Greetings from Fort Myers.

[Deuxcents]

Just got my services up today n I sure have missed you, my Friends! Ian was the most horrific storm I have ever been in n I’ve been thru a few. I am safe n no damage to speak of, thankfully, but feel like a refugee, at times, b/c I’ve taken so many things for granted. Our water still needs boiled where I am but I HAVE water..some don’t. Some don’t have anything at all. Take good care of those you love is all I can say..Mother Nature can slap ya around some 🌺

[applegrove]

1. Vibes to you all.

[CentralMass]

2. I'm glad to hear you survived it. What a brutal storm.

[Spazito]

3. Welcome back!

Glad to hear you have services again, I'm sure it is a big relief.

[malaise]

4. Welcome back

So glad you are recovering from a horrific hurricane. I remember celebrating a cool drink of water after another hurricane. We do take many things for granted.

[underpants]

5. Good to hear.

Welcome back.

[cachukis]

6. Glad you made it.

Question: had an office on del Prado near Veterans parkway in '80's.
Will area recover?
It is on everyone's mind.
Your wisdom, if you can proffer?
An immediate response is not necessary.

[Maraya1969]

12. I believe a lot of FM will recover but it is going to take time. AND I hope that

they make changes to the building codes so people are not sitting ducks next time. I am in zone 3 so I've never flooded. Just a bunch of trees down and my fence blew over but that can be fixed.

I see some houses on stilts. I think that is the way to go, maybe, but the stilts have to be strong to survive.

My friend live right by Shell Point on the water and they already have workers in there removing the baseboards and cutting the wet drywall out so they can replace it. They just got electric last night. They also lost both of their cars.

[Deuxcents]

15. Good to hear from you..did not know you came back from the ocean side 🤗

[cachukis]

19. How well will insurers respond?

Plywood is a lot more expensive than when they built?

[cachukis]

22. Did you say next time?

[Maraya1969]

27. I've been here since 1996 and this is my 3rd hurricane. Irma was just as bad for me and so was

Charlie. This time I only lost electric for a week. Irma it was longer.

And yes I believe there will be more.

[cachukis]

35. And hurricanes become a way of life? Until...

[cachukis]

38. I moved to Tampa in 1979.

Hurricanes are a way of life. Owned a double wide on stilts in Key Largo during Andrew. Lucked out. A few palm fronds and coconuts on the ground. Drove by Perrine, Kendall and Homestead when they let us through. Nuclear.
Got whacked by Charlie and 11 days without power in TPA.
Elena, much earlier stayed outside and drenched.
The game of chance just shrank. Naples had 7" sea rise since 1965.
I sold law books in early '90's. Actuaries and engineers know what's coming. Wait, they know what's here.
Curious to know the thinking on the ground in Ft. Myers, Boca Grande et al.
My sister's friend just bought a million dollar place in Sarasota and the prospect of a 20k insurance bill didn't phase their view.
Rebuild Sanibel for the next one is like sitting in the drive through with the engine running not aware of one's contribution to the end of beach front property in Florida.
The insurance companies are not going to be enough for those without deep pockets in Southwest Florida.
Think this through.

[Deuxcents]

43. Just talked w/ my friend this evening..

She’s off Veterans Pkwy n Santa Barbara on a canal near SW 29th...her pool cage is gone n part of her roof n of course, water damage. I may be down on Del Prado Tuesday so it should look better than today. I got Veterans confused w/ CC Pkwy as it’s farther south n really built up nicely. Sounds like you’ve lived all over south Florida. I came over here from Miami in 94..can’t imagine what it was like in the 80’s b/c it’s changed so much. Agree w/ you about the insurance..rebuild..get blown away n rebuild. That goes on in all coastal areas n personally, I think it’s nutz that it’s allowed but..we just keep paying. Nutz.

[Deuxcents]

14. It will recover

But the Cape got hit hard and that area so close to the River District..you would not recognize that area today..they have a bustling downtown now w/ business n restaurants n shopping n it’s changed since I’ve been over on this side since 94..as far as I know, there’s no services yet. Today is the first time I’ve been able to watch the local news..had WINK on my radio until a few hours ago. The Cape’s population has exploded in the last few years.

[yardwork]

7. So glad you're ok.

[Joinfortmill]

8. Glad your safe.

[tavernier]

9. Welcome back!

My grandson survived at his friends home in Cape Coral and his classes resume Monday at FGCU. It sure was a horror. 😢

[Deuxcents]

16. I'll bet.

I live east of CC so I didn’t get it as bad. Glad he’s safe..

[tavernier]

21. Thanks

I hope you get back to normal soon.

[blm]

10. Glad you're safe.

[Evolve Dammit]

11. Glad you're safe. Thanks

[cate94]

13. Happy to hear your safe

[Docreed2003]

17. Glad to have you back!

Best thoughts on this long cleanup and recovery!

[CaptainTruth]

18. Glad to hear it!!!

Take care!

[Rhiannon12866]

20. Welcome home and thanks for checking in!

So glad to hear that you're doing okay - as you said, not everyone is. Hang in there...

[MLAA]

23. Whew, great to hear from you ❤️

[Nevilledog]

24. ...

Hope things keep getting better.

[highplainsdem]

25. So glad to hear you're safe and back on DU!

[SheltieLover]

26. So glad you're ok!

[William769]

28. I am I Fort Myers also but I was stuck in a rehaqb center

[femmedem]

34. Glad you're ok, too! n/t

[William769]

48. Thank you.

[Marthe48]

55. Glad you're ok

I saw posts where people were wondering how you did

[William769]

57. I'm still in rehab and will be for a while but I am ok.

[liberal N proud]

29. Good to hear

[SergeStorms]

30. Glad to hear you're safe....

if not totally sound. 😉

Help others as much as possible, in between the things you have to accomplish to get your own life back to normal.

Stay safe.

[GoCubsGo]

31. Glad you made it through relatively unscathed.

[ancianita]

32. SO glad you are safe, Deuxcents! I could hug you from up here in Bradenton!

[calimary]

33. Hey, thanks so much for checking in!

AND thanks also for a better-than-expected report!

Glad you're safe and that you made it through none the worse for wear.

[Roy Rolling]

36. Woo hoo!

That feeling when the power comes back on after an outage. Nothing like it.

[RetiredVogon]

37. So Glad You Made It!

I was born/raised in Ft. Myers 70 years ago before leaving in 1975. Ian was a genuine monster and it hurts to see the damage/deaths it caused. I know the recovery is going to be slow but I hope people left homeless can get hot food and housing as soon as possible. Hang in there👍

[wendyb-NC]

39. Glad you made it through Ian

and that you're safe. That's good news.

[onecaliberal]

40. So glad you're okay.

[Talitha]

41. That's great news!!!

[niyad]

42. Welcome back. So glad that you are okay.

[Nictuku]

44. When we Build Back, should we Be Like Babcock Ranch?

https://portside.org/2022-10-03/why-babcock-ranch-survived-hurricane-ian-others-florida-cities-didnt

I'm really curious to see what you think about it Deuxcents. Glad you made it!

[Deuxcents]

58. Thanks for this..

Just got my ‘net back again today as it was off n on. I know that Tom Hartmann also had an article on Babcock Ranch n I’m gonna read it, too. A lot of us are talking about it n how you work w/ Mother Nature n not fight her b/c you’ll never win. I’m sure our building codes will be upgraded even more strictly than they were after Andrew n I’m all for it. Babcock Ranch was definitely better built to withstand the likes of Ian. A high bar to be copied, imo

[GoodRaisin]

45. Glad to hear someone from your area say they are okay.

From someone who’s had to boil water myself for days after a bad hit. For me it was Hurricane Floyd.

That was a horrible hit you guys took there and glad you are okay. Hang in there.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

46. I am glad that you are okay

[DownriverDem]

47. So happy for you

I have friends who lost everything. They are back in Michigan where they have a home here too. I saw yesterday that deaths there were from drowning, post storm sucides and accidents. Sadly some folks will not be able to rebuild.

[Hortensis]

49. :) Such nice news to come on this morning, Deuxcents.

Wish everyone knew what you do, too.

Welcome back to comfy. Pretty much.

[FakeNoose]

50. So glad to hear you're OK - I'm guessing you don't live near the beach?

A week ago we were watching these time-lapse videos of storm surge on Fort Myers Beach:

[GreenWave]

51. Great news!

[crickets]

52. Good to see you & so glad you're safe! Welcome back. nt

[SallyHemmings]

53. Be safe

[YoshidaYui]

54. Okaeri Nasai

Yokoso! Irrashaimase !!

[Marthe48]

56. Glad you got through ok!

Hang in there