Sanibel Resident Survives Hurricane Ian: ‘I Should Have evacuated’

Sanibel Island resident Lorraine Regan recalls the terrifying experience of riding out Hurricane Ian in her condo. Regan says vehicles were floating down her neighborhood and water took over the first floor of her residence. #foxweather #weather #hurricane #hurricaneian
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[@tree4408]

As a 71 year old seeing Ian on MyRadar app the massive area covered days BEFORE it hit any one in the whole state should have evacuated.

[@FloridaGirl-]

Heck there was no gas to be found over here in Sarasota county 2 days before the storm. Which is another issue! You’d run out of gas in a grid lock on I-75! Plus the airlines days before jacked the price to fly up north from $330 to 1,200. SINFUL! Then all along the way. Hotel prices jacked up to $300-400 a night. In all areas and surrounding states. Sinful again how the world has become. But back to the original post. I agree with you. I been down here 9 yrs now. I blow up inner tubes, even queen inflatable mattress incase of rising water. And take my extention ladder and put it right inside the garage door. INCASE I had to get on roof. I’d rather have it and not need it then the opposite. Plus I’ve tried talking people into flood ins. Even though we are in a low rated flood zone. The perfect storm negates that! Unfortunately people dont listen. And now are paying the consequence. So sad. I give GOD all the praise for saving my house. I sat in the laundry room praying for 13 hours. I never thought that storm was going to leave! It was forever slow moving! Blessing to all. I pray for everyone. 🙏

[@taramiller3236]

Not the whole state.....

[@Meneedsabreak]

@@FloridaGirl- you are so right. The time to look out for each other is instead an opportunity to price gauge customers and hoard more than one needs for a few days. I remain hurricane-ready once April hits because the regular Spring rains flood Florida anyway. By June the season begins so last-minute panic buying really doesn't make sense. If I even has a doubt, IRMA was the worst I experienced.

[@chickenfeet9558]

You need a mandatory evacuation order from the government to tell you to evacuate??? That storm was HUGE!!! People all over the world were watching it! You were told to get out, you live in an island, you know a hurricane can change course, and you know meteorologists ALWAYS predict the weather wrong or at least 95 percent of the time! Use common sense. Take responsibility for yourselves!!!

[@jacwindsor5552]

Exactly

[@pcatMe]

Amen!!!

[@tls9507]

The mandatory evacuation DID NOT come late. She had over 24 hours notice and that is PLENTY of time to evacuate. She CHOSE NOT TO.

[@DL-rl9bd]

No, 24 hours is not plenty of time to evacuate. By that time you could not find fuel. Then you’re stuck on the highways with all the other evacuees. Then there’s the issue of vacancies at hotels. Add to that, people panic-buying all the food, water, toilet paper, plywood, generators, and gas cans.

[@tls9507]

@@DL-rl9bd LOL. Are you from FL? You FUEL UP DAYS BEFORE the Hurricane. You HAVE TIME. We fueled up even though we were not under the cone 5 days before Ian hit. Because, as a Floridian, you KNOW it can change LAST minute. Sounds like you are a procrastinator. That's on you, bud. The rest of us, were gassed up, shuttered up and LEFT!

[@DL-rl9bd]

@@tls9507 Yes, I currently live in the Tampa Bay Area, and I originally moved to Port Charlotte in 1996. I have family from here all the way down to Ft. Myers. I kept my tank tank topped off, but if you actually have to drive your vehicles, you are consuming said fuel. Did you fuel up and then not drive for five days? By the Friday before the hurricane made landfall (the following Wednesday), gas stations here were already running low. People had already panic-bought everything. I’m more inland, so I stayed and put the wood up on my windows. So, I am speaking in defense of the many people I know, who face complex scenarios, regarding evacuation. And, it was only about 24 hours before landfall that it was going to hit Tampa Bay. Prior to that, it was projected to hit slightly north or even the panhandle. Then, within that last day (Tuesday) it curved to Lee County. Everyone trying to avoid the cone would’ve been headed East. But, even Kissimmee endured massive flooding. This was trying to dodge a moving target with a very indeterminate destination.

[@goochmcduck4285]

@@DL-rl9bd idgaf what your saying you live in a mandatory evacuation zone you drive your car and what gas you have in it tf away from that water. No excuse . So many shelters and emergency numbers you could call to get a ride. Multiple messages sent threw text. She had multiple choices. Multiple. Don’t make excuses for stupidity

[@terryzolnik1204]

Mandatory evacuation….mandatory? I am very glad that you survived, and very sorry you went through such a terrifying ordeal. When you live on an island, a couple feet above sea level, and a hurricane is coming do you really need a mandatory evacuation ORDER?

[@konichiwa3744]

Humans are idiots. Most that stayed would still even if they bull horned down every street to gtfo

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

Yes, some people do. They refuse to see reality and must be forced out. But, I think people should have the free will to take all the risks they want, so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

[@oilboss2220]

What do you mean?

[@thomaslou624]

Mandatory means people can’t sue officials if they need help. That’s all.

[@Neppy1414]

ol judge judy over here

[@Sundayschoolnetwork]

Evacuation came late? We had days to observe the cone of this storm. I'm glad she's okay. I can't imagine riding out that storm alone.

[@sheilaregister4128]

Yes, you can’t fix stupid! She should be thanking God for protecting her.

[@alanthomson1867]

I live near there and kept a close eye on the hurricane track. The center of the track was almost directly over Sanibel a good 24 hours before it hit and the island was in the probability cone for days. Category 4 winds of over 140 mph and storm surge of 15-18 feet were projected well in advance for Sanibel and the surrounding area. Sanibel is a glorified sand bar that sits literally three feet above sea level. An evacuation order was given the day before it hit. I'm glad she survived but I wish people would take things like this a little more seriously.

[@intheknow7659]

What was striking about this storm. When the eye wall replacement occurred, that may have enhanced storm surge.

[@botsareeverywhere]

Meteorologists didn’t know exactly where Ian was going to hit, but they did know there was a large storm surge regardless, they didn’t believe the meteorological report because some don’t believe in science, it’s as simple as that.

[@t.r4849]

Did u not hear what she said. Her electricity was shut off at 7 am in the morning u clown.

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

@@Dec1duousTree I watched the news reports every day since before it hit Cuba. Everybody was warned well in advance. There really was no good excuse. She learned a valuable lesson.

[@bornwin-sx9oz]

All I need to evacuate is one, maybe two hours. You grab your most cherished possessions and haul ass! Traffic might be a problem.

[@troublemkr9582]

If you tell a 5 year old to MOVE OUT THE WAY they'll heed the warning and be scared because of the unsurety of events that may follow. How many warnings do adults need?

[@burtonesquebarrel]

What part of “Category 4” did these people not understand?

[@jacwindsor5552]

It must be 'just a storm', type crowd

[@lljl5310]

The "4" 🤦🤦🤦🤦

[@odessawales]

Im a Seattle lite so I don't know wtf is going on man I'm from the west

[@jc-diaz487]

I think it was the part where it was almost a “Category 5” hurricane 🌀 😆

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

Actually, it was not too late to evacuate. The hurricane was tracked all the way for days in advance. It made a clear turn toward Sanibel more than 48 hours before landfall. So, she just wasn’t paying attention.

[@kharris0465]

One of those people that you cannot tell anything. And she makes the news.

[@mochasweet4966]

😆

[@tyreekjones5668]

😔

[@snowfolks]

Fox News viewer

[@hummingbirdlady3954]

She did not listen to the warnings and had plenty of time to evacuate. She almost died because she made a foolish choice to ignore the evacuation order.

[@kimberlywelch7862]

I live on a barrier island in Daytona Beach and they never issued us a mandatory evacuation notice like they normally do, and I’ve lived here almost 22 years. During most storms my entire neighborhood leaves. Everyone stayed during Ian. They told us “strong tropical storm” conditions for our area. The beach got completely destroyed and eroded all the way up to the foundation of some condos. Two of our piers are gone. Not much news coverage about us over here.

[@fishingpinky3165]

I am your neighbor and agree. Many people here in Volusia county on the east coast lost their homes due to flooding, me included. Its been devastating and most of us did not live in a so called flood zone so we didnt carry flood insurance. Daytona Beach Shores beach is destroyed as is Ponce Inlet. And yes...no coverage and very little help. My home took on a foot of water. I am so tired of people saying we dont heed the warnings. This storm was not even predicted to come close to us.

[@tyleredwards5643]

Yep. You’re exactly right. Not a single evacuation order was given for Volusia county. We have the most incompetent local government in central Florida. Absolutely embarrassing and a disgrace. My property had nearly 3 feet of water for over a week. They’ve built tons of new homes all around us, hauling in truckload after truckload of fill dirt that made all the older properties essentially a bowl. The country didn’t maintain our local creek that runs along Old Mission. And they didn’t install pumping stations at all for any of these new developments in low lying areas.

[@brendaeaves1079]

WITH SOME OF THESE “ INTERVIEWS” WHAT WERE THEY “THINKING?” NO! THE ORDER TO “EVACUATE” DID NOT COME TOO LATE! SHE’S WRONG! SHE HERSELF,DECIDED “TOO STAY” REMEMBER “WHAT CAN HAPPEN/WILL HAPPEN :-| JUST SAYING

[@deeb2021]

Do you have to yell for goodness sake.

[@yilmazkurt8584]

I am living in Tampa and they sent warning messages way before for evacuation based on the zone you live in. Some people evacuated and some of them did not.

[@JustinAH]

This woman paid no attention to warnings and just assumed everything would be okay. You don't mess around when a 150mph Cat 4 Monster is at your door, when her power went out at 7am she had HOURS to evacuate!

[@patrickwhelan5703]

She's playing the victim of the mean ole Hurricane Ian....

[@Lewisa369]

Agreed

[@Clutching.My.Pearls]

When you live a few feet above sea level and a hurricane is headed your way, what other decision is there but to evacuate? And there was pretty good information to make that decision.

[@davidtuttle7556]

You have to have a place to evacuate to and a plan to do it. But yes, Saturday and Sunday the forecasted tracks were projected to come close. Ppl tend to forget that the projected tracks are for the eye of the storm and that the wind field is often hundred miles across or more. I was lucky to be on vacation up in Georgia and just stayed away. Not everyone has that option. Also Lee County opened the shelters for the elderly on Monday. So evac was possible.

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

I agree. They did a great job warning everyone within the cone of probability we’ll in advance. Really can’t blame the authorities this time.

[@mattluzernie2013]

Yeap that is what we do even if we are in the cone and Don't know the exact point.

[@brandonking2679]

@@GillAgainsIsland12 oh you mean when the storm turned with three hours to spare ? That means with your logic over 2 million people would of needed to evacuate.It was meant to hit Tamp,not ft myers.

[@GillAgainsIsland12]

@@brandonking2679 Only 3 hours? You're another one who wasn't paying attention.

[@TheCatholicGirl]

The mandatory evacuation did not come late. The mandatory evacuation order came 4 days before Ian made landfall. The earliest mandatory evacuation order in FL history. People were also told over and over that this was going to be a water event, likely the one of the biggest storm surges in FL history.

[@mimi1o8]

I lived in Fl for 18 years, most people do not believe the storm will be dangerous , when they are told to leave, that’s the reality, sure all those unfortunate dead bodies did regret it at the end.

[@Gator777]

Thank God she is okay. This storm was out there for days, people should not wait on the government to tell them what to do.

[@jennifercarter9047]

Yeah, but they said they whole time it would hit further north. Unfortunately, it had other plans and decided to go south.

[@myfestivus4336]

The Government told them to evacuate.

[@bornwin-sx9oz]

Thank God you’re okay. What a horrific experience but now you have your life to live.

[@markpalavosvrahotes5575]

If you are in a high rise you don’t have to evacuate no matter where you are.

[@scenicjax6402]

I evacuated a few years ago and the storm kept moving west and ended up heading straight for where I had evacuated to. By then there were no hotels left and most gas stations were out of gas. Evacuating can be scary too.

[@lovewins6041]

This will happen again I hope and pray people will be more prepared and leave early

[@robertpoorman3531]

Blaming late mandatory evacuation. With weeks notice, no one to blame but yourself. God bless everyone affected.

[@leanneadams2549]

I feel bad for the people who just had a mid sized house in a neighborhood in fort Myers that their children lost EVERYTHING!! Clothes, all their belongings, vehicles ! Everything!!! That’s who I really feel bad for !!! 😞

[@sesshokitten]

It's frustrating that time and resources had to be used on ppl that became complacent and ignored evacuation orders

[@barbstewart1490]

She’s brave to do this interview considering how we all feel about people who thought they know more than The National Hurricane Center!!!!! I’m glad you survived I would never want anyone to die but had it been…your own stupidity! I’m in Ohio and I knew what the evacuation orders were and when!!! Take responsibility!!!! 😡😡😡

[@tls9507]

EXACTLY!! I felt for her until the end when she said it was too late when they gave the evacuation. No it wasn't! She CHOSE TO STAY.

[@deeb2021]

You people quit blaming and show some compassion. People have the right to stay in their home unless there's a mandatory order to evacuate. Glad the lady is OK and had the guts to tell her story.

[@frey8725]

@@deeb2021 "People have the right to stay in their home unless there's a mandatory order to evacuate" She got a mandatory evacuation order more than 24 hours before it hit. People like her, put other lives at risk and hurt loved ones when they get killed for ignoring common sense and evacuation orders.

[@patrickwhelan5703]

Republican's don't take any responsibility. They quickly blame others...Yes, these areas are heavily RED....

[@marge2980]

@@deeb2021 i think people are taking issue with her blaming the evacuation order for being too late. But yeah she has a right to make the decision to stay. She just shouldn't then try to blame it on someone or something else. She should take responsibility for her decision.

[@janetmatthews7973]

Exactly…… they were told to evacuate…… never under estimate the power of a storm …. You can’t control that!

[@ralphpeirson8475]

Every Floridian knows that Hurricanes are only predictable in a general manner. They are known to not follow the predicted path! I shuttered up for Ian and I'm on the east coast of Florida.

[@trudypope2113]

I live in Melbourne and I shuttered too. Quite a few in my neighborhood did too. Better to be safe than to end up with damage you could have prevented.

[@nancyslider645]

@@trudypope2113 same… days in advance… and bought everything I’d need on Friday before, avoiding stress,long lines and shortage of bread & canned goods… and that was when models were still aiming for Tampa as a large storm. Not because I’m so smart, but because in 40 yrs of hurricanes I have a healthy respect for them.

[@davidoetting1551]

Sanibel and Captiva along with other surrounding barrier islands should not be rebuilt and should be reduced to beaches like Cayo Costa and Sanibel used to be 60 years ago. These repeated emergencies are dangerous, expensive and kill people who refuse to follow evac orders.

[@agiantleapoffaith4502]

Evac orders were issued in lots of time., if you weren't paying attention that's one thing but to blame not leaving due to short notice is utterly false.

[@andreas11735]

There's no cure for stupid.

[@christinebee9781]

Exactly!

[@seeleygirl6178]

It’s not easy for everyone to leave. Not everyone has the means. Don’t judge.

[@davidsmalley3387]

Do not disrespect a survivor okay.

[@pm5206]

@@seeleygirl6178 True, but people who could evacuate should have.

[@terryzolnik1204]

@@seeleygirl6178 That is quite true but those who can should, and those who don’t have the means can call friends, family and authorities for help.

[@arbitrarylib]

I live in Florida. I wasnt even in an evacuation zone. There were multiple evacuation orders EARLY and MANY shelters available. Dumb risk. Glad shes alive but dont be STUPID WITH NATURE.

[@mariacullati2371]

well, that's one way to learn a lesson.Respect Mother Nature..

[@daisysmum7336]

Good grief! Even in Canada we could see this was heading towards Ft. Myers and I knew Sanibel Isl. was going to be greatly affected. There is no accounting for her stupidity. She’s lucky to be alive.

[@maureenmcdonald8841]

It is unkind and harsh to call it "stupidity", I would call it denial, she is clearly traumatized by her experience and needs to tell her story in order to warn others. People will still make poor choices, we see it every day.

[@tls9507]

She's probably a Democrat. Denial. Denial. Denial.

[@Lewisa369]

As a Lee County resident we received multiple multiple phone alerts the day before and hours before the storm. She chose to stay and now wants pity for her stupidity!

[@Lewisa369]

@@maureenmcdonald8841 if you've ever been to Sanibel it's a one way in one way out island they have flooding issues yearly when we have tropical storms. Unless she just moved here before the storm she's stupid. I evacuate and I live inland because of the sever tornadoes we get during hurricanes, she should only blame herself she was warned like all Lee County resident were.

[@maureenmcdonald8841]

@@Lewisa369 Clearly you miss my point. I have an issue with people using the word "stupidity" when describing someone else's actions. People do dangerous things all the time without thinking of the potential consequences to themselves or others or they just believe that somehow they are immune to them. I object to applying labels. No one wants to be pitied as you imply. She is sharing her story as a warning to others and hopefully others will choose differently in a similar situation. I see it as a cautionary tale. Who are you or I to judge her?

[@PFCD]

This is the problem with so many Floridians thay they think they can ride it out. I don't know why they don't comprehend that hurricanes are not predictable where exactly it is they're going to go and why in the world would you not be concerned about water when you're only a few feet above sea level?She's fortunate that she lived through her unfortunate mistake to stay. Others clearly not so much.

[@pm5206]

This is everywhere. People who know little assume the best outcome. Someone like me who has been through a few storms (not a cat 4) prepare accordingly and would evacuate and not ever “ride it out”.

[@Lewisa369]

As a born and Breed Floridan, you stay prepared, and you evacuate.

[@matshidisomarule5357]

This is the type of people who like to blame others, when she called her kids, did she really expected them to risk their lives and come and rescue her in the type of weather? No one will do that if you were warned before. That torture will sink in your brain for the rest of your life unfortunately, but the Almighty is Good every time...if are still alive

[@davidmellet261]

Nope everyone new where that storm was heading plenty of warning she's a dope lucky to be alive

[@romeysiamese6662]

I can’t imagine being alone through that. 😢 My heart would’ve burst fro: the stress.

[@kayesmith4143]

I grew up on the Outer Banks with one bridge off the barrier islands we left before mandatory evacuations. These hurricanes can wobble and be at your doorstep in a few hours. One broken down vehicle can prevent your family from crossing the bridge and low country safely. Evacuate early. It's your life. Go to Orlando and make the evacuation into a vacation at Disney! Many Florida bridges are closed when winds reach 35 mph so leave early if you are at 10 ft elevation above sea level.

[@stephenfiore9960]

Thank you for sharing. Glad you’re alive. If it would have hit Gainesville my mobile home would have been destroyed with me in it.😮

[@di4085]

You just don't know what's going to happen. The hurricane took a turn and caught everybody off guard. The best thing to do is to be on high alert at all times making a plan of evacuation if need be and doing what you need to do to get out.

[@dianasmith2876]

It was not too late to evacuation, take responsibility, you chose to stay.

[@dianenecaise1776]

I live on the Mississippi Gulfcoast, I've gone through Camille and Katrina and countless others. I have seen so many turn at the last minute, that if it becomes a Cat 2, I am out of here.

[@Atemoya26]

Everyone over confident because previous hurricanes wasn't that bad when it didn't directly hit them head on.

[@pm5206]

How? Charley was the closest and Irma happened 5 years ago.

[@jacwindsor5552]

Exactly

[@Atemoya26]

@@pm5206 Charley, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Wilma, Irma, Michael, Ian since 2004. Anyone in Florida who was indirect path of those hurricanes probably have survivor bias and think hurricanes are no big deal.

[@jmb-cm7mr]

Its hurricane season people know there will be hurricanes, always be prepared this time of yr no matter what.

[@Lewisa369]

Amen!

[@dougkirk9019]

The personal stories of survival are sad and the loss of life is tragic. Condolences to everyone there who survived and now must make important decisions. Florida needs to seriously re-evaluate barrier island development, preferably implementing a moratorium on all new construction. This will not be the last hurricane or tropical storm to strike, and long-term planning will be the only way to prevent further destruction and its inevitable heartbreak.

[@readtome9374]

The news kept telling us it would hit Tampa then between Sarasota or farther south. When they increased the expectation of the height of the storm surge, we left in the night just over 24 hours before it - though they still thought it would hit to the north - the area that only got cat 2 winds.

[@Ninha1574]

The true is…like so many times going thru hurricanes and never getting one this bad, we kind felt confident (my husband specifically)we thought was going to be another one (the same as the others)! Well sweet mistake!! I will always be prepared ahead no matter what. Lesson learned!!! So sorry for the ones that lost everything, but most sorry and sad, for the ones that lost their lives😔

[@shirleenswartz496]

We live in Phoenix Arizona and we heard about the Hurricane 3 days before it hit!

[@vaneyhag]

I have been down in ft Myers running tug boat out of the punta rassa boat ramp ferrying equipment and utilities to Sanibel island. Had to drive through ft Myers and countless neighborhoods that were totally inundated with water and destroyed while omw back to my hotel every evening. I clocked it on my odometer from the punta rassa boat ramp where the Sanibel causeway begins all the way 6 mi inland was covered in storm surge. You can see a definitive line in the vegetation and grass where the saltwater killed every blade of grass, shrub, and tree The only green around from the coast to that six mile point is palm trees. Driving through the neighborhoods there is literally solid walls of brush and debris from peoples belongings that they pulled out of their homes that was ruined by flood water. Ditches are clogged from storm debris still so when it rains it floods again because there's nowhere for the water to drain. I say all this because it's a travesty that every ounce of aid that is being brought down to that area is going out to made the upper class population of Lee county at Sanibel Island. I didn't see one truck and trailer being loaded with debris didn't see one worker other than homeowners doing any amount of cleanup in the middle and lower class neighborhoods. Those people have been abandoned and defend for themselves. Sanibel Island should be bulldozed and reclaimed as a wildlife sanctuary like a barrier Island should be. It's foolish and as nine to build million dollar homes on real estate like that. Real estate that has been smashed multiple times in the past before the real estate boom by hurricanes one of which actually split Captiva Island into two different islands. My heart goes out to the people who lost their lives on Sanibel Island and to the people who lost their homes but it is a foolish way of thinking to rebuild that Island. The people who really need the help are being forgotten about and abandoned while the more affluent part of society gets all the help and aid

[@Lewisa369]

Amen! We need help inland too!

[@Charliano700]

I’m here cleaning up. Such a seriously depressing sight everywhere you look. 😢 so many people lost everything.

[@Mari-B]

Oh my! That's a wonderful place to help adopt cats. I pray they are all adopted!

[@DanielMartinez-nv5gb]

Always blaming others for her lack of action. The mandatory evacuation came late she says.

[@yoyo8303]

BIG MISTAKE STAYING OR DON'T HAVE FAMILIES BUT SHELTERS WERE OPEN.

[@doyourbest.9554]

She is deceived and will believe anything but her irresponsible behavior...warning came late? The European model predicted this a week or so before the event.

[@frey8725]

So, she admits that she should have evacuated, but she thought it was going to Tampa. She just said, she thought the county was wrong. She thought, she was smarter than emergency management. At least, she admits that she screwed up, but she still tries to lay part of the blame on others. The evacuation order didn't come late. I live in south FM. I got the same alerts she did. She's in zone A. I'm in zone B. I know when she got the alert because we were all getting the same alerts. We all watch the same news and they were saying, back when Ian was on Cuba, that the coastal areas were getting bad storm surge. She had days to evacuate on her own volition. The evacuation order was for people who were complacent, to tell them to get the hell out because it's your last chance and that was on Tuesday. It got there Wednesday afternoon. She had 24 hours after she had to be told to get out and she says, the order came late? No. You can't say "my bad" and then say it wasn't your fault.

[@Lewisa369]

I live in Lehigh and we were getting massive alerts. She's such a poor little rich girl 🤥. Blaming everyone but herself.

[@patrickwhelan5703]

I live in Florida and have lived in NY during Super Storm Sandy. We also had 2 bodies of water meeting each other. But with Ian the early forecast was to go north, that's true. On Monday they said it's jogging northeast, than hooking more into Tampa, then more into Fort Meyers. People, you've got to listen, learn to read a weather map and don't live anywhere near a body of water. The water will come for you.....

[@bimini1216]

we all got out days earlier from order

[@anniefannycharles9951]

It's better for your sanity if you stop looking out your windows. I had to because I was getting hysterical. I did what she did and went into a middle bathroom with my dogs and an oil lamp. And prayed. My little house made it better than alot of others so I'm grateful. I hope she has help getting back on her feet. - a resident of Cape Coral Florida

[@MariaReyes-vy6ue]

People are so stupid, even with a category 1 I will not stay in an island, use common sense

[@maryjemison1101]

Horror Story 😢Prayers For Everyone in this Hurricane Ian 😢🙏🙏Evacuate 🙏🙏

[@mattrost2574]

When you build on a sandbar that has only one access road........ And then choose not to evacuate, my empathy is diminished.

[@RobMathMiller]

I don’t think we can judge someone’s decision to stay. So many factors are involved. Also some spotlight needs to be put on the media. They have lost the trust of the public over their own politically biased behavior and they need to have the humility to return to an objective source of information the public can trust.

[@barbstewart1490]

Oh please! This may be the only time I won’t blame something on the media!!!! The National Hurricane center is NOT media!!! There’s not one reason these people should not have evacuated! 😡😡

[@frey8725]

So.... You're saying Ian was politically motivated? That's why she stayed?

[@catbirdler]

What factors could possibly be involved? If you have any possibility of a storm surge of 10+ feet heading your way and your home is only 3 ft above sea level, there is no justification on earth for riding it out. That's a death sentence and the media is not to be blamed. Good information was reported. If people refuse to face the facts right in front of them or wait until it's too late to act, that's not the media's fault.

[@JMJ4444-f2n]

My prayers are with her! This storm was horrific! ✝️🙏🫶

[@flower18777]

@@ahpuch2236 and what do you do to help her and other?

[@keithallen5795]

Ian was the fastest right turn I've seen.But the edges were already storm surge.I have seen many unpredictable hurricanes.Many go down as tropical storms by N.Y..But trees smashed homes here about 1973 long Island.Pebbles blew out of dirt at me running home.

[@YaYaPaBla]

She can’t be kidding, so what if it was going towards Tampa, these storms can be unpredictable. I would have gotten out of harms way prior. Because I’m in Louisiana and live further North of the state. These storms can cause wind damage for miles. Plus flooding. So yeah, leave the area.

[@karenkennedy6331]

When I saw comments about how tough Floridians are, and we are staying ! We are tough! I was worried, because this seemed liked no other ⛈ storm.

[@barbstewart1490]

Tough? NO! Stupid? Yes

[@beccagee5905]

I lived in Florida most of my life, and I'm retired and moved closer to family. I'd never sit out any hurricane that was going to hit my area. I lived 30 minutes from the beach. We had a no name storm hit our neighborhood directly, and it was terrifying. It wasn't an issue of flooding, but it was the wind blowing hard for hours. We had no warning, until it woke us all up at 2 AM, because it formed and moved in so quickly (They didn't even have time to name it.) We lost power for days, the day after is not too bad temperature wise, but then it gets HOT. I never in all the decades I lived in Florida ever experienced more than a hurricane passing by, or the remnants of a downgraded hurricane from the east coast, but I never ever took one for granted, and I always prepared. I hoped for the best, but prepared for the worse when it came to hurricanes.

[@LT-ot7yy]

Concentrate on maybe survival. Very lucky lady.

[@randquadrozzi1280]

I have seen rain storms create havoc on sanibel so if a hurricane is coming and you stay that's on you.

[@boethel]

Are we supposed to feel sorry for her? She made that decision on her own, don’t care what happened to her.

[@shelikessports3704]

2 days before it hits is not that much time to evacuate

[@HeavyMetal45]

Hopefully the rest of the country’s insurance rates do not see an effect from the people who continue to live in these areas.

[@gracie2298]

Having money does not mean you have common sense. All the wasted time & resources for all that had to be rescued from Sanibel & other nearby island communities, just because they didn’t want to heed the Mandatory evacuation order. In the Carolinas we are told you do not evacuate we are not risking the First Responders lives to come get you. Don’t need to say it twice, getting the 🤬 out of dodge. Glad her children were on top of the the situation. People all over the country were hearing about evacuation orders. Not one of her children called to say Mom get to safety. Stupidly just keeps breeding!

[@Ayyeliki]

@Gracie, thing is some humans learn from others experiences and advice (me!), others DO.NOT. and must experience it themselves. I have one of those humans in my life 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

[@Lewisa369]

As a Lee county resident I agree. People need help although Florida but idiots like this are getting too much attention!

[@territ1231]

If I lived there and a hurricane warning was given, I'd be in Iowa before the next report came in!

[@sharonlynnanderson0229]

I heard them say evacuate

[@ajfletcher8350]

Well I guess you should have thought about that ahead of time

[@Crusader1984]

Millions of people are moving to Florida coast lines in these islands what do you do you think was gonna happen it’s mother nature it’s normal

[@jrpacer6355]

Little did some know they were going to need those boats that was going to save them to get out of there after the storm

[@KevinGonzalez33470]

You can’t fix stupid. She’s expressing regret now but if faced with this same situation in the future, rinse and repeat.

[@patrickwhelan5703]

About that causeway to Sanibel Island. Did you notice on a good day that the road is almost at the same elevation as the Gulf on both sides??? Yeah, that needs to go or let Mother Nature reclaim her land....

[@k.lorraine]

Gotta love these humbling times 👌🏽

[@mariearmstrong9185]

With ALL the reports WHY THE HELL DID ANYONE STAY THERE??? It was a CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE, CATEGORY 4/5.

[@fbbWaddell]

So the optional evacuation came 2 days before. THe mandatory evac came the at the last minute. I get it. I stayed for hurricane florence in NC. We were blessed to only lose power and be trapped for 10 days. We had our hurricane supplies and each other. However, on the actual coast, the water covered whole houses. Wildlife drowned. People drowned. Alligators moved in. If you hear the words "storm surge" evacuate.

[@misterg4059]

I’m voting for Charlie Crist 🤠

[@greenmanalishi6963]

How is she gonna say they notice was late LOL!

[@JZ-gr1tz]

True a few horrible nightmare hrs but why not telling us the rest of the others day .... Sunny 🌞 nice warm weather. Vacation like each second peaceful tranquility on an island 🏝 not opress deprived. Enjoy each second. That also come with the territory.

[@mariakelley1023]

At one time they said it would hit as a Cat. 1. A lot of the focus was on Tampa although the cone of possibility was large. I do think ppl need to understand the cone better and media must help in this regard. Mike’s page was one of the only one saying he thought it would not be a Cat.1 with landfall. I do think the fact the the majority of ppl never seen this large and destructive of a storm, makes many lackadaisical. I saw one person on social media saying the media is trying to scare people it was all for consumerism. So yes some people were just ignorant. But again Due to people never experiencing a hurricane to this magnitude their whole life, they couldn’t imagine what they were in for. I do think if you live in Sanibel Island you should evacuate immediately. I am in Northern Fl. and we got alittle rain but we prepared and kept updated every day. I have family in SW Florida who did evacuate and are safe. All in all I hurt for those in SW Florida. The Stubborn ones too. I think the next hurricane will be taken more seriously. The before Ian mindset and after Ian mindset change. I love that area of Florida, I just hurt for all those ppl.

[@mawmawd627]

Finally someone taking personal responsibility.

[@RatusMax]

I am glad they are making these videos. Don't think...EVACUATE!!

[@jds1vette]

I feel bad for her dog.

[@thans3993]

There are so many comments about how people should evacuate - yes it’s easy to say afterwards! This area has seen many hurricanes and this level of destruction is unprecedented!!

[@evierose9959]

Apparently she didn’t go through Andrew! I thought it was going through Tampa 🤦🏻‍♀️ Hurricane Andrew was going through West Palm Beach and Broward county! But at that the last min it decided to go to Homestead! People need to understand hurricane are unpredictable 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@Lewisa369]

I bet she's a transplants! First year in her multi million dollar beach house.

[@evierose9959]

@@Lewisa369 lol 😂

[@angeliqueandrea2006]

Oh no they think they know better than professionals and her arrogance could have killed her!

[@micktheman6]

Island you mean overgrown sandbar

[@MrMelgibstein]

It was worth living on Sanibel Isle and paying the insurance all of those years.

[@prairiefire4032]

She's getting a lot of heat for saying the mandatory order came too late. I'm from CA living most of my adult life in a rural, high fire-prone area. I've evacuated 4 times, once needing to trailer out 35 horses. Don't wait for someone, an agency, immediate threat or a neighbor to do your thinking for you. If the evacuation was not needed then use it as a preparatory drill. If needed, you may have skirted death. If it's coming--fire or water and you have reasonable knowledge, get out well ahead. Yes, it costs money, time and logistics but go.

[@sheryl146]

Seriously? I live in Wisconsin and I knew people should evacuate. There were days of warnings. Give me a break.

[@julias2977]

God bless her and the people of Sanibel Island, Florida and those in other states who’ve been affected . My father lives in Fort Myers…..it was a traumatic experience but they survived and still have their home, their lives. I’ve been to Sanibel many times and the people are truly wonderful. But I remember having a conversation about how many hurricane warnings there are in this area and it’s rare that they’re as bad as IAN. No one, not even the governor can predict Mother Nature…….her response is understandable. You get so many warnings that turn out to be mild weather situations and become complacent. Wake up call for all of us. Ps…..I hope the people of Florida are paying attention to the displacement of 1000’s of Alligators when walking through the rubble…I’d be really worried about this.

[@Durga695]

Totally agree with Julia, her response is completely understandable, I've spent time in that area and it is so so beautiful on Sanibel Island. F. Myers. C. Coral, Pine Island. I loved it there. Indeed a hurricane hasn't hit that area in decades.

[@Ayyeliki]

@Julis S and snakes! Yikes

[@frey8725]

Yes, we get a lot of warnings, but not a lot of mandatory evacuation orders. We were also told that the storm surge would be bad. They told us when the hurricane was on Cuba. Her response was not understandable. Especially, her claim that the order came late. That's 100% wrong. A flat-out lie.

[@Lewisa369]

As a Lee County resident Sanibel island has flooding issues during sever rainstorms. Only a fool would stay on the island even if it was going to heading to Tampa. She can't blame the government we were given copious amounts of time to evacuate. There are other people who live inland who evacuate who aren't getting coverage from the media outlets it's not just Sanibel that has issues it's multiple counties in SW Florida, Central Florida and even on the West coast of Florida. Not just the rich are hurting!

[@calmingmeditation7923]

This lady has more money than brain's. The rich on Sanibel Island though they knew better.

[@itfitzme59]

Always evacuate

[@ticktock2383]

You live on a barrier island! THINK!

[@noonan395]

They tell you to evacuate for a reason .. Thank Goodness your okay