Sanibel death toll rises to 4 and 'the island is closed' after Hurricane Ian devastation

Don't plan a Sanibel Island Christmas, officials told residents Friday night.

"Damage to the island is significant," said City Manager Dana Souza. "... We will return our community to the sanctuary island that we all know and love. It's going to take time."

Commissioner John Henshaw said the devastation from Hurricane Ian is severe.

"The question was when are we getting back on the island," he said. "Would say not any time soon. I'm telling my kids don't be here at Christmas. ... It's not gonna happen."

Souza, members of the council, police and fire chiefs and Department of Public works toured part of the island Friday, including West Gulf Drive, the island's resort area.

"We were all humbled by the devastation across the island," Souza said, saying debris stopped the tour before they got to the west end of the island.

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Every structure they saw had damage, he said, although it varied depending on the type of building and the level of surge. Typically, one-story buildings were destroyed, and those on concrete pilings survived with various levels of damage.

The Sanibel Causeway, destroyed in Wednesday's storm, is impassable, leaving boats as the only way to and from the island. 

Storm surges of 8 to 15 feet flooded most portions of the island, ripping up trees and sending objects such as cars, bicycles, appliances and even a mannequin into marshes and canals.

Sanibel Island security

"The island is closed," Smith said. "People are not allowed to go to the island. It is not safe. Don’t get on your boat; don’t come to the island. You will be greeted in a way that will tell you to turn around, to go back. 

"These are our homes; we need to protect them and we need to protect our island."

Police Chief Bill Dalton said he received reports of attempted looters on parts of the island and they were likely teens getting into mischief. 

"These sure are trying times," he said.

Photos:Hurricane Ian destruction in Matlacha

A closer look:Hurricane Ian flooded, pummeled and destroyed parts of Florida

He reminded people that Lee County is on a 24-hour curfew that limits who can be out and about.

As of Friday night, Sanibel resumes 24-hour police activity. They are using public works vehicles for patrols as police cars remain off the island.

Dalton said he requested help from the National Guard to "button up security on the island." 

He is waiting on a response as to how many will arrive and when. 

In the meantime, Dalton and Souza are working with county and state officials, hoping to get barges to the island to transport heavy equipment to begin the cleanup and construction.

Returning home to Sanibel after Hurricane Ian

Smith, Crater and Dalton said pictures don't convey the depth of destruction, urging patience.

"Right now, (there's) not something for us to come home to," Smith said. "There will be, And we look forward to that."

Several at Friday's news conference said today's survey of the island convinced them that restoration remains months in the future.

"I don't think ... weeks are really in the picture," Dalton said. He called the carnage worse than hurricanes Charley and Katrina.

Smith said residents should make arrangements to move elsewhere for the immediate future, with Henshaw saying it would "be a long time" before the island had electricity, water or sewage treatment.

Councilmembers noted that only Councilman Mike Miller had seen his home post-Ian, as it was in the portion of the island they toured Friday.

None of the others have had the opportunity to return to their properties.

Once officials assess each home, they will determine whether they are safe to enter, they will allow the homeowners access to the property, and likely do so by quadrant.

60 residents taken off the island

Souza said the death count is now at four people, but he did not have names or confirmation of who those individuals are. 

People in an estimated 200 to 300 homes had attempted to shelter in place on the island. 

On Friday, at least 60 residents were taken off the island. 

"They were glad to be off the island and headed somewhere safe," Souza said.

He said the search and rescue efforts continued by Sanibel police and fire, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Some 80 members of the Urban Search and Rescue Teams assisted going door to door.

Team members marked each house searched with a large "X" so other teams will know they visited.

Souza said the city's website now has a spot for people to ask for a wellness check. It helps to have first and last names as well as an address for them to check.  

Stacey Henson is the breaking news/visuals editor for The News-Press and Naples Daily News. You may reach her at shenson@gannett.com