Mary Ellen Pfeifer
Sanibel Islandis one of those rare Florida gems.
This sleepy barrier island just 20 miles fromFort Myerswas once known best for its bountiful shelling and wildlife.
But last year, Sanibel Island hit national headlinesand not for its vacation potential.
Credit:Mary Ellen Pfeifer
Paul Hennessy/Getty Images
The Sanibel Causeway that once welcomed residents and visitors to the island was also partially destroyed.
With no access to the island, residents were left wondering what remained of their properties and hometown.
It simply could not be done: this was not only a hurricane, this was a disaster.
Credit:Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Marc Fribush
The extent of the disaster came as a shock to Pfeifer and many other Sanibel residents.
The last time Sanibel had a storm surge was in 1960 with Hurricane Donna," Pfeifer said.
“People, including myself, let their guards down and didnt expect a storm surge.
Credit:Paul Hennessy/Getty Images
But the biggest change is the causeway.
They are also raising the roadway on the barrier islands by a few feet as well.
Without condominiums for vacation housing, the island and its businesses aren’t able to operate at typical capacity.
An aerial picture taken on September 30, 2022 shows the collapsed Sanibel Causeway.Credit:Ricardo Arduengo/Getty Images
Even still, some businesses have already reopened to service Sanibel residents.
Of the reopening, Pfeifer says that it was a “godsend.”
When we get through this, Sanibel is going to be a lot more valuable, he says.
A restaurant completely destroyed after the storm surge.Credit:Marc Fribush
I just dont know if thatll be in 2, 4, or 5 years.
With the community’s efforts to rebuild, it will continue to be so.
“It was my wifes dream to live here,” says Pfeifer.
Reconstruction of the Sanibel Causeway is adding more safety features.Credit:John Grieshop/Getty Images
“She vacationed here as a little girl with her parents and she always wanted to move to Sanibel.
