Their names will not make national headlines, and generally everyone has moved on, but to their families and friends Ilonka Knes and James Hurst mattered. As CTH readers may remember, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian we shared that many missing people would be found in the months after the storm, and unfortunately many more will likely never be found.
The body of Mrs Ilonka Knes (82) was found in the mangroves and back bay salt marsh near Fort Myers Beach and has been positively identified. The body of her husband Robert was found in the days immediately following Hurricane Ian.
Additionally, the sailboat “Good Girl” was found submerged with human remains believed to be the body of James ‘Denny’ Hurst (73).
Mrs. Knes and Mr Hurst bring the total number of Hurricane Ian victims in Lee County, Florida, to seventy-five. Mr. Hurst was the final “official” missing person on the local list; however, there are many more yet unaccounted that were not from this immediate area. The physical devastation is widespread, but the emotional toll on the families and friends of the missing has been beyond imagining. Tonight, two more families have answers.
(FLORIDA) – During Thursday’s news conference, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno released new information regarding the area’s recovery.
“Most of us have gotten back to a sense of the new normal. For some, still missing their loved ones, every day since the storm has been difficult,” said Marceno.
The sheriff said his agency originally attempted a well-being check at what was left at the home of Ilonka and Robert Knes in the aftermath of the storm.
The body of Robert Knes was found shortly after Ian struck, but there were no signs of his wife during the days and weeks following the disaster.
Marceno said it wasn’t until mid-January that a debris removal crew found remains in a dense patch of mangroves, that later tested positive, through the use of dental records, to be that of Ilonka. (more)
The power and duration of Hurricane Ian killed more people than Hurricane Andrew and the storm that hit Southwest Florida last September is now recorded as the deadliest storm in the past 87 years.
If you live anywhere along the coastline of the United States, inland to about 50 miles, please remember to always take these storms seriously.
After this storm, and having been through four previous direct impacts, including Homestead AFB (Andrew), I would say this…. If there is even a remote chance you would ever encounter this type of a hurricane event, EVACUATE. Do not try and hunker down if there is a looming possibility of having to rely on a structure to withstand 150+ mph wind for a full day. Just leave. With all of my preparations in place, and all of the knowledge I possess in storm survival, I would never attempt it again.
It is more than three months since Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida and beyond the chaos and debris that still remains visible almost everywhere, they are still recovering bodies. Please take hurricane preparations seriously.
Lessons from Ian – Part One
Lessons from Ian – Part Two
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“Mrs. Knes and Mr Hurst bring the total number of Hurricane Ian victims in Lee County, Florida, to seventy-five.”
One county. I didn’t follow closely enough to know there were that many.
Thanks for bringing attention to these folks. I can’t imagine how their last moments were like. My neighbor is a mullet fisherman. He waited long as he could before fishing again after the storm. He didn’t want to find bodies. So far he has found all sorts of things including 5 cars, which he marked and reported.
God bless all who have the memories of a terrible hurricane and who suffered losses. May all those who died rest in peace and may God continue to comfort families and friends who are missing loved ones.
Truly sad. Sincere sympathy, heartbreaking. God please guide the families with your loving arms.
Thank you Sundance for the reminder that every life matters, and Ilonka and Denny’s loved ones can now have closure.
Amen! Life matters – every last one!!!!!
I am one of those weird people that grew up with hurricanes and always loved them with a sense of awe. Hurricane Allen was the first one I remember. The eye passed right over my house. What a trip.
Sorry for all who lost something or someone. It’s a tough thing to go through. RIP.
Prayers for families and victims for some sort of closure and peace of mind as they recover and heal.
Sorry. But now that I know geo engineering is going on and manipulating weather……every time strange weather happens I now blame Gates, Dems, Soros, etc.
I forgot to add… I’m suspicious of all events around elections or to embarrass a governor etc. Or just to play games and try and say it’s climate change to blame vs the rich playing games with weather.
Corrupt corporations benefit like when deep cold comes in and we use more heating fuel. Storms? More building supplies sold to replace damaged homes.
I don’t trust anything now. Lol.
I am horrified that those sons of witches have the gall to try to mess with mother nature.
They should all meet an early death from some of the tricks they are playing on others.
We need our trees and our trees need sunlight….I think that is taught in 3rd grade science or perhaps 2nd grade.
Thanks, Sundance. Been wondering in just the last couple of days about how your personal recovery process is going.
My roof was repaired yesterday (just have some facia and soffit work remaining). We still have a long way to go, but each day I am thankful. So many people have moved away, it is a little sad; but we will recover.
My heart goes out to those who have lost friends and family.
My dream to see the manatees brought me to Florida. The route brought me & family through Homestead shortly after hurricane Andrew.
Absolutely incredible damage that delivered a blow to the gut.
Blocks of streets upon streets of debris, destroyed, vacant homes, bright paint on some indicating were searched for people.
Interspersed in this devastation, a now & then occupied home.
Film cannot convey the actual scenes & horror.
You are always in many a Treepers a prayer. Can’t imagine how you do it all – mind boggling. Thank YOU for being our go to for all things relevant, and the special community you have formed! Truly one of most enjoyable and thoughtful parts of my day ❤️🙏❤️
Thank you for this update. I’ve been wondering how you and your neighbors are doing.
You are a kind and thoughtful man Sundance in addition to your political efforts.
Glad your recovery is almost complete-as far as the building structure is concerned of course. The memories of the storm and the deaths and destruction etc will linger on.
It is not a time to be political but I always think of the $100 billion (and rising) or 1/10th of a trillion that has gone to Ukraine when so many Americans are still suffering or recovering from various storms and other causes.
Ms Knes and Mr Hurst, my condolences to your families. Both of you and your loved ones are in my prayers. May God provide comfort, to all who loved you and miss you.
Thank you Sundance
The sudden unexpected death of any family member is heartbreaking. When one or more are lost in this manner and family are left without knowing their loved ones’ ultimate fate, it must be worse. This at least brings some closure.
Thank you for publicly acknowledging them. I am “happy”, for lack of a better word, that their families now have answers. I think not knowing would be so difficult.
I’ve been thinking about the post-storm status for everyone there, and hoping to see some updates. Even though most of us will never go through that kind of devastation, it is not a matter of “out of sight, out of mind” when the calendar moves on.
The post-blizzard devastation across the nation when so many died last month–same thing. Everything doesn’t just stop so that nothing else happens….but we do not forget.
Thank you for sharing this news.
Sundance,
Thank you for your advice on evacuating. I’ve lived through three of them and I will NEVER not evacuate again. People who haven’t seen the power of high winds and crashing waves don’t understand just how truly dangerous they can be. I hope everyone who reads your advice here heeds it and RUNS, not walks, away from an oncoming hurricane.
Anyone who doubts Sundance’s advice should read Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larson. It is about the 1900 Galveston hurricane. Anyone not terrified by what was described in that book could probably be considered to have suicidal tendencies.
I don’t CARE what you are leaving behind when you run. IT DOESN’T MATTER. All that stuff won’t mean much to you if you are dead!
Tough on all the guides trying to earn a living; with all the debris in the backwaters & mangroves; and for many their crab business in Charlotte Harbor waters had to be moved up to Sarasota. We were hoping Fish & Wildlife was finally going to lift the catch & release restrictions on Snook, Redfish etc. this year … but with Ian — no way. Tough for the long haul.
Thank you for the update, even if a sad one that provides a bit of closure. I often find Ian folks popping into my head at the strangest of times. I am still praying for all.
Sundance, we made the long drive from Haliburton Ontario for years during March Break with our 3 kids. We always rented in Cape Coral. Sanibel Island was a favourite spot. I hope you get your repairs completed soon. We wish the broken hearts of your community could feel the prayers we offer. I Pray for the dozens of lives lost and the 1000’s of people still struggling now that we tend to forget. Keep Smiling!
Many who loved wintering there have begun to accept their winter returns to FL are likely over.
Prayers and love sent to all of the victims of this horrible storm, those still with us as well as those gone from this life.
I have lived in FL since the sixtys and when they say a storm is coming directly at you if you don’t live in a high concrete structure with minimal glass windows, get the hell out of the storms way. You can replace your boat but not your life.
So many thanks, Sundance, for posting this. After the great awakening, I would be very grateful if you would tap your investigative skills to verify the official Ian tally for loss of life in Lee County. There are those of us locally with EMS and rescue contacts who believe it is much, much higher than what has been stated.
I am certain the death toll is much higher.
My motor home was on blocks and strapped down for the season. It survived the wind w/o any drama although many of the structures around it were destroyed. It was the FLOOD days afterward that did it in. I can’t imagine what it would be like to survive the hurricane and then see the flood coming at you.
RIP to those who didn’t make it…
I am glad Mrs. Knes will finally be reunited with her husband Robert and I hope and pray that their family finds some comfort in this news.
To Shannon, my prayers are with you in the loss and finding of your father. May you cherish the memories you had with him and rest a little easier knowing where he perished, and that if he went down with his boat it is because that is where he wanted to be.
Sundance and family, thank you for sharing and for caring so deeply for your community and the world. I hope your inner and outer scars will soon be healed. I can only believe that God made you all go through this lesson because the next storm(s) will be even worse and sometimes we believe we can handle anything. He is telling us to beware.
I have recently been following the new Bermuda Triangle series and it has given me a whole new appreciation of the “storms” in your little slice of the world.
My heart is sorrowful for the victims and the families. Let us lift the families and victims up, in prayer.
What a heartache to families and communities!
Mother Nature is a formidable foe.
Message: run — don’t hide!
Moving on takes more time than imagined. Rest in Peace!
The burdens of the living are to comfort those who are suffering. Loss of a loved one is overwhelmingly painful. Prayers for the families, friends and communities who are going through this horrible time in our lives. Continuing to lift up our country as it carries the weight of sorrow, sickness and pain. Dear God: bring the peace of Your Love, the Comfort of Your Kindness and the Strength that Encourages the Hope of Jesus Christ. Blessings.
Thank you, Sundance, for everything. God be with you.
I live on FMB-way more people are dead than they are reporting .
Similar to all Govt reported #s – imho
thanks for remembering and reminding us of the real cost.