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Home  >  Florida  >  Live… From Fort Myers Florida And Hurricane Ian
Florida

Live… From Fort Myers Florida And Hurricane Ian

Kyle Stewart Posted onOctober 2, 2022 41 Comments
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I went to Fort Myers this week to support family and friends and saw the devastating toll hurricane Ian has taken on this community.


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Brief Commentary

For the first time since joining LiveAndLetsFly.com, I do not have posts available for today. Make no mistake, I have outlines and words (even images) ready for a post on an issue with Chase bank’s international wire division, further reflection on JetBlue’s NEA trial, and what a given outcome might mean for JetBlue, Spirit, and American Airlines.

I also gathered images of the devastation as we struggled to make our way to Fort Myers, Florida. But for now, it doesn’t feel right to post anything besides what it’s been like in the aftermath of the most damaging Fort Myers hurricane in history.

Many of our readers come here for miles and points commentary – you won’t find that today. Rather, I am solely going to disclose why we are here, how we got here, and what the current situation looks like.

Making Our Way

Family members that remained in Fort Myers, Florida on Wednesday, as well as friends that couldn’t leave in time were stuck riding out a powerful Category 4 Hurricane that was 1 MPH wind speed shy of a Category 5. Without power, potable water, or fuel, mere survival becomes challenging. And without power, cold food storage is lost, and so is the ability to cook canned goods for many who are not permitted frills by their housing associations.

With a generator, fuel cell, and food and water donations (not just from us but others that knew we were headed south) we went to make the 16-18 hour drive from Pennsylvania.

Due to limited fuel resources once in the state of Florida, we stopped frequently to top off, never sure of when or where our last refueling options would be. We also took an inefficient path following the national weather service and national hurricane center’s guidance for where and when the storm would hit next, opting for a western journey through Tennessee as opposed to North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Struggles, Hurdles, Challenges

After driving for more than 19 hours and being up for 23 hours, we pulled into a crowded Hampton Inn parking lot in northern Florida and slept in our vehicle (4 of us in a pickup truck) for about 45 minutes before continuing the journey. Through Orlando and Tampa we made our way down I-75 until we were diverted from our path as a key bridge was out.

That led to more than five hours of us driving down dead ends that Google, county Sheriffs, and emergency management teams couldn’t possibly know were closed off. With coolers full of perishable food, we finally drove past a road closed sign with water up through the truck’s wheel wells until we made it through to the other side and found our way to a known diversion. Through Port Charlotte, we witnessed first hand the devastation that the storm surge had on these communities and the aftermath of hurricane Ian.

Residents of a mobile home park were climbing trees to find items lost, entire sides of homes were aloft and stationary. The National Guard operated as traffic control. Access to Sanibel Island is in shambles as is the bridge that carried residents and visitors to the mainland. While I am unsure of the latest death toll, horrific stories from people we know of bodies being discovered gives the sense of loss that this community is suffering.

We have images and video, and I will share these either throughout the week or next Sunday. Stuff can always be replaced and I applaud President Joe Biden for opening funds for those who, like my niece, lost everything.

For now, I will just say that the images don’t really tell the story. This community will take years to rebuild and some may never fully recover. It’s more than what you see on the news or read in the press.

It’s tragic, and all-consuming.

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About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

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41 Comments

  1. Random gawande Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 3:53 pm

    Tell your family and friends we have them in our prayers.

    I wrote more nasty stuff but deleted it. All I will say is I bet many card carrying conservatives have suddenly turned socialists now.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      Thank you Debit for measuring your words here.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 4:31 pm

      I don’t know about that. A military helicopter flew by and some assumed President Biden was onboard and yelled for him to “go home”. Another sign in a yard said “you loot, we shoot” so I doubt everyone in Florida has suddenly abandoned their political beliefs but no doubt some will.

      • Interested Traveler Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 5:08 pm

        Politics may have always been personal, but now it is defining people’s lives.

        As someone who hates politics, thinks politicians are as a bunch morally compromised and will use people’s emotions for their benefit, this doesn’t surprise me.

        I haven’t liked a single President since the elder Bush, but I still respect the Office and would be happy if the President was in that helicopter, he can make things happen us mere mortals cannot even if his politics and mine may not always align.

        More proof something need to be done about the emotions politics seems to bring out in people today.

      • CHRIS Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 5:35 pm

        There’s nothing political about shooting a looter. If you value your life so little that you want to try and steal from me after a natural disaster, then I have absolutely no problem with exercising my rights as the law allows…..I’ll probably end up saving an innocent life somewhere down the line also.

    • ChadWarren Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      You still said nasty things.
      Having the government do it’s job and help the people that send them taxes isn’t “Socialism”. You make these silly strawmen arguments because politics is the only thing you have to fill the void in your pathetic life.

      • Random gawande Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 7:03 pm

        And you are happy to let people die for lack for medical care because you hide your greed and psychopathy behind economic ideology of capitalism while being happy about yourself being bailed out repeatedly. Oh that’s right, you don’t think your $hit stinks, it’s only others that are unwashed.

        You are the kind of people that happened to come across people different than you, decided they needed to be saved, decided to enslave, rape and murder them out of greed, all the while pretending you are trying to help.

        You are not pathetic, you are evil. And evil needs to be destroyed.

        • koggerj Reply
          October 2, 2022 at 7:45 pm

          if it wasn’t for capitalism people like you wouldn’t even have indoor plumbing.

          You’re welcome.

          • Aaron
            October 3, 2022 at 4:27 am

            Kind of a nonsense statement, actually. And not one you can prove.

          • koggerj
            October 3, 2022 at 4:21 pm

            @Aaron

            You’re right it wasn’t just capitalism that gave these 3rd worlders civilization it was also Europe.

    • David Reply
      October 3, 2022 at 5:07 am

      Just proves the point you and many others have no clue what socialism and conservatism are about.

  2. Maryland Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 5:41 pm

    Kyle you made a kind and heartfelt journey. Prayers for unity for all of Florida

  3. BoardingAreaFlukie Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 5:50 pm

    Really sorry this is happening to your family.

  4. derek Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 6:25 pm

    I once was in a hurricane. The eye of the storm passed over head. I quickly went to a convenience store to buy additional supplies. When I got there, the wind just started again. It was very hard to walk back home. To cross a street, I had to walk at about an 85 degree angle towards the wind. I thought I might be blown away but managed to walk home about 2 blocks away.

    I originally thought Kyle might have broken his leg or had appendicitis, causing nothing to be written.

  5. UA-NYC Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    Then-Rep DeSantis voted against the Hurricane Sandy relief…go F yourself now, ahole. Maybe you should spend more $ on forward-looking climate change infrastructure and less flying migrants from Texas to MV to get a headline on Faux News.

    • The real Beej Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 7:07 pm

      I agree with being taken aback by the audacity of Kyle looking for sympathy. For years he goes on rants about “others” stealing from him. Empathy is what decent humans possess. I am all for any and all aid going to to downtrodden folks of Florida. I just wish the likes of Kyle reciprocate for other people in need. I doubt they ever will as they feel that “they” (whatever that means in their eyes) are more deserving of federal aid than other humans in need are. Typical conservatives willing to put their hands out when they feel it’s a worthy cause.

      • ChadWarren Reply
        October 3, 2022 at 6:23 pm

        They also pay the most taxes and contribute the most.
        They aren’t leeches like those on the left.

    • Chad Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 7:44 pm

      Good the sandy bill was a full of pork. Flying Illegals to blue states is justified since their failed policies are causing this. Hurricanes have always existed and has nothing to do with your global warming hoax.

      its getting to the point where people like you and people like me can no longer peacefully live in the same nation. Something needs to happen. You are my enemy.

      • Billy Bob Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 8:29 pm

        You must be a “Christian” lol

        • koggerj Reply
          October 3, 2022 at 4:21 pm

          na i’m an atheist.

      • The real beej Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 8:30 pm

        @ chad. Like Kyle, you strike me as the typical obese American that likes to point fingers at others for being a below average citizen. Your lack of self worth causes you to eat too much and not exercise. Americans are forced to pay excessive health insurance premiums due to your laziness. Take a look at yourself. Why are you so mad? Is it the lackluster job or education? Is it the bitch tits you possess? Is it the pig of a wife you have (I assume the language is ok as your hero uses the same on the likes of Mitch And Ted Cruz)? Go ahead and keep blaming “illegals” for your worthlessness. Go collect your handout, loser.

      • UA-NYC Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 8:34 pm

        Another mouth-breathing, reality-denying, incel probably living off the gov’t teet…piss off wanker

        • ChadWarren Reply
          October 3, 2022 at 6:21 pm

          doubtful, most leeches are democrat voters. The most successful people in life are all conservatives/republicans. We also more the most to happily married.

          • Billy Bob
            October 3, 2022 at 8:18 pm

            Nah. Most conservatives are opioid addicts on government assistance. There are some successful ones that are well known, but those are only the top 1% or so. Prove me wrong.

      • Aaron Reply
        October 3, 2022 at 4:29 am

        “Flying Illegals to blue states”

        Actually their legal status is asylum seekers.

        Either way, a stupid use of funds that would have really benefited the people of Florida considering the last week or so.

        • koggerj Reply
          October 3, 2022 at 4:27 pm

          na they don’t have a legit claim to asylum. They are invaders.

        • Billy Bob Reply
          October 3, 2022 at 8:20 pm

          Conservatives would happily live in the gutter if they know people they felt were lower than them were treated badly in return,so they won’t care about that money being wasted

    • koggerj Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      @UA-NYC
      People like you belong in jail for life.

      • UA-NYC Reply
        October 2, 2022 at 8:35 pm

        You are a worthless, tiny-handed piss-ant who deserves a serious Ed Norton-style curb stomping

    • Billy Bob Reply
      October 2, 2022 at 8:23 pm

      People made the choice to build near the ocean in a hurricane zone, now taxpayers that made wiser living choices have to bail them out. These people’s replacement homes should be located in the desert, if they want rebuild in the same location then they pay themselves.

  6. Your daddy Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 7:52 pm

    Here is what I don’t get. For starters I’m all for Kyle helping out people down in Florida; however, after hurricane sandy multiple republicans including the FLorida Governor who now has his hand out voted AGAINST relief because Jersey was blue state. These same republicans are already on record saying Florida needs federal money now… and no one holds them accountable…

    Second, where is personal responsibility???? Hmmmm lets see hurricanes hit florida every year and yet we keep rebuilding, next year another hurricane, rebuild, next year another hurricane, rebuild. If people what to live in Florida that is on them but to keep doing the same thing expecting a different result is completely stupid. YOu choose to love in Florida then YOU and YOU alone deal with the consequences not the rest of the country. These people choose to live in FLorida they know the risks.

    • koggerj Reply
      October 3, 2022 at 4:36 pm

      not surprising you and you democrat ilk are all spreading the same debunked talking point.
      Voting against the pork barrel spending of sandy doesn’t mean they are against storm recovery funds.
      The problem is the criminal democrat party always uses these situations to fund their projects that wouldn’t normally get funded. It’s part of their culture of fraud and corruption.

      But I agree most of the damage was in the blue counties. I say F*ck em.

  7. Brian Cohen Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    I wrote an entire series of articles pertaining to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Kyle; so I have somewhat of an idea about what you will experience in Fort Myers after Hurricane Ian…

    …and it won’t be easy. You will need patience for the inconveniences which you will encounter; and the people will greatly appreciate your assistance, as you are helping them in their time of need.

    You are a good person to give of yourself and help out. I hope you succeed quite well with your mission there.

  8. Joe Biden Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 8:39 pm

    Truindenashendubbabapresser!

  9. Tony N Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    The difference between the United States and Cuba having a natural disaster; Cuba has nothing. But America has Money to rebuild and hopefully, our tax dollars will go for rebuilding and not to fund some overseas War.

    • Aaron Reply
      October 3, 2022 at 4:30 am

      “Cuba has nothing”

      Decades and decades of sanctions will do that to a country.

      • koggerj Reply
        October 3, 2022 at 4:20 pm

        communism and socialism will do that.

    • koggerj Reply
      October 3, 2022 at 4:19 pm

      It already is.
      Biden has sent billions to ukraine because of the war that was caused by the CIA coup in 2014.

  10. Tony N Reply
    October 2, 2022 at 10:15 pm

    This comment section should be CLOSED. Americans have no politeness to voice their views.

  11. Asa George Reply
    October 3, 2022 at 3:03 am

    My goodness I “hear” alot anger.Obese carnivores?

  12. koggerj Reply
    October 3, 2022 at 4:18 pm

    Have the libturds blamed the hurricane on desanits yet?

    They like to do that and their welfare low iq voters eat it up like the bigmacs they consume daily.

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