What was destroyed on Sanibel Island?

Thousands of structures in the community were reduced to rubble, trees and vegetation were wiped out, and power lines were downed. Much of the furniture and appliances in homes became destroyed and unusable, creating piles of trash on the roads to be taken to the landfill.



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Sanibel's worst storm since 1926, Ian blew in with winds of over 130 miles per hour and a surge of up to 12 feet. Giant power poles snapped like toothpicks, buildings were inundated, and parts of the causeway bridge washed out, cutting off car traffic to the island.

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— The Sanibel Causeway is being rebuilt with new materials to help it withstand future storms. When Hurricane Ian ripped through Southwest Florida in September of 2022, one of the most striking images was a partially collapsed Sanibel Causeway. “It's like nothing we've ever seen before.

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The City of Sanibel is excited to announce that all public access beach park locations in Sanibel are now open to the public. The city announced on Thursday that the following areas are set to open Friday, June 30: Bayside parking lot at 110 – 153 Periwinkle Way for Lighthouse Beach Park.

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Fort Myers Beach is open and inviting travelers to support our community after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Many of our restaurants, attractions, activities, and accommodations have reopened and are ready to welcome guests back to our beach town.

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The great news is that many of our favorite Sanibel beaches are now open and ready for visitors! Here's what you need to know about which Sanibel beaches are open.

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Note that Sanibel Island sustained significant damage in September 2022 as a result of Hurricane Ian. Though the island is open to the public as of January 2023, local officials are warning visitors that much of the island's attractions and businesses remain closed.

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Although the islands remain sundered, things are a bit quieter now. Today the southern island, still known as Captiva, is a beautiful and pricey tourist destination reachable by car over a causeway from the mainland near Fort Myers.

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Officials also said they had at least 200 households that remained on the island during the storm, with the possibility of multiple people at each home. Those who stayed self-reported after officials asked in the days prior to the storm.

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By TIFFANY REPECKI - | Oct 2, 2023. It has been one year since Hurricane Ian brought the islands to a halt with its devastating damage and the recovery of the Sanibel-Captiva business community has been a slow one — but it is returning.

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The Sanibel Causeway bridge collapsed in places as Hurricane Ian passed through southwest Florida. At least three sections of the causeway were washed away by the storm surge, CNN affiliates WBBH and WPLG report, cutting the Sanibel and Captiva islands off from the rest of the state.

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It has been a year since Hurricane Ian roared across Fort Myers Beach, submerging the barrier island town under nearly 14 feet of storm surge that destroyed or damaged virtually all of its 3,200 buildings.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Sanibel Island experienced “biblical” destruction when the storm hit on Wednesday, bringing with it a predicted 12 to 18-foot surge and punishing winds.

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By consensus, the Sanibel City Council supported the decision to end the requirement for reentry passes on January 2, 2023. The City of Sanibel asks that non-residents respect and understand the fact that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian.

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Sanibel Island attracts many people who choose to live year-round. It creates a very distinct and passionate local community, making Sanibel more than a vacation destination.

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Monday morning marked another reopening after Hurricane Ian. Sanibel Island is now open to anyone who wants to visit. The reopening comes just a day after the tolls on the Sanibel Causeway were reinstated. Sanibel's recovery progress includes 80% of right-of-way debris being removed from the East Periwinkle Way bridge.

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The good news is several of the island's establishments – stores, restaurants, and resorts – have reopened. Longtime island favorites 'Tween Waters Island Resort and The Mucky Duck are open. Andy Rosse Lane Beach and Alison Hagerup Beach Park are open as well, with parking payable via the ParkMobile App.

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Red Tide. At this time, there is no sign of Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide, in our area.

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