By BARBARA SIMPSON
The early reports of the storm system forming in the Caribbean did not indicate that it would be a killer but that soon changed. As the system moved through islands — hitting Cuba and blindsiding Puerto Rico — and into open seas heading north and west toward the U.S. mainland, all those reports changed.
The storm, named “Hurricane Ian,” kept moving and gaining in strength. Despite that, no one really admitted at first, at least publicly, how big it was and indeed how dangerous. Expected to hit Florida first, the state issued warnings to the population to make their storm preparations, something not unusual for Floridians.
As the storm moved north and west, areas of Florida, along the Gulf Coast, were ordered to evacuate. It’s a highly populated residential and tourist area and there are many offshore islands with substantial populations.
Many people did leave, but for some reason, despite those prior warnings by officials to evacuate, many people chose not to. For them, trying to survive the brunt of the storm surge was a challenge for survival and for many, it was a challenge that many lost. The most recent figures, as this is written, show that at least 119 people were killed, although the search through the wreckage for survivors and or bodies continues.
Hurricane Ian was a Category 4 storm with 155 mph winds. It was the third deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland this century, behind Hurricanes “Katrina” and “Sandy.”
Ian caused massive storm surges — more than 18-feet deep in some areas. The storm pushed water inland from the Gulf and those waters flooded entire homes and towns, washing buildings right off their foundations. In many cases, those homes still had people in them as they washed away — a situation that makes the search for survivors or bodies so difficult.
The offshore barrier islands were inundated. Fort Myers Beach was destroyed, Pine Island as well, and, as I write this, access to Sanibel Island is still not possible. The causeway connecting it to the mainland has been destroyed and the island itself is a disaster area.
My parents lived in St. Petersburg years ago and Sanibel Island was one of my mother’s favorite places, known for shell collecting and pink sand. To know that it is virtually destroyed breaks my heart and I’m glad my mother isn’t able to see the damage.
Florida Gov. Ron De Santis says that the efforts to deal with the damage are working out well thus far, but it is not something that will be done quickly. The biggest problem is access to the damaged areas — roads are out and debris is everywhere. Air relief is almost impossible because airports are destroyed, so water access from offshore seems to be the main means possible thus far.
As if it wasn’t a massive task in and of itself, officials are dealing with outbreaks of looting. The governor has declared that would be a foolish move by anyone and he issued an unflinching warning to any criminal thinking of doing it.
He said the state wants to be sure they’re “maintaining law and order. Don’t even think about looting. Don’t even think about taking advantage of people in this vulnerable situation.”
He warned: “I can tell you, in the state of Florida, you never know what may be lurking behind somebody’s home. I would not want to chance that if I were you, given that we’re a Second Amendment state.”
The sheriff of Polk County, Grady Judd, was even more direct in an interview on Fox and Friends. He advised homeowners that if they face a looter who breaks into their home, they take their gun and shoot him.
“If a looter breaks into your home while you’re there, to steal stuff — take your gun and you shoot him. You shoot him so he looks like grated cheese because you know what? That’s one looter that will not break into anyone else’s home and take advantage of them when they’re the most vulnerable and the most weak.”
He continued, “You have a right, and your property has a right to be safe and secure in your home, what’s left of it.”
I admit, I like his attitude and that he doesn’t mince words.
Sheriff Grady has a history of being blunt about the right of residents to protect their home and possessions against looters by using their guns.
During the racial riots of 2020, he warned criminals: “Let there be no misunderstanding, if you come here to riot, to loot, to injure people, we’re going to lock you up in the county jail. We’re going to hunt you down and lock you up if you engage in any criminal conduct.”
In December 2021, he praised a Lakeland, Fla., resident who defended his home against an invasion.
“The homeowner did exactly what he should have. He had a gun, he knew how to use it, it was loaded, and he shot him a lot. He gave him an early Christmas present. Only Santa Claus gets to come in your house — and Santa Claus is invited.”
Given that we are getting closer to Christmas — I hope that the rescues in Florida are complete soon and that the death toll does not rise. The story is a horror as it is.
Hurricane Ian wasn’t done with Florida. It moved North and hit land again in South Carolina, causing damage and some deaths in Charleston and Myrtle Beach. There were deep storm surges and flash flooding in many areas before it moved out to sea. The extent of the damage in that area is still being assessed.
For people who have never been in such a storm, details like these seem extreme, but they are a reality. I have endured many hurricanes on the East Coast with floods five feet deep — but never anything like the chaos of a hurricane like Ian. I hope I never face something like that. Reading about it is enough.
God bless the people who survived and those who did not.
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