Sanibel becoming hopeful making progress one day at a time

An image of hope nearly two weeks after Hurricane Ian demolished the City of Sanibel. The first trucks and crews drove over the Sanibel Causeway.

To some people, it may just look like crews on their way to restore power, but for the people of Sanibel, it’s much more than that, it’s hope.

Craig Rumps lives in Sanibel and is starting to become more optimistic.

“When do you already see progression made? In not even like a week’s time, like, that is just amazing. It just gives us a little bit more hope, a little more drive to, you know, with all these amazing workers coming down here, just assist them with everything we can,” Rumps said.

The city manager said 350 LCEC trucks came over the Causeway bringing 50 pieces of equipment to the island.

All of that is happening nearly two weeks after Hurricane Ian destroyed much of Southwest Florida. One of those destroyed areas was Sanibel Island and parts of the Causeway.

The Mayor of Sanibel, Holly Smith, shared some words with WINK News about the progress made that’s been made.

“It shows what can be done and it also shows what can be done for us as a community as well,” Smith said.

A community that is without question in need of plenty of help.

“Seeing that crazy storm surge until the next day with the news and such. So seeing that was probably the most eye-opening experience really is like the severity of the storm, with everything, and honestly, it was just probably the first time I realized like, my life was completely flipped upside down,” Rumps said.

Rumps lives and works on Sanibel and last Friday he was able to see his home for the first time.

“Mine thankfully was okay. My stuff. The building everything on the first floor was kind of not so much but I was on the second floor. So that was nice, but now it’s just a waiting game until I can maybe get my stuff off the island wherever they reopen it,” Rumps said.

The Sanibel Causeway will open to traffic on Friday, Oct. 21. The city said that in order to get on the Causeway, passes will be in effect.

As for the meeting, several other topics were discussed Tuesday night, including the upcoming elections, insurance, permits, and safety tips for returning to the island.