We live on Captiva Island, a barrier island between Sanibel and coya Costa.
Coya Costa is approx 11 miles due north of our home, and was the epicenter of the land fall for Ian.
Our home is in the village of Captiva, and is essentially cut off from all communications and land based transportation due to the cause way damage and infrastructure on sanibel.
We sold our sanibel condo last year, and I am very thankful we did.
Although we do not have any good images of our Captiva home, the limited footage and initial reports indicate Captiva was mostly spared. We did not get the surge sanibel received, nor did we get the stronger winds sanibel received.
It will be days before we know the extent of the damage, but we do know that no lives where lost on Captiva.
Coast guard footage shows that South seas resort took a major hit, and has the most physical structure damage.
Largely, Captiva home all have roofs in tact, and palm trees standing. This is in contrast to sanibel at blind pass (the bridge connecting Sanibel to Captiva) where the pink flamingo no longer stands, and the beach cottages where wiped out.
Across the bay in Forty Myers Beach, times Square looks like a bomb went off. The peir no longer exists, and the beach has now been extended 300 yards into the ocean.
It will be several weeks before I can get onto the island and survey our damage. We are blessed to have insurance and another place to sleep safely in Texas.
Lee County was not in the projected cone until 22 hours before land fall. The evacuation orders went out as soon as the models showed a problem. This was the perfect storm. Many residents didn't have the time to leave, and had to make last minute decisions to ride it out. Sadly many of those on Sanibel, pine island, and Fort Myers beach perished, and many more have lost everything. Time will heal the pains, but the next few weeks are going to be difficult for all in the community.
