I know Sundance knows this and in truth is the source of his steadfastness at this moment in time, I send along the comforting words of Psalm 46: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Prayers to you Sundance, your family and all those in the path of the hurricane. It is hitting us now (SC) but hopefully not nearly as bad as FL. As far as providing help, may I suggest donating funds or time to Samaritan’s Purse or the Baptist Men organizations. I’ve personally worked with both in disaster recovery and can’t talk enough about how incredible they are. I was on the ground 10 days after Katrina hit at ground zero (Bay St Louis) running disaster teams for Samaritan’s Purse and they put every other org to shame in their response – incredible org. You might see me down in FL with them soon if the Lord is willing.
I endured Hugo. Lost the entire house. Just gone, wiped from the foundations. I recovered, so can the folks in FLA today. God bless them and keep them.
all the trees looked like grass freshly cut like with a huge lawnmower
Godspeed Sundance …
My heart goes out to my fellow citizens in the south. Up here in Michigan we get some terrific storms but nothing like the devastation in Florida. May the Good Lord watch over each and every one affected.
Still praying for our missing friends on Pine Island. Last word was comment about neighbors roof blowing of. Nothing since.
God Bless Florida and its people.
Treepers:
Which organization is best for making a relief donation $?
No woke or anti MAGA group please.
Thanks.
See Greg’s post a few up from yours: Samaritan’s Purse or Baptist Men’s, both of which he worked with.
Consider adding in a donation here at the Treehouse (Donate button at top right of page) to help Sundance’s family in their time of need. Sundance is also very wise in his use of funds to help people also in great need (without a big chunk of money going to the administrative needs of a large organization).
God bless all you Treepers for your generosity in helping others!
Samaritans Purse.
Not much more to say that has not already been said by all your followers.
God brings good out of everything, especially evil.
Praying for you and your family Sundance and all those souls that lost their lives in this storm! 🙏
stay strong. We had quite a long struggle last year after Ida, but its doable. Often times the immediate aftermath in an area hit hard is the task is too large. As you said one bite at a time and most of it will be done with in 6 months.
The Resident in Chief will be visiting Florida today (I think it is today) and he will use that opportunity not to unite but to divide and blame all of this on the Republicans who do not believe in his climate change policies. The far left press is already blaming Ron DeSantis. The Democrat Party is truly the party of HATE.
Think of how much more optimistic and hopeful people would be if Trump was still POTUS–the economy would be booming and people would have the means and energy and hope to rebuild –with so many struggling how much harder recovery is going to be in this age of BBB.
Love Sanibel Island stay at Pelican Roost We are booked For April next year. Prayers for Floridians in the path of Ian Stay safe Sundance
Gas shortages will hurt the cause of Floridians who may want to drive down there to assist in clean up efforts. Plus the fact there are no utilities.
DONATE TO THE FLORIDA DISASTER FUND
https://www.volunteerflorida.org/donatefdf/
Wow!! First Lady @CaseyDeSantis
just announced that http://FloridaDisasterFund.org has raised $10 million from generous individuals & companies, including Sarasota’s @rumblevideo. This fund will meet the needs of Floridians impacted by #HurricaneIan more microtargeted than gov’t aid.
So thankful to hear you and your family are safe. With the devastation both with property and loss of life with this storm, I don’t take it lightly that my friends and family are all safe. Praying for you and your community. Thankful to you for having a servants heart and compassion for others.
The description you give of the storm is the most clear one I have read. God help the good people of Florida. 🙏💚🙏
Are you on Sanibel Island or just in Fort Myers?
Spoke with someone yesterday that has friend that is a “higher up” at one of the power companies, he expressed that many areas there is nothing to rebuild, it’s staring all over. Preliminary estimate 2 years.
We were very lucky here on east coast this time, had one transformer catch fire burned down pole, knocked out the whole neighborhood, took about 18 hrs to repair.
Why are mobile homes allowed on the islands? Glad to hear you and your family are safe. It will be interesting to see how DeSantis prepares for the up and coming election as cleanup takes place. Many prayers are being said for the folks in Florida. I pray that many will volunteer to help in the aftermath.
Sundance – I live in NE Florida; we were touched by IAN, but lightly. After reading your post, I’m struggling with the mixed feelings of gratitude for our minimal impact, and guilt knowing how you and others weren’t spared. I know I can speak for every regular reader on this board in saying that you and all others in SW Florida are in our hearts and prayers.
It’s wonderful to hear you and yours are alright. As you say, one bite at a time. Having lived in Bayou La Batre, a rather isolated shrimping village on the Gulf of Mexico with a small population, for all of my formative years and going through numerous hurricanes, large scale and the regular types, I know it can be a bit overwhelming to see homes, roadways, and bridges destroyed and 80’ steel hull boats no longer near the water in which they normally live and no hope of power for the foreseeable future; but people are strong and resilient, even if they never realized it. Gathering the leaders in communities who gather their crews as they start picking apart the destruction so that their lives can return to some form of its prior self is exactly how it’s done. I know you will be out there ASAP and doing just that! Prayers will continue for all who have been effected.
God bless you. May you and your family stay safe during this long rehab.
My prayers to all for a quick recovery.
Ft Myers is such a beautiful area it will all come back, and then some. Right now, lots of construction work in the area.
Boozhoo Sundance! Prayers on the winds…Cash too if you can recommend a safe charity.
Something people need to realize is that large storms, like Ian, result in more severe surge. It is simply because the wind is pushing the water so much longer. Combine that with a slow speed of advance and the result is what we see. And then there is the heavy sustained rain onto already saturated ground which combined with reverse river flow caused by the winds bringing flooding into inland areas that usually would not be affected by surge. Flood damage is obviously going to be much more costly than the wind damage from this storm. They are still evacuating people from flooded areas.
That is exactly what happened where I live, now I am blessed with no flooding and power restored within 24 hours but the rain and wind started around 10pm and did not end until 1-2pm the next day. it was relentless and chaotic so different from Irma. Irma was like the ocean the winds came in and then receded back and forth all night ending early in the morning so maybe 8-9 hours of sustained winds hurricane force starting at midnight into tropical storm force by the early morning but as you know Ian just hung around.
My parents moved us to FL when I was 12, I am sure hurricanes did not even factor into their decision, it was never a thing for us until Andrew. That was the first time I ever paid attention to the weather. We had a tropical storm in Central FL once before Andrew that I recall but in the 80’s hurricanes never came across my radar. Living inland as I do why would I? And then came the three in 2004, I was living in AZ at that time so I dodged them but 2 hurricanes across my inland city in the last 5 years I have had about enough it is time for the cycle to return to the bliss of the ’80s 🙂
A great bit of humor that one of the regulars at Tony Heller’s site wrote:
Disillusioned says:
September 29, 2022 at 6:44 pm
This just in:
The 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, named hurricanes Hugo, Charley, Camille and Andrew have begun a class action lawsuit against Don Lemon for willfully, publicly slandering them as hurricanes affecting Florida which were not as intense and/or as massive as Hurricane Ian.
In other news, the 1900 Galveston hurricane (which was so intense it wiped the town off the map), hurricanes Hugo, Katrina, and others have also begun a separate suit against Lemon for slandering them as being less powerful than Ian.
A majority of the hurricanes in both classes are upset that their power and intensity has been dismissed by Lemon and other propagandists simply because they were born before the “climate change” era.
In their suits, they claim more raw power without “climate change,” which apparently had nothing to do with their size, power and intensity.
It is rumored that the hurricanes in both classes may combine their suits to create a more intensive and massive suit against the former CNN propagandist. … /…
Retired Magistrate here: One way we can help is to donate to the TreeHouse. I have never donated before but I did today. Sundance is my go to source of real information and right now he needs all the help he can get including the continued operation of the TreeHouse.
My prayers go out to all of those impacted by this devastating storm.
I’m glad you and yours are ok.
Prayers to you and your family and the communities affected by this event. I don’t say it enough, but you have been an anchor in my life and a source of my daily sanity since GZ days. You are incredible and selfless, SD, and we are so blessed to be guests in your sandbox.
Steadfast!
Wolverines
Your words. My exact thoughts too. Could have not have written such a better post. Thank you! from ALL OF US>
GodSPEED Sundance.
and to CTH at large: we have only just begun. I mean this. we are now in full stage 4 transfer of power. Your participation in this global discussion is very meaningful. It might seem you are just at home typing out your mind and ideas and thoughts and opinions. But make NO MISTAKE: MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE READING.
that’s power. That how you effect change. You start with the truth and you end with the truth. Like a Lion, it cannot be contained or brought to domestication. ever.
God Bless America