Sanibel has been a part of our lives for yearly vacations for over 35 years and it had never failed to be a source of beauty and serenity. My heart and soul ache for her, but the video gives me hope for her future and knowing the love her residents and visitors have for Sanibel, no doubt she will rise again. I can't wait to be able to visit my beloved Sanibel once again. Julie Hembree
Our family began to vacation in Sanibel in the early '80's and we went there last February (2022). My wife and I visited some friends in Punta Gorda this March and we drove to Sanibel to see the devastation and to have lunch at the Mucky Duck. There was an hour wait!! Good for them! Old Florida on Sanibel is gone and I can't even imagine the debris and pollution in the Ding Darling Preserve, lots of which will never be cleaned out. Time heals, but it's gonna take a long, long time for this to heal. Thanks for the video
Thank you for sharing this video. I’ve visited Sanibel for 30 years and often described it to people as the closest thing to paradise they’ve ever seen in the U.S. Sanibel was a paradise before hurricane Charley hit in 2004. It was gorgeous! It now breaks my heart to see the devastation again from hurricane Ian. I feel fortunate that I got to enjoy Sanibel pre-2004. Seeing the lighthouse still standing gives me hope. Thanks again.
There’s no hope. The earth is changing but people aren’t. Florida now is dealing with rising seas and climate change is bringing higher ocean temperatures which is bringing more often powerful storms. Living in paradise is living on the edge of disaster every time a storm comes.
Thank you for the video. Sanibel is my happy place. Brought my kids here, vacationed here with my sisters. I'll wait patiently until the island is ready to receive visitors. Best wishes for the island's residents and leaders as they recover.
Well done video! The beauty of Sanibel/Captiva brought us there for our honeymoon and years later we brought our kids to enjoy its natural splendor...as well as the Bubble Room and hunting for shells at South Seas. We lost our home in Miami to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The beauty of nature is only matched by its fury when it decides to turn against man.
Thank you for showing and narrating the effort into restoring Sanibel. When Charley hit in 2004, Sanibel lost its wild Old Florida look, and it was just starting to come back when Ian hit. A sadness seeing the decimation on the island, the wildlife refuge - but I agree, the lighthouse still stands tall. A beacon of hope that Sanibel will make its way back.
Sanibel Island was my solace & refuge while volunteering for IRMA relief. I'll never forget pulling off the causeway on one of those little fishing pull offs & video calling my parents. Seeing that causeway demolished was terrifying. Seeing the beach I sat on and video chatted sunsets with my parents and boyfriend....I hope it recovers. It's a lovely, unique, friendly island population.
It’s almost like a Cat 4/5 hurricane hit a small sleepy beach town. Thank you for posting. There are so many people who are never going to be able to move back, it’s breaks my heart. All of the lives lost, the lost small businesses, the homes lost. It’s heart wrenching.
So sad to see this, we visited from the UK in 2003 and had a wonderful few days. I have wanted to visit again for so long It a special place we hope to return to one day. Thank you for a wonderfully sensitive narration.
I had the honor of performing Inspections for FEMA on Sanibel while deployed to Florida. It was heartwrenching, to say the least, but I did my best for everyone.
Mr Warden. Did the storm affect Sanibel Island Resort and Spa, now run by the Marriott Corporation? We had Corporate Board meetings in that Resort some years ago. Thanks for your comments.
Looking at all the destruction of the foliage, homes and businesses I can’t help but wonder about all the wildlife that perished, so very sad!! Thank you very much for this tour of Sanibel, sure doesn’t look like the Sanibel I know but in time it will once again be rejuvenated!!
Indeed. Worse still is the fact that their refuges have been reduced to pinprick size and even then, not untouched -> *4:49* People don't like bugs and everyone wants a view and too many want convenience. ...It won't be long now. I wonder if access to true paradise will first require an assessment of what we did to help the paradise we were given.
I was in Ft. Myers’s just last week, I was absolutely shook by the devastation ☹️ Have friends there that have been displaced, thank goodness they survived.
Just returned from St John USVI & we traveled to the island twice after they suffered back to back 2 cat 5 hurricanes to support them. Our jaws dropped from seeing the devastation. 3 years since we were last there from covid and lockdowns and the island looked great. Mother Nature has a way of restoring itself and miraculously the wild donkeys and other wildlife had survived. 🙏 for the people in Florida.
Sanibel was so beautiful! I got to visit about 6 years ago while visiting a good friend! I got to see dolphins jumping out of the water, manatees and the shelling was a highlight for me! It’s so sad but I’m sure with time it will become just as beautiful!
My first ever visit to Sanibel was at the end of February 2023. We arrived just as Tarpon Bay Beach just reopened. Despite the state of the island, I still had a wonderful time and coming from California, the shells were unbelievable. Sanibel still has its charm and gave me what I'd consider the best day so far of 2023.
Thanks for the video growing up on FMB and sanibel being the smallest wave capital even took field trip to ding darling hopefully it bounces back to be even better than it once was
About a week later I did the same route all the way as far as I could go on Captiva until I reached a road closure and turned around. Not sure why but driving through FMB was much more haunting for me. Maybe it's the miles of empty high rise condos and no mangrove forests to hide the devastated houses. Also the big boats piled on top of each other near the marina and wondering about how all the mobile homes fared. I watched Ian on the news but seeing the destruction up close really hits home. Unimaginable.
Thank you for this video you have made for all of us. It’s so sad, I’ve wanted to visit this island for quite a while. I hope my wife and I are able to visit in a year or so.
I’m reluctant to “like” this video bc of the inexplicable, inconceivable destruction caused by Ian. However,I appreciate this video and the great job of narrating the tour. Very well done. I’ve lived in Sarasota for 6 years, through two devastating hurricanes and will never get used to it. You cannot imagine in your wildest nightmare the power of nature and the destruction to life, wildlife, and property. FLORIDA STRONG❤🙏🏼
Nothing short of catastrophic...I applaud all the efforts to rebuild and restore and, all the while, remove the incredible amount of debris. The island is devastated, indeed forever changed, but will again become a destination for enjoyment.
Thank you Sir, I’ve been following her recovery. I look forward to returning to our beloved Sanibel/Captiva Islands. We’ve been visiting since 1995. 😢Its heartbreaking for sure. God Bless all. Again, thank you. 🙏🏻
Great video Larry . I have spent alot of time vacationing in Sanibel last 25 years. Breaks my heart, but there is something magical about Sanibel & Captiva it will be back stronger
We have a home on Sanibel & went over by boat a few days post Ian. The progress is slow but considering we were in the eye of the storm, it’s amazing. Once all the rest of the debris is gone it will be restored & (with time) beautiful again. Tarpon beach & Blind pass beach are opening this week, homes are being repaired/rented, restaurants are opening & Church has been meeting since 2 weeks post Ian, on island. My family will be visiting this spring break. Insurance payments are making things slow, considerably more then they should be. We are learning a lot! Sanibel will be back. Its been done before & with all the advanced technology we have now, it will be again. ❤
what a positive comment so full of hope of a resident and Im so sorry for your loss . And let the recovery and restoration continue . Glad to see businesses coming back as well. Thanks for sharing Lori
Was on Sanabel about five years ago traveling those same roads and recognized some businesses. Sad to see the destruction, but glad to see the restoration prgressing. Thanks.
So sad to see my favorite vacation destination devastated I remember hurricane Charlie which wiped out the causeway bridges. I never thought we would be able to return but after the bridges were rebuilt we we amazed at the recovery. The trees grew back and the nature preserves retuned and while there were still visible scares slowly but surely Sanibel returned. Thanks for this video and I look forward to returning once again.
thanks Larry, i moved to ft. myers in the late 60's, and spent many a saturday at Sanibel as a teen. so sad about saniel. It was a beautiful place to grow up.
This reminds me of when Harvey came thru my favorite beach town in Texas, Port Aransas, which has the same vibe as Anna Maria Island. Very rustic, quaint and natural. My heart goes out to everyone in Florida that has suffered loss of homes, businesses, and their happy place. From the ashes, there will be improvements that would never have been possible without the wrath of Ian, and the toughness each person has had to exhibit will lend itself to character development that many people pay to try and create. God speed to everyone affected, Florida is an amazing state with the greatest people.
My husband and I went to Sanibel Island 34 years ago for our honeymoon. We had a wonderful time biking the trails and visiting Ding Darling Nature Preserve where we witnessed a manatee swimming in the water and we canoed in the mangroves. I have always wanted to go back there someday again but it does not look like it will be anytime soon. Thank you for your very thorough video commentary of its current status. Very sad for the residents and the wildlife. Healing prayers for its continuing resurrection from this devastation.
I made my first trip here with my daughter and her mother a few years back. Loved it, the island was absolutely beautiful. It's sad to see how much destruction Ian did to this special place. Glad to see it coming back to what it was. I also saw the Beeghly tree clean up trucks in the video. They're from my hometown and do great work. Glad to see my county down there helping out!
Thank you for sharing this video. My husband and I spend January, February and March at Sanibel Sesta. BUT NOT THIS YEAR. So sad we are in Kentucky where it is cold with ice and snow. We will keep Sanibel and everyone in our prayers. Thanks again!! ❤️
Pat I know Sanibel is special but there are many beautiful..and warm areas to stay in Cape Coral (where I live) and Punta Gorda if you want to come to Sw Florida. We came from NY so I know all about the cold and ice …
Thank you for sharing. This is so sad. I’m still Praying for everyone that lives on the Island. When the island is ready for business I will come visit. 🙏 😎 😢 🇺🇸
It's so heartbreaking to see such a beautiful island get totally destroyed the way Ian did. I remember how it looked before Charley, with the beautiful tree canopy's over Periwinkle Way and then after Charley it was all gone. Last time I went there it looked like it was starting to come back somewhat and now this. I just hope and pray that Sanibel never sees another massive hurricane come through so all the beautiful greenery can come back and we can enjoy it as it used to be.
Gut wrenching to see the devastation of this beautiful place. Spent time there in the winter for 8 years, so sad. It’s going o be a long road ahead for those affected. Be strong and look ahead.
Will not let it go to waste. We all thank all of our Sanibel officials and first responders and business owners for their relentless energy to bring back our beautiful paradise. Thank you all.
Love this video, thank you! So sad but hopeful it will come back. Had the privilege to visit Sanibel 2 summers ago! We went to Ding Darling and the lighthouse hardly recognize those areas. Before we left we ate at the Lazy Flamingo😊 so love Sanibel. I celebrated my 70th birthday , and looking forward to going back❤
As someone who frequented Sanibel since 1970 up until I moved out of the state in 2013, I can say this video was sad to see but so very well done with somber music playing at a very reasonable volume. Your evaluations of the damage was excellent as well as explaining where you are and what you are seeing is exceptional. Thanks for such a beautifully put together video.
We love this area. We talked to some people living on the island and explained that they needed to get some kind of Radio to communicate when the grid goes down. That's what we did in Central Florida. Keeping the Community on a Radio network
I remember how long it took to clean up McClellanville and the surrounding Charleston area after Hugo. The folks in Sannibel have a long road ahead and years to get most things up and running. All the best to them.
Hurricane, after hurricane, year after year, why ppl won't leave these areas alone after cleaning the trash and bulldozing the buildings boggles the mind. Even Texas was smart to ban high risk areas from being rebuilt!!
Sooooo very sad! My mother and dad used to winter in Bradenton and when I would go down to visit them we would always go to Sanibel. It was so beautiful and this is so so sad.
As I watch the video, I heard that you said the magic words - these are vacation homes. While your documentary was appreciated, I must say I feel more and would be more inclined to help the communities where primary homes were demolished, such as in Fort Myers Beach and the surrounding areas. But, we are all free to do whatever we choose with the help that we give. Much love to everyone.
I was there a month after, working with the recovery crews doing surveys on some of the HVAC systems. It looks like they have made a lot of progress since then. I was just blown away by the devastation. I live in Texas so I have seen bad damage from tornados but the scale of this was just unbelievable. It was depressing driving down the road and seeing people's houses and memories piled up on the side of the road.
It is strange to see places I have seen BI altered so violently. Nature is a force. My goodness, we must take care of our environment. Thank you for reminding us all.
It's so sad to see this beautiful island like that I was lucky to spend the summer last year just before the hurricane is going to take while to recover 🙏
I do appreciate the amount of destruction the storm did to Sanibel seems to be so much more extensive than even Fort Meyers. I feel so bad for all of the people affected by Ian!
The birds actually do better without the humans there. Much more habitat available and no human activity to hinder nesting and feeding. Nature finds a way
Thank you for sharing this. We’ve been camping at Periwinkle RV park for many years. Don’t know what condition it is now, but we hope we can return one day.
It makes me incredibly sad to see the devastation on this once pristine island…but I have NO doubt , the love ppl have for this island and I think within %5 years there will be a significant difference…I was there the Friday before the storm. Had I known that it would be this devastated I would have taken pictures….but we were all hopeful….had nooooo idea that it would be this bad. I am very hopeful that the love ppl have will bring it back to life and give refuge to so many wildlife that need this space. I don’t know if it will happen in my lifetime because I have a terminal disease , but I really hope I get to see it …❤️..
Residents were not allowed to return for almost a month. Only trucks were allowed after 2 weeks repair. My house molded to death after having 8 feet of sewage water inside and no electricity. Still no electricity. I can't bare to return. This vid makes me cry. I packed many belongings and evacuated. I'll never be the same.
Thanks for the informative video. Sanibel and Captiva were delightful, relatively unspoiled pre-Ian. I fear for the long-term prospects of these and other barrier islands from sea-level rise and future hurricanes. Florida has improved its resilience and rehabilitation, but not done enough for prevention. Almost all of its top politicians are climate deniers, despite the fact that climate scientists believe that Florida is the state that's most vulnerable to climate change.
I was recently in Bonita Springs visiting family. We walked the Bonita Beach and it was a devastated experience. For almost three miles every home had incurred some damage and none of the condo buildings were open . The beach’s were empty and I was told more than 400 vehicles were in the water offshore and recreation was not not advised. In Fort Myers Beach the damage was extensive and very little economic activity was seen. Almost 50% of the buildings on the beach were literally gone and many more on the other side of the beach road. While rebuilding was taking place place it appeared that there was a shortage of labor - it will be at least two years before there is a return to anything like normalcy. It’s one thing to see this devastation on tv quote another to witness it in person. The insurance companies are playing tough - almost 25% of claims have been rejected.
Used to live south of Sanibel and would ride my Harley there often. The devastation is incredible. I can just imagine all the people that are fighting with their insurance company.
The amount of road work and causeway work that had to be done was completed in an impressive accelerated schedule. The homes and businesses however are not being repaired as quickly as they need to be. I’m sure the massive scale of owners fighting with their insurers to get the funds to push ahead is more frustrating than we can imagine.
This island needs to be turn to the big state park - so everyone can enjoy visiting....not just people who can afford to live there! We visited island before hurricane , there is no parking anywhere near beaches, some beaches u cant even get to bcs.of big houses hugging all of it! Our insurens goes up everytime when something like this happens, we do help to pay for it...but feels like we never welcome there!!! Only about 7.000 people residents there and about 1.5 million visitors every year -its lots and lots of money!!!!!This beautiful island should belong to everybody!!!!
They have come a long way but there still alot of work to do there prayers for all who lost their lives from this major hurricane and prayers for the people of that island for a full recovery
In 2017 I went to the keys the first week of November Irma hit in early august? I bicycled from key largo to key west the debris was as high as buildings. Restaurants had cardboard signs OPEN. The menu was changed. They had ordered equipment but it hadn’t arrived. My friends and I volunteered at the key west botanical gardens.
Hi Larry - thanks for your excellent video tour - I admire your self control in NOT commenting on the "folly of man" who makes "permanent repairs" to a bridge connecting one sand bar ro another sand bar. I am typing this comment with tongue in cheek from my "rental" apartment on South Beach - we here on the Florida East Coast have so far "dodged a few bullets" but the godds of probability are not to be denied forever. I hope you will do a few follow ups ! Cheers , joey d.
@@LarryWarden Hey Larry that planned updated video is good news - I subscribed to your channel so I do not miss it. Property owners here on Miami Beach are having a very difficult time securing property insurance - especially for wind damage and flood damage. Some have just decided to remain totally un-insured due to the high costs combined with high deductibles. Property owners on Sanibel first have to collect on their existing insurance policies and then - if they decide to re-build - they will have to secure new insurance policies. This reminds me of advice a real estate broker recently gave me , she said "if you cannot afford to insure it , then you cannot afford to own it" Peace to all , joey d.
Sanibel has been a part of our lives for yearly vacations for over 35 years and it had never failed to be a source of beauty and serenity. My heart and soul ache for her, but the video gives me hope for her future and knowing the love her residents and visitors have for Sanibel, no doubt she will rise again. I can't wait to be able to visit my beloved Sanibel once again.
Julie Hembree
Our family began to vacation in Sanibel in the early '80's and we went there last February (2022). My wife and I visited some friends in Punta Gorda this March and we drove to Sanibel to see the devastation and to have lunch at the Mucky Duck. There was an hour wait!! Good for them!
Old Florida on Sanibel is gone and I can't even imagine the debris and pollution in the Ding Darling Preserve, lots of which will never be cleaned out. Time heals, but it's gonna take a long, long time for this to heal. Thanks for the video
Thank you for sharing this video. I’ve visited Sanibel for 30 years and often described it to people as the closest thing to paradise they’ve ever seen in the U.S. Sanibel was a paradise before hurricane Charley hit in 2004. It was gorgeous! It now breaks my heart to see the devastation again from hurricane Ian. I feel fortunate that I got to enjoy Sanibel pre-2004. Seeing the lighthouse still standing gives me hope. Thanks again.
There’s no hope. The earth is changing but people aren’t. Florida now is dealing with rising seas and climate change is bringing higher ocean temperatures which is bringing more often powerful storms. Living in paradise is living on the edge of disaster every time a storm comes.
Thank you for the video. Sanibel is my happy place. Brought my kids here, vacationed here with my sisters. I'll wait patiently until the island is ready to receive visitors. Best wishes for the island's residents and leaders as they recover.
Thank you Larry for such a heartfelt and respectful video of Sanibel. Best regards to you.
Well done video! The beauty of Sanibel/Captiva brought us there for our honeymoon and years later we brought our kids to enjoy its natural splendor...as well as the Bubble Room and hunting for shells at South Seas. We lost our home in Miami to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The beauty of nature is only matched by its fury when it decides to turn against man.
how sad I'm in my late sixties and I've been going there since I've been 15 years old it's just devastated it'll never ever be the same😭
Thank you for showing and narrating the effort into restoring Sanibel. When Charley hit in 2004, Sanibel lost its wild Old Florida look, and it was just starting to come back when Ian hit. A sadness seeing the decimation on the island, the wildlife refuge - but I agree, the lighthouse still stands tall. A beacon of hope that Sanibel will make its way back.
Thank you for the video. Sanibel is the only where I really relax. I am just gutted by what happened there.
Sanibel Island was my solace & refuge while volunteering for IRMA relief. I'll never forget pulling off the causeway on one of those little fishing pull offs & video calling my parents. Seeing that causeway demolished was terrifying. Seeing the beach I sat on and video chatted sunsets with my parents and boyfriend....I hope it recovers. It's a lovely, unique, friendly island population.
It’s almost like a Cat 4/5 hurricane hit a small sleepy beach town. Thank you for posting. There are so many people who are never going to be able to move back, it’s breaks my heart. All of the lives lost, the lost small businesses, the homes lost. It’s heart wrenching.
it was very sad to go to video this paradise we love, but it is slowly coming back
So sad. God bless the people who live there.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and caring video ! Appreciate your time showing us the progress on this beautiful island !
Glad to see it is coming back
You are an excellent narrator, and you captured all the sights we wanted to see. Thank you!
So sad to see this, we visited from the UK in 2003 and had a wonderful few days. I have wanted to visit again for so long It a special place we hope to return to one day. Thank you for a wonderfully sensitive narration.
I appreciate you posting this. I have so so many sweet memories vacationing in Sanibel and Captiva. Some of the best fishing trips of my lifetime.
I had the honor of performing Inspections for FEMA on Sanibel while deployed to Florida. It was heartwrenching, to say the least, but I did my best for everyone.
Thanks for all your work Joey, so challenging and sad, I have a friend who works for FEMA in the waters near Fort Myers Beach
Thank you for your service.
Thank you for the video tour. Sanibel is one of our favorite vacation spots. We are saddened by the devastation.
Very well done Sir. Thank you for documenting this for all of us to appreciate! ❤
I appreciate your positive feedback
Excellent job on your video. I’ve always loved Sanibel Island. Thank you sir. 👏👏👍
Mr Warden. Did the storm affect Sanibel Island Resort and Spa, now run by the Marriott Corporation? We had Corporate Board meetings in that Resort some years ago. Thanks for your comments.
It affected every building on the island but it should have survived due to its cement construction and with repairs I’m sure will eventually reopen
Looking at all the destruction of the foliage, homes and businesses I can’t help but wonder about all the wildlife that perished, so very sad!! Thank you very much for this tour of Sanibel, sure doesn’t look like the Sanibel I know but in time it will once again be rejuvenated!!
Indeed. Worse still is the fact that their refuges have been reduced to pinprick size and even then, not untouched -> *4:49* People don't like bugs and everyone wants a view and too many want convenience. ...It won't be long now. I wonder if access to true paradise will first require an assessment of what we did to help the paradise we were given.
Most of them go under ground into the turtle warrens. They know it's coming & get out
Smarter than Us!
@@georgeclark7497 Yes they can sense what's coming.
all the wildlife? LOL! They were killed off by nonstop development long ago. barely a squirrel left on sanibel.
I was in Ft. Myers’s just last week, I was absolutely shook by the devastation ☹️ Have friends there that have been displaced, thank goodness they survived.
Just returned from St John USVI & we traveled to the island twice after they suffered back to back 2 cat 5 hurricanes to support them. Our jaws dropped from seeing the devastation. 3 years since we were last there from covid and lockdowns and the island looked great. Mother Nature has a way of restoring itself and miraculously the wild donkeys and other wildlife had survived. 🙏 for the people in Florida.
Sanibel was so beautiful! I got to visit about 6 years ago while visiting a good friend! I got to see dolphins jumping out of the water, manatees and the shelling was a highlight for me! It’s so sad but I’m sure with time it will become just as beautiful!
My first ever visit to Sanibel was at the end of February 2023. We arrived just as Tarpon Bay Beach just reopened. Despite the state of the island, I still had a wonderful time and coming from California, the shells were unbelievable. Sanibel still has its charm and gave me what I'd consider the best day so far of 2023.
Thanks for the video growing up on FMB and sanibel being the smallest wave capital even took field trip to ding darling hopefully it bounces back to be even better than it once was
About a week later I did the same route all the way as far as I could go on Captiva until I reached a road closure and turned around. Not sure why but driving through FMB was much more haunting for me. Maybe it's the miles of empty high rise condos and no mangrove forests to hide the devastated houses. Also the big boats piled on top of each other near the marina and wondering about how all the mobile homes fared. I watched Ian on the news but seeing the destruction up close really hits home. Unimaginable.
Thank you for this video you have made for all of us. It’s so sad, I’ve wanted to visit this island for quite a while. I hope my wife and I are able to visit in a year or so.
I’m reluctant to “like” this video bc of the inexplicable, inconceivable destruction caused by Ian. However,I appreciate this video and the great job of narrating the tour. Very well done. I’ve lived in Sarasota for 6 years, through two devastating hurricanes and will never get used to it. You cannot imagine in your wildest nightmare the power of nature and the destruction to life, wildlife, and property. FLORIDA STRONG❤🙏🏼
thanks Nonnie, I sure understand what you say about the "like" of this video
I did give it a like! Would have given it a great actually! 👍🏼 well done!
You are super nice Nonnie
Look at how the trees that have fought for their lives are looking so ALIVE! Looks like springtime in the Texas Panhandle!!❤️
This video just rips my heart out. Gorgeous place, I've been and I am devastated.
Nothing short of catastrophic...I applaud all the efforts to rebuild and restore and, all the while, remove the incredible amount of debris. The island is devastated, indeed forever changed, but will again become a destination for enjoyment.
Thank you for sharing the current visual. Sanibel🪸 memories & oodles of seashells are forever mine🌺🌴🌊
Spent a lot of good years at Sanibel. May it rest in peace.
Thank you Sir, I’ve been following her recovery. I look forward to returning to our beloved Sanibel/Captiva Islands. We’ve been visiting since 1995. 😢Its heartbreaking for sure. God Bless all. Again, thank you. 🙏🏻
Great video Larry . I have spent alot of time vacationing in Sanibel last 25 years.
Breaks my heart, but there is something magical about Sanibel & Captiva it will be back stronger
Great comments that everyone would agree with
We have a home on Sanibel & went over by boat a few days post Ian. The progress is slow but considering we were in the eye of the storm, it’s amazing. Once all the rest of the debris is gone it will be restored & (with time) beautiful again. Tarpon beach & Blind pass beach are opening this week, homes are being repaired/rented, restaurants are opening & Church has been meeting since 2 weeks post Ian, on island. My family will be visiting this spring break. Insurance payments are making things slow, considerably more then they should be. We are learning a lot! Sanibel will be back. Its been done before & with all the advanced technology we have now, it will be again. ❤
what a positive comment so full of hope of a resident and Im so sorry for your loss . And let the recovery and restoration continue . Glad to see businesses coming back as well. Thanks for sharing Lori
Im sure Lori appreciated your hearts ,lots of love to the residents of Sanibel . Thank You
So happy to see Sanibel. I am very interested in what Casa Ybel looks like and how it fared. I really appreciate you making this video. Thank you.
I will go over in a couple of weeks and make another video and I will check it out
Was on Sanabel about five years ago traveling those same roads and recognized some businesses. Sad to see the destruction, but glad to see the restoration prgressing. Thanks.
Tom , I will be doing another video around the 1st of April , as it will be 6 months conic the hurricane and hopefully see more restoration
So sad to see my favorite vacation destination devastated
I remember hurricane Charlie which wiped out the causeway bridges. I never thought we would be able to return but after the bridges were rebuilt we we amazed at the recovery. The trees grew back and the nature preserves retuned and while there were still visible scares slowly but surely Sanibel returned. Thanks for this video and I look forward to returning once again.
You will be surprised at the pace of the clean up , rebuild and recovery , but I know it won't be the same , especially the foliage will take years
thanks Larry, i moved to ft. myers in the late 60's, and spent many a saturday at Sanibel as a teen. so sad about saniel. It was a beautiful place to grow up.
I agree , it will take time but life is returning to Sanibel , awesome restoration is going on
This reminds me of when Harvey came thru my favorite beach town in Texas, Port Aransas, which has the same vibe as Anna Maria Island. Very rustic, quaint and natural. My heart goes out to everyone in Florida that has suffered loss of homes, businesses, and their happy place. From the ashes, there will be improvements that would never have been possible without the wrath of Ian, and the toughness each person has had to exhibit will lend itself to character development that many people pay to try and create. God speed to everyone affected, Florida is an amazing state with the greatest people.
what a positive comment with so much hope , and I'm sure this feeling will help thousands in the recovery
Thank you. When they tell you to evacuate, get your family and pets and leave. Nothing more precious than your lives.
Absolute correct Mary glad we were up in Canada and not here yet , but we arrived asap after the storm
My husband and I went to Sanibel Island 34 years ago for our honeymoon. We had a wonderful time biking the trails and visiting Ding Darling Nature Preserve where we witnessed a manatee swimming in the water and we canoed in the mangroves. I have always wanted to go back there someday again but it does not look like it will be anytime soon. Thank you for your very thorough video commentary of its current status. Very sad for the residents and the wildlife. Healing prayers for its continuing resurrection from this devastation.
I made my first trip here with my daughter and her mother a few years back. Loved it, the island was absolutely beautiful. It's sad to see how much destruction Ian did to this special place. Glad to see it coming back to what it was. I also saw the Beeghly tree clean up trucks in the video. They're from my hometown and do great work. Glad to see my county down there helping out!
Glad your home Town clean up trucks were there. Great response in this recovery and restoration
Larry, thanks for the update. So sad!
It was sad but glad the rebuild is on
Thank you for sharing this video. My husband and I spend January, February and March at Sanibel Sesta. BUT NOT THIS YEAR. So sad we are in Kentucky where it is cold with ice and snow. We will keep Sanibel and everyone in our prayers. Thanks again!! ❤️
hopefully you will get back in the near future , the rebuild is happening
Pat I know Sanibel is special but there are many beautiful..and warm areas to stay in Cape Coral (where I live) and Punta Gorda if you want to come to Sw Florida. We came from NY so I know all about the cold and ice …
@@lhyork1608 There is still a huge shortage of hotel rooms and rooms are hard to find or very expensive. I would wait until next year.
Very sad. I have so many fond memories of cycling from Fort Myers through Sanibel, Ding Darling and Captiva. Beautifully done video.
I am glad to see bicycle paths are cleared
It will definitely take years to recover. Nice video, thanks for posting.
You did a great job with this video. Thank you.
thanks Phyllis for your kind words
Thank you for sharing. This is so sad. I’m still Praying for everyone that lives on the Island. When the island is ready for business I will come visit. 🙏 😎 😢 🇺🇸
It's so heartbreaking to see such a beautiful island get totally destroyed the way Ian did. I remember how it looked before Charley, with the beautiful tree canopy's over Periwinkle Way and then after Charley it was all gone. Last time I went there it looked like it was starting to come back somewhat and now this. I just hope and pray that Sanibel never sees another massive hurricane come through so all the beautiful greenery can come back and we can enjoy it as it used to be.
I have the same wish and so does everybody else
Thanks for the video.
Well done, thanks for sharing and the excellent descriptions.
Great report and video. Fantastic. Thank you sir.
Gut wrenching to see the devastation of this beautiful place. Spent time there in the winter for 8 years, so sad. It’s going o be a long road ahead for those affected. Be strong and look ahead.
I love your last few words ( "Be strong and look ahead") This is the hope and is happening with most
Sanibel will come back stronger and more beautiful then before. We have a long way to go but those of us who live on and love Sanibel
Will not let it go to waste. We all thank all of our Sanibel officials and first responders and business owners for their relentless energy to bring back our beautiful paradise. Thank you all.
Love this video, thank you! So sad but hopeful it will come back.
Had the privilege to visit Sanibel 2 summers ago! We went to Ding Darling and the lighthouse hardly recognize those areas. Before we left we ate at the Lazy Flamingo😊 so love Sanibel. I celebrated my 70th birthday , and looking forward to going back❤
Also wish we could have seen more of the lighthouse , looks like all the buildings around the lighthouse are gone, so sad . 😢
police would not let me near lighthouse , entrance was blocked off
As someone who frequented Sanibel since 1970 up until I moved out of the state in 2013, I can say this video was sad to see but so very well done with somber music playing at a very reasonable volume. Your evaluations of the damage was excellent as well as explaining where you are and what you are seeing is exceptional. Thanks for such a beautifully put together video.
thanks for your kind words Sarah
Frequently visited sanibel my whole life and always stayed at sandy bend. Can’t wait to see things come back!
It is happening as we speak
@@LarryWarden thanks for the footage, Larry!
We love this area. We talked to some people living on the island and explained that they needed to get some kind of Radio to communicate when the grid goes down. That's what we did in Central Florida. Keeping the Community on a Radio network
Thank you Kid.
Very well done, thank you for posting this.
thanks for your affirmation
Thanks for posting this update.
I remember how long it took to clean up McClellanville and the surrounding Charleston area after Hugo. The folks in Sannibel have a long road ahead and years to get most things up and running. All the best to them.
Hurricane, after hurricane, year after year, why ppl won't leave these areas alone after cleaning the trash and bulldozing the buildings boggles the mind. Even Texas was smart to ban high risk areas from being rebuilt!!
Sooooo very sad! My mother and dad used to winter in Bradenton and when I would go down to visit them we would always go to Sanibel. It was so beautiful and this is so so sad.
Good job on your video….nice flow, edits and presentation- you are a natural for video production young man!
thanks Chris for your kind words, strictly an amateur at this
As I watch the video, I heard that you said the magic words - these are vacation homes. While your documentary was appreciated, I must say I feel more and would be more inclined to help the communities where primary homes were demolished, such as in Fort Myers Beach and the surrounding areas. But, we are all free to do whatever we choose with the help that we give. Much love to everyone.
I was there a month after, working with the recovery crews doing surveys on some of the HVAC systems. It looks like they have made a lot of progress since then. I was just blown away by the devastation. I live in Texas so I have seen bad damage from tornados but the scale of this was just unbelievable. It was depressing driving down the road and seeing people's houses and memories piled up on the side of the road.
Thank you
I was wondering how much has been cleaned up there. Thank you for sharing this video great job.
Thank you for this tour.
glad you enjoyed it . It was sad but I enjoyed filming it
Come back soon. I have been going there for 23 years. Once you get it opened back up, I will be back to support you.
It is strange to see places I have seen BI altered so violently. Nature is a force. My goodness, we must take care of our environment. Thank you for reminding us all.
yes it was very shocking ,like a war zone
It still saddens me to see all the destruction! It was so beautiful there! Time is the cure for many things! 🙏
Yes time will heal , and it is happening as we speak
Thank you for the update. Sad.
yes †he lighthouse was the beam of hope for Sanibel's recovery and restoration
It's so sad to see this beautiful island like that I was lucky to spend the summer last year just before the hurricane is going to take while to recover 🙏
I do appreciate the amount of destruction the storm did to Sanibel seems to be so much more extensive than even Fort Meyers. I feel so bad for all of the people affected by Ian!
THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO
Good to see the birds are back in great numbers!! 😍🥰
The birds actually do better without the humans there. Much more habitat available and no human activity to hinder nesting and feeding. Nature finds a way
Thank you for sharing this. We’ve been camping at Periwinkle RV park for many years. Don’t know what condition it is now, but we hope we can return one day.
I will check it our on my next visit for you
Thank You!
Thank Gov. Ron Santis for getting the Sanibel Causeway fixed so quick!
@0neOver0neThreeSeven You voted for Joe Biden... didn't you.
@@chrisrobertson3189 Censored Lol
I did the flooring in the community center. Hopefully all the nice people who live there are good . Thoughts n prayers
Thank you for sharing!
glad you liked it
It makes me incredibly sad to see the devastation on this once pristine island…but I have NO doubt , the love ppl have for this island and I think within %5 years there will be a significant difference…I was there the Friday before the storm. Had I known that it would be this devastated I would have taken pictures….but we were all hopeful….had nooooo idea that it would be this bad. I am very hopeful that the love ppl have will bring it back to life and give refuge to so many wildlife that need this space. I don’t know if it will happen in my lifetime because I have a terminal disease , but I really hope I get to see it …❤️..
Im with you Linda, this is a beautiful paradise , and with love and care it is and will come back
My thoughts and prayers to you Linda , with your disease , I hope you get to see the recovery of Sanibel as well
thanks for your kind words
Perfect video. Thank you for your effort.
Thank you.
Residents were not allowed to return for almost a month. Only trucks were allowed after 2 weeks repair. My house molded to death after having 8 feet of sewage water inside and no electricity. Still no electricity. I can't bare to return. This vid makes me cry. I packed many belongings and evacuated. I'll never be the same.
Thanks for the informative video. Sanibel and Captiva were delightful, relatively unspoiled pre-Ian. I fear for the long-term prospects of these and other barrier islands from sea-level rise and future hurricanes. Florida has improved its resilience and rehabilitation, but not done enough for prevention. Almost all of its top politicians are climate deniers, despite the fact that climate scientists believe that Florida is the state that's most vulnerable to climate change.
Gosh, it seems so long ago, I’m so sorry guys, we live on Marco and Sanibel was one of our fav day vacations, we also loved Doc Fords there.🙏🏼💔😥
Everyone loves Sanible and Doc Fords , hopefully you can return soon
I was recently in Bonita Springs visiting family. We walked the Bonita Beach and it was a devastated experience. For almost three miles every home had incurred some damage and none of the condo buildings were open
. The beach’s were empty and I was told more than 400 vehicles were in the water offshore and recreation was not not advised. In Fort Myers Beach the damage was extensive and very little economic activity was seen. Almost 50% of the buildings on the beach were literally gone and many more on the other side of the beach road. While rebuilding was taking place place it appeared that there was a shortage of labor - it will be at least two years before there is a return to anything like normalcy. It’s one thing to see this devastation on tv quote another to witness it in person. The insurance companies are playing tough - almost 25% of claims have been rejected.
I must go to Bonita Beach and do a video there
Used to live south of Sanibel and would ride my Harley there often. The devastation is incredible. I can just imagine all the people that are fighting with their insurance company.
It’s really incredible that there is any green on sanibel. With all the salt water & wind.
You are right Christa , all the brown I have seen is slowing rebounding to green and other colors
Good video thanks Larry....
The amount of road work and causeway work that had to be done was completed in an impressive accelerated schedule. The homes and businesses however are not being repaired as quickly as they need to be. I’m sure the massive scale of owners fighting with their insurers to get the funds to push ahead is more frustrating than we can imagine.
Im sure you're right and hopefully the insurance issues can be expedited in a timely manner
This island needs to be turn to the big state park - so everyone can enjoy visiting....not just people who can afford to live there! We visited island before hurricane , there is no parking anywhere near beaches, some beaches u cant even get to bcs.of big houses hugging all of it! Our insurens goes up everytime when something like this happens, we do help to pay for it...but feels like we never welcome there!!! Only about 7.000 people residents there and about 1.5 million visitors every year -its lots and lots of money!!!!!This beautiful island should belong to everybody!!!!
I mean the whole state is beaches. Plenty of other places to go.
so true. no homes should ever be allowed here again. the trustfunders just make all the beaches private.
@@gfriedman99 If all beaches would be accessible for pablic...they wouldn't be so crowded!!!!!
They have come a long way but there still alot of work to do there prayers for all who lost their lives from this major hurricane and prayers for the people of that island for a full recovery
we expressed Shane , we all on board for this hope
Can't believe the garbage that still around.
Hello from Siesta Key Florida
the garbage is steadily disappearing
In 2017 I went to the keys the first week of November Irma hit in early august? I bicycled from key largo to key west the debris was as high as buildings. Restaurants had cardboard signs OPEN. The menu was changed. They had ordered equipment but it hadn’t arrived. My friends and I volunteered at the key west botanical gardens.
Hi Larry - thanks for your excellent video tour - I admire your self control in NOT commenting on the "folly of man" who makes "permanent repairs" to a bridge connecting one sand bar ro another sand bar. I am typing this comment with tongue in cheek from my "rental" apartment on South Beach - we here on the Florida East Coast have so far "dodged a few bullets" but the godds of probability are not to be denied forever. I hope you will do a few follow ups ! Cheers , joey d.
Yes i will be doing an updated video next month
@@LarryWarden Hey Larry that planned updated video is good news - I subscribed to your channel so I do not miss it. Property owners here on Miami Beach are having a very difficult time securing property insurance - especially for wind damage and flood damage. Some have just decided to remain totally un-insured due to the high costs combined with high deductibles. Property owners on Sanibel first have to collect on their existing insurance policies and then - if they decide to re-build - they will have to secure new insurance policies. This reminds me of advice a real estate broker recently gave me , she said "if you cannot afford to insure it , then you cannot afford to own it" Peace to all , joey d.
yes the owners will have quite a challenge
Well done video.
thank you for your kind words