Hopefully this hotspot holds up. First things first, we are surrounded by the grace of a loving God, and we are thankful.
To begin updating day #2 on the ground in Southwest Florida (SWFL) allow me to please remind everyone to take these storms seriously and take all the advanced preparations needed to protect yourself and your family. You can never overprepare. Additionally, if you did evacuate from the area, stay where you are. There’s no need to come back into the recovery zone and there are virtually no utilities (electricity, water) operating in most areas.
Working today with a search and recovery team from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, there are multiple agencies from around the Southeast sending resources. We are incredibly grateful, and every resource is a blessing.
Day 2, while efforts continue, there are parts of the barrier islands (Sanibel, Pine Island, Matlacha and Fort Myers Beach) that are still inaccessible by anything other than air. There is an evacuation ferry operation running every 90 minutes from Sanibel (West side of where causeway used to be) to pull people from the island. 10am – 5pm
Matlacha (North end of Pine Island) is also a boat rescue operation after the bridge failed.
Incredibly, the historic Sanibel Lighthouse did survive the storm albeit with damage. The lightkeepers house is gone as are all the buildings around the Southern tip of the Island, but the Lighthouse is standing. There’s a metaphor and a message in that outcome.
Unfortunately, there are many people missing, and frantic out of state families looking for their loved ones. Hopefully, those missing were just last-minute evacuees that don’t know people are looking for them, and/or people with no way to communicate their status. Local radio stations are broadcasting names and addresses of missing persons in the hope that people can call in with information. This is why a communication plan is so critical for anyone in an extreme weather impact zone.
Search and rescue units are still working throughout Southwest Florida by air, boat and house-to-house searches. Some power and some water services have returned to the Eastern side of the impact zone, but as you go west (toward the coast) the power and water services are in much worse shape. [Tip: This is why garbage cans full of water are a part of the proactive planning. You can hydrate with bottled water, but you cannot clean without a stored potable water supply.]
The origination and transfer stations for electricity have been hit hard. There is no reason for linemen and pole diggers to be in the western zones because there is no infrastructure to trigger the origination of electricity. That’s why power will return in a systematic way from East (inland) to West (coastal). The thousands of power company employees are working on eastern impact areas where their efforts can restore power, while the longer engineering work of rebuilding transfer stations is happening in the west. Power will likely be out for several weeks in multiple areas.
Debris removal is about 50% throughout the zone. By ‘removal‘ I mean temporarily moved, shoved, pulled, cut or sawed out of the way. Again, the further West the more debris remains. Main roads are cleared, but local roads are blocked throughout. Stay close to home if you don’t need to travel or secure critical supplies.
Some food retailers have begun limited operation to open for the community. This will continue improving each day. Publix Supermarkets have generators running primary store functions.
There are nighttime curfews in affect throughout the Southwest Florida impact zone.
Fuel is a major problem, in part driven by the absence of power. A gas station without power is just a big underground gas tank. Most recovery teams are traveling with their own fuel supply.
Unfortunately, the heavy rains from north Florida are still flowing downstream into rivers and the flooding inland continues. The Peace River is expected to rise to a historic 24 ft above flood level; the previous record was just over 20 ft. Additionally, the current Myakka River flood has caused I-75 to close from North Port to Englewood.
Evacuations along the increasingly flooded inland waterways continue. Ian will be known as a storm carrying the deadly combination of wind and water as a storm event. Wind damage extreme, storm surge extreme, and river flooding (rain) extreme.
Janet, a 40-year-old single mom in a wheelchair, who just moved to SWFL a week ago, stranded on the second floor of her apartment building without power and without a community of friends to call for assistance. Her story is typical. Delivering food and supplies to people like Janet is a relief service anyone can handle. Radio networks are doing a great job using their format to organize local person to person assistance. Listeners are responding to each request; it is inspiring to see/hear the community pulling together. Fellowship lives here.
Alice, a 75-year-old woman without cash, and the only gas station she can find will only accept cash. Within seconds she is in line at the station with cash in her hand. This is what people do. Define living and you will find the light left by these comfortably invisible community stars. These are ordinary angels that defeat the looters by orders of magnitude.
There are many Janet’s and Alice’s right now, and fortunately there are overwhelming numbers of people responding to each call.
Yes, this is the fellowship part. Sweaty, perhaps a little scruffy, often accompanied by the smell of fuel-oil mix in the hug, but when you remove all class distinctions the remarkable human spirit that surfaces makes the back pain and callouses insignificant.
Electricity is nice, potable water even better, but perhaps fellowship is the most important part of the restoration process. At least, I think it is.
The desperation and worry on that unknown face tell me that you need my spot in line; here, take it.
I am not alone.
Every person reading this knows exactly what I am talking about without me even writing another word.
Life.
The best part.
Many people ponder the great universal questions of “why” these disaster events happen. I don’t have any idea.
Perhaps it’s just the way I’m wired, but I can only look at the immediate task at hand. Usually, I’m too busy focused on making the next two feet of my immediate surroundings better, because looking at the hundreds of miles scares me. If I can make these next two feet in front of me better, then I will have accomplished something; and then – another two – and another two. Perhaps that’s my goofy way to deal with it.
However, when I think about fellowship and my community – perhaps we shouldn’t wait for hurricanes.
Love to all,
Sundance
Incredible Coast Guard rescues on Sanibel Island – People use the word hero quite a bit – These guys ARE *heroes*!!
Every American should watch this. And cry a little from gratitude.
Cried so much from gratitude.
Our focus as a people should be on this… should be on the REAL matters at hand and not the tail wagging the dog.
As a matter of fact, every person who seeks to distract, distort, divide, delude and deconstruct our Divinely-inspired Republic… should have their microphone, telephone, pen and credibility removed and to be shunned forevermore. They don’t deserve a say.
Deport them and set them on Epstein island for them to rule themselves into oblivion!
I am fighting tears….so beautiful..
Thank you for this posting. I was searching for this type of independent material NOT published by the Demon-rat alphabet networks that are all over YouTube now. They are sure posting their huge logos on every video on YouTube and I skip past ALL of them.
Thank you again.
Another fine example of rescue…
This one has the lovely pink-adorned young lady arriving at her destination and also an interview with Anne Watson (Anne spelled with an “E”, like the Queen.)
Easy does it with the rheumatism, arthritis and sore joints. Thanks to the rescuers and how carefully the lady was handled.
Exactly! I think I can identify a bit with that…straight ahead and upright, I can outwalk alot of my peers but start climbing things and being on narrow ladder rungs? Not so much.
I am disabled, unable to use my right side, and would be scared to death and probably in tears! Thank you to all the first responders for being so caring and considerate!
Oh,goodness–the elderly lady in pink–you know those guys are thinking of their grandmas….and the doggie stands by at the end—so exhausting and disorienting….
May God bless these wonderful men with their strength (body, soul, and spirit). So kind and so patient with these stressed-out and infirm older people. Beautiful!
May God bless them! The U.S. Coast Guard does an extraordinary job all year round; we all them a HUGE debt of gratitude.
Amazing and wonderful! Heroes.
THIS… THIS is who we ARE as an American people!!! We are the commoners, the middle of the road, those helping our neighbors in times of need. Those praying fervently for our brothers and sisters in harm’s path.
Just to see the smiles on those faces of the survivors being rescued. The kindness of the paratrooper… “here, let me carry your bag”… “here are some ear plugs, it’s loud”. These people have heard the scariest sounds of hell for longer than any of us could imagine.
I am sick to death of these stupid politicians ruining our country!!!! The DemonRats and the RepubliCons don’t deserve the American ground they stand on… nor the rights they horse trade away.
I’m ready to switch to Libertarian because I can’t support the left or right anymore. They don’t represent us. They don’t speak for the majority. They are so careless with our people, our security, stewardship of our resources.
I PROTEST THEIR LEADERSHIP! I pray to God to clean house!
Thankful for the true heroes.
Matthew 25:34-40 (ESV)
34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
Yes, so true this is who we are never them forget that.
Proud to be a mom of a USCG SAR pilot. May God watch over the rescuers and those in need of rescue.
God Bless you SD!
Well done, Sundance. Your work is without equal.
I do believe I know why these things happen, but that has to do with my faith and with my training in the geology and geophysics of our planet. Suffice it to say that God has not finalized His creation of our world. The crust of the earth is still unstable and likely will be for longer than humans will be around to populate it. We are a big part of the process, but hardly a feature of the results, if there are ever supposed to be results. These updates are a real blessing to all of us. I will continue to pray for you and all of the people in your area.
Refreshing viewpoint! George Carlin thought the humans pushing global warming/ climate change were beyond arrogance to think natural disasters like this were man’s fault or within man’s control.
We truly are a blip on the screen when it comes to Earth’s history & its future. Can we be better steward’s of earth’s care? Yes. But I am so done with this “earth is going to be destroyed if we don’t make extreme measures now.”
God has a purpose for each of us to do in His Kingdom and He equips with talents and gifts accordingly. Sundance is used greatly, not only in his ‘regular day job’ – CTH – but in his special recovery day joy. He is God’s light in darkness. He’s far more than a helping hand. He is extending God’s hand to all he meets. Recipients might be grateful for his clean-up skills, but they are forever grateful for the love and hope he gives them.
May God protect him and the Fort Walton Beach crew from harm.
TY Sundance. God bless you. You are SO right!
God bless you every second of every day, SD.
God bless the people of Florida, too! So thankful for those everyday heros you speak of!
One thing I know
The Living God never lets a disaster go to waste.
“When we’ve come to the end of our hoarded resources , the Fathers full giving is only begun. For out of his infinite riches in Jesus . He giveth and giveth and giveth again.” God giveth more Grace ,by Annie Johnson Flint.
Life’s trouble will either make you better or bitter
but you will never be the same.
May God be with you and give you the strength you need for the next two feet, and the next, and the next.
Keeping you in our prayers.
Thank you for your pre hurricane post describing the sound of the wind and the effect it has on a person. We were only hit with Ian a cat 1 here on the South Carolina coast but as a novice to hurricanes your words helped prepare me for the sound which was extremely unnerving. I am well familiar with prepping for a weather event so that was not an issue. The issue was having never been in a hurricane of any level I no idea what to expect. Your pre hurricane explanation and warnings were of great help to me.
We continue to pray for you and your family, Sundance, as well as for all who are suffering from the impact of Hurricane Ian. Having lived through Sandy, we, too, appreciate how good people can be when disaster strikes. Their fellowship, as you have referenced, is what uplifts those broken-hearted. May God bless all who serve their brothers and sisters with generosity and kindness, and may God continue to fuel their fortitude and courage.
What a great post, Sundance!
I’m told that all of the animals on Sanibel Island including the resident birds like parrots, swans, etc died. There were lots of semi-tamed animals there. They were put in shelters of some sort. I don’t do Facebook, but supposedly they have a page where this was shared. It just adds to the tragedy. It seems to me that with the nature of this storm being known for a week ahead of time, they could have crowdsourced the animal removal or even contacted zoos or Disney, etc to distribute them around inland. Very tragic.
Retired Magistrate here: Well maybe not all the animals. I saw a photo of cattle grazing on marshland after the storm passed through. I think it was in the Miami Herald.
It was Tampa Bay that was expected to get the direct hit, so would guess there may have been some complacency. But these storms are known to shift so hopefully people will get better at listening to local authorities and not just the media who for the most part, only focused on one scenario. Unfortunately this will not be the last major hurricane to hit so hopefully we can keep learning from these tragedies on how to get better at preparing and responding.
There is a lot of opportunity to continue to grow awareness and resources to not only protect people but also our animal friends, who are also God’s creatures and defenseless in the face of these disasters. On the positive side, many states have come a long way since Katrina, when ANIMALS NOT ALLOWED at shelters was prevalent, and many people died who would not leave their pets, or were traumatized as they were hauled away to shelter by emergency responders but were not allowed to bring the family pet along. Many of us remember those heartbreaking videos with the children sobbing,watching the family pet being left behind to drown or starve. Thankfully, many states have been making provisions for people AND their pets at shelters now. In this event, it sounds like there was miscommunication between Lee County and the state of Florida’s disaster website. Lee County apparently said “ANIMALS WELCOME” at shelters. However FL State Disaster website describing resources said: “ANIMALS NOT WELCOME: Make your own plans to board pets with vets, pet hotels, etc.” (And who has the money to pay for these expensive pet hotels?) Hopefully there will be opportunities in Florida to create more animal rescue groups and resources who can help animals in future storms.
If I may offer a suggestion, CA has a lot of problems, but there is one thing that seems to be working well in my town. We have a WONDERFUL volunteer animal rescue group that coordinates with the Red Cross at the RC shelters taking in people and their pets when there is a disaster. Red Cross won’t allow animals in the shelters, but the animal rescue group takes them as the people come in and provides them with board and care. These amazing people are also trained and work with CA Fire to go behind the fire roadblocks and rescue lost pets left behind that owners can’t get to. As happened in our last wildfire, sometimes a wildfire will start during the day when people are away at work so this has been a God-send for those in the heartbreaking situation of not being allowed to go home and rescue their pets. Firemen won’t allow anyone back in once the roads are closed but they allow these trained volunteers to go in. These volunteers are amazing people who love animals and dedicate their own time (unpaid) to helping them, even though they get very little help from our city, whose services are almost non-existent. Just planting a seed for those who have the heart for organizing this kind of a group in their community. Disaster preparedness is something we can all participate in.
May God Bless all of the rescue workers and those helping others in the face of this tragic disaster and may He give them strength and endurance. Godspeed your healing and recovery Florida! We love you and stand with you. You are in our prayers.
If everyone concentrated on improving the two feet in front of them, we would be living in a much better world.
Praying that many will be rescued safely.
Nah….
Sundance- its not a “goofy” way of dealing with it!
It is how many of us deal with whatever crisis life throws our way…..
One step at a time….
Thank you for the update and the stories. For telling their stories for them!
Stay safe and continued prayers for all .
Blessings to you from north Florida. Glad to hear of the fellowship and assistance to those in need. Look forward to you being back to normal.
Just watched Joe Bastardi’s Saturday summary.
First off Ian is not done with the US. Though it may not regain its name it is going to bring some strong easterly winds, high waves, and some flooding to the coast from Northern VA up through MA and probably especially MA since there is a pocket of warm water up there it is liable to pass over.
He says the season is not over. I think he may be alluding to the disturbance currently out in the Eastern Atlantic that the NHC is forecasting to strengthen in 5 days or so and continue to go west until it turns NW. Not saying it is going to come ashore, it may or may not.
He also admitted that his “endless summer” forecast showing warmer than average temps across the northern US running into October is a bust. Fall weather is here to stay for the NE quadrant of the US.
Thank you to all those who come to the rescue of those in dire need. The story about the woman who cried because she had no cash and the gas station could not take credit cards hit home. How often do we have cash on hand, or even think about it. Always keep some cash where it can used in case of an emergency. A lesson learned and one that will not be forgotten. Many, many good Samaritans out there! Bless them all!
“How often do we have cash on hand…”
Speaking for myself – always.
When Joe and Jill went up the hill to Pennsylvania Avenue, I significantly increased the amount of cash I keep on hand, and I never let the gas tank on the car go below 3/4.
Because I’ve been watching the democrats all my life, in addition to things being even worse in general, I knew what was going to happen when Joey moved on up. —
Low inventories. Escalating prices. Destroying the economy. Finding any wars they can get into.
Been watching them since Eisenhower was POTUS. (I’m 78) They are consistent. They are destroyers, dividers, and discouragers and ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. And now they no longer feel any need to conceal what they are doing because they are embedded in places of authority/bureaucracies/agencies, etc. They MEAN to do the things they do.
I like using cash out of spite, and it saves me money.
Hopefully this tragedy will bring people closer to God and together.
We are all doing the best we can from what I see. I understand the electric grid in Lee County is GONE.
I am one of the lucky ones in South Venice. No flooding, roof held. Lost a 42 yr old shed that owes me nothing.
This is not going to be fixed anytime soon, but I hope to live to see it.
Do you have a specific place we can donate. Don’t want an organization with overhead. Want money to go directly to the need.
You might donate to CTH as I am sure they can get money to people promptly without waste.
God bless you.
Thank goodness there are such good people like you in our world.
I live in Lehigh Acres. I was blessed to be barely grazed by the storm, but I cannot even go into my workplace and office in downtown Fort Myers until the building is surveyed for structural stability. My office was less than a 5 minute walk west of the Joes Crab Shack with all the boats in the parking lot, 1 block from the Caloosahatchee. I am massively grateful that my family and home were unharmed, and FPL got power restored on Friday night. You are right, the people factor is important – I think I have interacted more with my neighbors over the last week than in the last 5 years since I moved here.
My brother lives just west of Lehigh Acres in Ft Myers. He also was fortunate at no damage but still no power and a boil order for the water (which he can’t do since no power).
His most pressing need is gasoline. He’s experiencing the “law of diminishing returns”…driving to gas stations rumored to have gas only to learn they ran out. It’s getting very dicey.
Do you have any personal knowledge of the likelihood of finding a reliable gas supply if he were to travel easterly to Lehigh or even Labelle?
He cannot afford any more fruitless expeditions.
Thanks for any insights you can offer.
Thank you for your tremendous effort to educate while triaging your own family’s needs and those of the community. Heard the eye passed over Boca Grande and this island had some damage-internet tower took out bakery when it fell, but hardware store spared. Historic lighthouse okay. Laugh a lot no longer laughing.
Understand Sanibel Island was favorite retirement spot for clowns in action-you know those who went to The Farm, Camp Peary, Va near Billsburg, Va
Mike pence vacations there lol
PS Glad to see other donation sites. American Red Cross uses every disaster as a fundraiser. No guarantee $ gets to those in need from the event, ie Hurricane Ian victims.
The American Red Cross is the last place anybody should be sending money. In the great floods in the Red River Valley (NE/MN state line/valley) in the mid-90s, the American Red Cross was, fairly quickly, shown to the edge of town by the local farmers in several areas. The Red Cross personnel certainly felt entitled to be in charge. And they made it clear they had absolutely NO USE for any of the locals, who had been living on and taking care of that land and its people 4-5 generations back. Yeah – they got shown out of town. And they went.
Their big mistake? Thinking they were going to SHUT DOWN the flow of freshly prepared, amazing, wonderful food piling out of all the church kitchens within hours of the flood situation approaching critical mass…those farm wives had those kitchens up and running, supplying all the food, all the equipment, and everything that goes with it. The Red Cross reasoning? Those kitchens hadn’t been certified for serving the public according to the Red Cross. SPIT! – Yeah, they left town shortly after their monologue about the problem as they saw it.
I wouldn’t give a dime to the Red Cross.
I agree. red cross is ‘corporate’. Anything they do has to be approved by the head of the corporation who has at least at a salary upwards of a quarter of a million/yr.
I live on FMB – not allowed on island tonight slept in home last night/ destruction of island and death is catastrophic- I also have a property in Iona (where I evacuated to) – mile from Sanibel causeway – this area and many like it around Estero bay and Sanibel have plenty of mobile home parks that all took on 4-8’ of water .
All day they fly bodies off Sanibel island and on FMB a procession of ambulances and no injuries – no help arrived on FMB till today –
Beyond disappointed with local Lee County response –
Talk to anyone who spent the last few days waiting for ANY help on FMB – only help was by regular folk.
I traveled back and forth the length of island on my ebike 4 different trips last 2 days carrying in some supplies , trying to salvage what I could.
There were 3 other houses with people on my block on FMB last night – stories are terrifying , people are in shock – all that being said – the spirit of the people is Strong and good will come from this –
Everyone talks sanibel but no one ever talks captiva which is a quarter mile wide and has a hotel complex.
Working security at a strip mall on gulf drive in Naples. Pitch black here as are all the condos across the street. Have another couple of hours till my relief comes. Lots of damage , boats in parking lots. Don’t know when electric will come back on. All in all , very fortunate here. Area will be quickly cleaned up. 2 miles from here , lots of trees down, luckily no loss of power where I live.Pray and help others
Note of gratitude to Elon Musk and Gov Desantis
I have internet and in best of times I don’t have service half as good as this -they hooked up satellite for IONA- Tmoble also got phone service on FMB last night – set up a mobile station- very helpful –
Thank Elon , T-Mobile
Sundance,
Sometimes all you can do is those two feet next to you. Every little bit you can manage is knocking back the entropy of the system. You have EXACTLY the right perspective for where you are right now. Just keep plugging away. Sooner or later you will look up and find that you, and the other brave and courageous Americans like you, have made an absolutely tremendous start at putting it all back together.
May God bless you and yours, and keep all of you safe and healthy at least until you are finished dealing with this struggle!
Don’t know where you are, down here, Sundance. But, you’re right. I’m doing radio, in Port Charlotte and what I’ve seen these last few days, is both heart breaking and inspiring. This was my third “Florida rodeo” and the worst. I was lucky. God spared me any damage. The stations took some hits. But, all are on air. Be an honor to meet you sometime.
I am blessed not to have the devastation this time- Irma and 04 was horiffic. The river is in my yard along with gators and herons. Road under water- ferry inoperable- but my home and animals are safe. The generator ran without needing a part for the first time in 14 years!!
I am praying for God to calm the minds of all affected.