Catastrophic Hurricane Ian destroyed parts of Florida that will take years to rebuild leaving some areas almost unrecognizable from the devastation.
150 mph winds usually can do that.
Fort Myers, Naples and Sanibel Island were severely destroyed as residential homes, trailer parks and buildings collapsed from the high winds, non-stop heavy rains and massive flooding. Other places got record levels of inland flooding causing victims to escape on boats and helicopter rescues. Many residents are still without power.
“I am lucky to be alive. This was pure devastation,” stated one Fort Myers survivor to The Ravi Report who escaped with some friends leaving behind her home and worldly possessions.
Those who were fortunate enough to survive the horrific storm, are just grateful they made it out alive despite losing everything.
The elderly population, many of the retired age group, are dealing with the reality of losing most if not all of their possessions including their home.
“Where will I go now?” said one 82 year-old survivor to The Ravi Report. “How shall I start over at my age?”
With the death toll surpassing 120, that number is expected to gradual increase over the weeks as the clean up and recovery process continues.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis kept residents constantly informed and was front and center briefing the national media with updates while making sure rescue efforts were being implemented accordingly. His leadership and devotion to the people of Florida is commendable.
Recovery & Healing
The long recovery process has begun for the thousands of families to start rebuilding their lives who will need help in dealing with the intense trauma, stress and storm related health conditions they may have experienced. Residents including many retirees, who are left with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, will also need consistent support both emotionally and financially in order for them to get back on their feet.
Fundraising Efforts Going Strong
It will take billions of dollars to rebuild but every dollar helps. Industry experts have estimated based on recent data, that hurricane Ian caused in the area of $67B dollars in damages. That number will change as more devastation is assessed over the next several weeks.
Even with federal funding, donations are needed to rebuild. The best place to donate to help the victims is the verified site http://www.floridadisasterfund.org/ . Within hours of activation of this site, over $10M was raised for the hurricane victims.
The Daily Mail did an excellent article on how superstar and much loved actor John Travolta is helping the hurricane victims to rebuild their lives. Travolta’s team recently brought food and supplies to Fort Myers.
In addition to financial support, other items including clothes, home supplies and furniture will be needed. Here is a good listing of places to donate:
National weather experts are saying that damages from Hurricane Ian have been so severe, it will years to rebuild the effected areas costing billions of dollars in infrastructure repairs. But knowing the spirit and the motivation of Floridians and the “come back stronger” motto they live by, Florida is determined to make a full recovery sooner than expected.
The journey continues….and let’s keep the Hurricane Ian victims in our daily prayers.
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