Thank you for all the prayers and support over the past two weeks.  Your prayers and encouragement have lifted many, including myself.  The physical and emotional strain has been challenging; but we are okay and getting a little better each tomorrow.

Power was just restored to casa del Sundance, and thankfully the electrical restoration did not encounter damaged internal wiring as reconnection was accomplished.  Many others are not as fortunate.  When the power comes back on it is always a mixed blessing. Thankfulness is accompanied by a sense of guilt in knowing there are so many still without basic utility services.

According to the LCEC utility company 42,906 homes are still without power.  There is zero restoration on the barrier islands (7,400 homes on Pine Island and 10,946 on Sanibel).  Major infrastructure repair work is underway on the islands as the effort to remove debris continues.  Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Pine Island will be rebuilding for a long time.

Water restoration services are still underway throughout the county and boil water notices still present for many areas.  There is joy in the simplicity of taking a hot shower in your own home and having the ability to wash clothes changes the outlook on a task many consider a chore.  My prayers continue for those who have a long way before that simple joy returns.

There are no words adequate enough to express appreciation for those volunteers who organized field hygiene stations, portable showers, cooling tents, and even laundry services in community parks and neighborhood parking lots.  Trust me, this is an underappreciated and valuable resource needed during emergency operations. Related to this, please remind yourself to include topical antiseptics and skin creams in your own hurricane or emergency kits.

It is also appropriate to give a huge shout of appreciation to the small engine mechanics who keep all the generators, power saws, winches, tools and chainsaws buzzing. One small piece of equipment that stops working can have a major cascading impact.  Those who use Lava soap nightly, and undress in the utility room so they don’t drag the smell of diesel and gasoline inside, are another underappreciated crew.

Coincidentally, I had the good fortune to run into the deployment teams who establish internet services for emergency operations.  These are the cool cats who quickly deploy satellite systems, including Starlink, to get the emergency communications networks up and running.  They have a seriously important job, and they are extremely good at it.  That Starlink system is pretty spiffy.

Residents are being allowed back onto Fort Myers Beach now.  That’s a good thing.  That likely means the search crews are optimistic every structure has been searched and cleared.  A survivor was found alive last Thursday under the rubble, eight days after the storm.  FMB Residents are being allowed to look for belongings and retrieve personal items, but they will not be staying there.  There are zero utility services.

Pine Islanders are picking up the pieces and preparing for the long-haul of restoration.  Sanibel will likely begin the same once access to the island is reestablished.  Prayerfully and stunningly, an interim roadway system may even be completed this month.

After a full day of sleep yesterday, I will be returning to more regularly scheduled postings now on events leading up to the midterm election.  There’s still a lot of work to be done in/around my community, but the immediate emergency aspect is in the rear view.

I have missed you, our Treehouse family, and I am looking forward to our conversations again.  Thanks to the site admins Ad rem, Stella, WeeWeed and Menagerie for keeping everything afloat.

Above all, my deepest and most sincere appreciation to YOU.  I am thankful for the opportunity to deserve your support and fellowship.

Love to all,

~ Sundance

Posted in Hurricane Ian
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