On 10/2022 Dunkin and Tina travelled to Fort Myers, FL as a Crisis Response team for Canines 4 Christ (a Christian Ministry using Therapy Dogs to share the love of Christ).
Dunkin and Tina’s goal was to serve with the Salvation Army to help and minister to the victims and first responders affected by Hurricane Ian.
Click here is an article on the Salvation Army website
Hurricane Ian was a devastating Category 4 hurricane that made landfall near Fort Myers, Florida, on September 28, 2022. It was one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history, causing catastrophic destruction, particularly in Southwest Florida.
Key Details:
- Landfall:
- Ian struck near Cayo Costa, just west of Fort Myers, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph.
- The storm surge in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral areas reached up to 15 feet, inundating homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
- Impact on Fort Myers:
- The coastal areas, including Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, were some of the hardest hit. Entire neighborhoods were flattened, and major landmarks, like the Fort Myers Beach pier, were destroyed.
- Flooding from both storm surge and heavy rainfall caused widespread damage to homes and roads.
- Power outages affected more than 2.5 million Floridians, leaving many without electricity for weeks.
- Bridges and causeways, including the Sanibel Causeway, suffered significant damage, isolating island communities.
- Casualties:
- Over 150 deaths were attributed to Ian in Florida, making it one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the state since 1935. Many fatalities resulted from drowning during the storm surge.
- Economic Damage:
- Hurricane Ian caused an estimated $113 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane in Florida history and the third-costliest in U.S. history, after Katrina (2005) and Harvey (2017).
- The destruction impacted housing, tourism, and small businesses, with some areas still recovering over a year later.
- Recovery Efforts:
- Emergency responders, FEMA, and numerous local and national organizations quickly mobilized to assist residents with rescue and relief efforts.
- Rebuilding efforts have been ongoing, but some areas, such as Fort Myers Beach, faced long-term challenges due to the scale of destruction.
Hurricane Ian’s impact served as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Florida’s coastal areas to powerful storms, prompting discussions about infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness. If you’d like details about specific neighborhoods or ongoing recovery efforts, let me know!