Huge boat blocking the road on San Carlos Island possibly stalling Ian recovery

A mother and her two kids feared for their lives during Hurricane Ian, huddled on the second floor of their home as water climbed the staircase.

In fact, the mother, Elaine Oben, called WINK News during the storm asking when the surge would recede.

Elaine said there’s one big thing blocking their neighborhood from getting help, a huge boat that’s bizarrely perfectly placed in the middle of San Carlos Drive.

It would be very difficult for a debris truck to fit through the tight space to get to the other side.

The boat is so large it spans across the entire stretch of road on San Carlos Dr.

Some people living behind the boat blockade believe it’s to blame for them going into their fourth week without power and why no debris has been picked up.

Oben told WINK News on Wednesday, people in the area are starting to get a little sick and tired of living the way they are, and it isn’t cheap either.

“We’re getting a little irritated, a lot of us because everybody else around us is starting to get power. I’m not jealous, but I do and I just wish they’d move that boat so we can have this electric finished and get us up and running to make us feel a little normal then we can you know, get normal in my house as well as outside,” Oben said. “Because you guys have water even. We have water you do have Oh, and you guys are running off of a generator right now. Is that right? 24/7 A month ago, a lot of gas probably costing me over 1000 bucks right now for gas. So I thought FPL was expensive. Well, no, trust me. Not as expensive because it’s costing us money, this fuel.”

Money that Oben can’t afford to spend for the time being. She and her kids lost their cars, her daughter lost everything she had downstairs, along with so much more.

But, they’re happy they can still call their house home on the second floor. Although, after seeing nearly 16 feet of water seep up the stairs, it’s going to take a long time before it feels the same.