WEEK OF OCTOBER 16, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 48
Hurricane Milton washed away sections of roads on Captiva, like Captiva Drive, and covered them with overwashed sand, rendering them impassable. CAPTIVA ISLAND FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT
Milton floods islands; access to Captiva cut off again
Post-storm recovery continuing By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The city of Sanibel has been providing daily updates post-Hurricane Milton. On Oct. 14, the city reported on the following: ∫ Information on emergency repair permitting is available at the top of the city’s website, including what work can be done without a permit and a link to the city's permit portal with instructions. ∫ Household trash pick up resumed on Oct. 14 in accordance with Waste Management's normal collection schedule; recycling and yard waste are not being collected at this time. ∫ Storm debris pick up for residential properties begins today, Oct. 16. Separate debris into the five designated piles as directed by the city. Do not bag See SANIBEL RECOVERY, page 16
By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Hurricane Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 as a Category 3 north of the islands near Siesta Key in Sarasota County, but Sanibel and Captiva again felt the impacts from storm surge and more. Less than two weeks prior when
Hurricane Helene came onshore in the Big Bend area, flooding and debris on the mainland side of the Sanibel Causeway forced a temporary closure of McGregor Boulevard leading up to the toll plaza and later the bridge itself, essentially cutting off the islands. In addition, sand, rocks and debris piled up on the road at Blind Pass severed
Captiva from Sanibel. While the causeway was traversable this time for emergency responders once the debris was cleared, Milton damaged Captiva’s sole connection — and evacuation route — to its sister island. It washed out one side of the
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
(Editor's note: No information was provided or available as of press time for the Captiva Civic Association, SanCap Chamber of Commerce, Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Sanibel Public Library and The Community House.) In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Sanibel-Captiva organizations and attractions provided the following information and updates:
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium's ground level experienced a minor degree of flooding, with the potential for a greater impact prevented by a new flood panel system produced after Hurricane Ian and prestorm preparations. The marine life is doing well and the aquarium systems are operating as they should. The equipment and shell collection were spared of any damage. The facility had no loss of power
‘Ding’ Photo contest
SEE MILTON, page 11
Island organizations, attractions provide post-hurricane updates By TIFFANY REPECKI
IslanderInsIde
or other damage. BIG ARTS The BIG ARTS building sustained minimal damage. Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife's Wildlife Hospital, Visitor Education Center and Student Housing buildings were all unaffected and did not get any water inside. In addition, the See ATTRACTIONS, page 18
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