Hurricane Ian destroyed much of the Sanibel Causeway when it slammed into Florida’s west coast on Wednesday, cutting off access to the barrier island where 6,400 people normally live. Sanibel and Captiva islands were cut off from the mainland after the storm washed away at least three sections of the bridge, CBS Miami reported.
Videos of the causeway show two portions of the ramp leading to the two bridges washed away, as well as a section of road crossing an island in the middle of the causeway. The causeway is the only way for vehicles to enter or exit the islands.
“Sanibel is destruction,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said at a press conference Thursday, adding that the island “has been hit with a truly biblical storm surge.” DeSantis said evacuation efforts were underway, but many residents left before the storm hit.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
All lanes on the bridge are currently closed, and the severity of the closure is rated as “major,” according to Florida officials.
The islands are home to a number of hotels and resorts, and their beaches attract significant numbers of tourists each year.
It was unclear how many people on the islands had heeded evacuation orders, but Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller expressed cautious optimism that the worst-case scenarios would not have may not have been made.
No deaths or injuries have been confirmed in the county, and flyovers of the barrier islands show “home integrity is much better than expected,” Fuller said.
A 2017 city of Sanibel tally measured the bridge’s annual traffic on the causeway at more than 3 million vehicles.
South of Sanibel Island, Naples’ historic waterfront pier was destroyed, even the pilings below were ripped out, as towering waves crashed into the structure. “At this time, there is no pier,” said Penny Taylor, commissioner for Collier County.
Meanwhile, a hurricane warning has been issued for the entire South Carolina coast as Ian, now a tropical storm, is expected to regain strength and become a hurricane again Thursday evening.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
