On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwestern Florida. In the blink of an eye, millions of lives were changed forever.
This massive storm qualified as a rare Category 4 and came close to Category 5. A Category 4 storm must have sustained winds of at least 130 miles per hour and capping at 156. In comparison, Hurricanes Irene and Sandy ranked as Category 3 storms. They also cause catastrophic damage, often destroying well-built structures such as houses and office buildings. Ian was, unfortunately, a perfect example of this.
Sanibel Island, a small vacation town, suffered a devastating blow. Sanibel, while beautiful, is isolated. With one highway connecting the residential areas to mainland Florida, residents fear the threats of hurricanes. Interstate 75, the highway in question, was ravaged. For hours, winds surpassing 120 miles per hour slammed the bridges and beaches while surges upward of seven feet flooded the roads. A shell of an island with an unsalvageable exit was all that remained.
Other vacation hotspots such as Charleston, Fort Myers, and Naples found their streets flooded with several feet of water. In Naples alone, 55,000 buildings were severely water-damaged and left uninhabitable. Alligators swarmed the streets, confining terrified residents to their dismantled homes.
Ian struck Cuba as a slightly less fearsome Category 3, though power lines were destroyed, causing millions to lose electricity. Homes were flattened and streets were erased. Many residents, caught off guard, were unprepared for such ferociousness. For days, residents Cuba struggled alongside Americans as the floodwaters rose as one question loomed: what would come next?
It would be easy to ignore the situation in Florida, but community and hope can prevail. Below is a list of foundations/organizations who are helping on the frontlines. Whether you decide to make a contribution or spread the word, remember that anything helps.
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The Gulf Coast Community Foundation: The GCC directly supports and aids the victims of Ian, providing medical care and hospitality to those most in need.
- Red Cross: The Red Cross has sent out thousands of supply kits with plans to send thousands more to families with no access to food or clean water.
- https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2022/red-cross-responds-to-hurricane-ian.html
- Collier Community Foundation: CCF is a nonprofit organization acting immediately after disasters, sending ambulances, food, and aid to those affected.
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