Posted Originally on the conservative tree house on October 11, 2022 | Sundance

No one imagined this was feasible. Every expert put the timeline for repair at around a year.  However, the git r’ done crews and the Florida Dept of Transportation have accomplished a massive feat of reconstruction in phenomenal time.  Major kudos to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the construction crews who worked every hour of every day, day and night, for two straight weeks and have created/built a temporary bridge to Sanibel Island. [Videos below]

Trust me, having seen the aftermath, this is absolutely remarkable.  The causeway is made up of three bridge spans (A, B, and C) and three spoil islands.

The rapid response construction crews just kept bringing truck after truck of everything imaginable including rocks, concrete slabs, gravel, sand and more to fill in the missing parts of the roadway and spoil islands.  Then they surfaced the road and are now working on paving it in record time.  Today restoration emergency crews drove across the bridges, and they anticipate opening the causeway to residents of Sanibel for civilian use on October 21st. WATCH:

Today the construction crews moved aside to allow, over 200 bucket trucks, 150 electric line and pickup trucks (LCEC, FP&L, Duke Energy) towing 50 trailers and two tractor-trailers carrying first responders to the island.

Additionally, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was on the Fort Myers side of the bridge to celebrate the accomplishment at a press conference.  WATCH:

{Direct Rumble Link}

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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that temporary repairs to the Sanibel Causeway will allow a one-time convoy of power restoration equipment, supplies, and crews to access Sanibel Island and continue restoration efforts. Once crews are on the island, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will resume repairs to restore access to the island for residents, which is expected to be complete by the end of this month.

The temporary repairs to the bridge will allow over 200 bucket trucks, 150 line and pickup trucks towing 50 trailers and 2 tractor trailers to move onto the island, along with additional first responders to cross the bridge and aid in recovery efforts while final road repairs are underway. This includes crews from across the state, Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), Florida Power and Light and members of the Florida Electric Cooperative Association.

Last week, at Governor DeSantis’ direction, barges began to deploy to move equipment and supplies to Sanibel Island to restore power and ensure wraparound services like running water are available as quickly as possible. Barges continue to move daily to transport equipment, personnel, and supplies to support recovery operations.

Efforts to restore power to Pine Island are also underway. Last week, the Governor announced that FDOT had established a temporary bridge to Pine Island in less than three days, allowing power restoration crews to access the island and begin repairs. Led by Duke Energy and LCEC, crews have begun to clear debris, lay new lines and replace power poles. By Thursday, LCEC expects to have power restored to one quarter of Pine Island, including the Island’s center, water treatment plant substation and to centrally located grocery stores. Power is expected to be restored to one third of the island and the Matlacha area by next week. (LINK)

Damage on September 30th:

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Repairs as of 10/10/22:

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Trucks arriving 10/11/22:

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Governor DeSantis said leaders started brainstorming different ways more trucks and equipment could be brought to the island other than helicopters and barges. But in the end, different ideas weren’t necessary because the temporary causeway repairs will allow a one-time convoy to cross onto the island.

During a news conference Tuesday in Fort Myers, trucks were seen slowly driving across the bridge — beginning the journey to the island on the Sanibel Causeway.

“Ahead of schedule, it was supposed to be 3 o’clock today they thought they’d get it,” the governor said. “But we’re happy that is something that is being done.”

DeSantis explains the convoy now able to travel on Sanibel Island is a large group, including:

• 200 bucket trucks
• 150 line and pickup trucks towing 50 trailers
• Two tractor trailers
• First responders

This also includes crews from across the state, Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC), Florida Power and Light and members of the Florida Electric Cooperative Association.

After crews reach the island, the Florida Department of Transportation will be able to continue with repairs to restore access to the island for residents.

This isn’t the first time relief made its way to the island. DeSantis said barges were deployed last week to move equipment and supplies to the area to restore power and running water.  The governor’s office says barges continue to move daily to transport equipment, personnel and supplies. [Media Link]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis visited Fort Myers to give updates on recovery efforts and announce that temporary repairs to the Sanibel Causeway will allow a one-time convoy of power restoration equipment, supplies and crews temporary access to Sanibel Island for power restoration efforts. Once crews are on the island, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will resume repairs to restore access to the island for residents, which is expected to be complete by the end of this month. Full remarks can be found here.

There are currently 19,362 reported power outages. In Lee and Collier counties, there are only 1,000 accounts on the mainland that remain without power that can receive it. More than 42,000 linemen have already restored power to over 2.6 million accounts across the state, representing over 99% of accounts restored since the peak.

Yesterday, Governor DeSantis announced that $2.5 million in loans have been awarded to 55 businesses through the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Additionally, $126 million will be going to 24 communities across the Panhandle that are continuing to rebuild and strengthen after Hurricane Michael made landfall 4 years ago.

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that the Florida Disaster Fund has raised nearly $40 million since activation. To read more info, click here. To contribute, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.  (read more)

Watch the short video below to see what is happening to restore power on Pine Island:

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 10, 2022 | Sundance 

Thank you for all the prayers and support over the past two weeks.  Your prayers and encouragement have lifted many, including myself.  The physical and emotional strain has been challenging; but we are okay and getting a little better each tomorrow.

Power was just restored to casa del Sundance, and thankfully the electrical restoration did not encounter damaged internal wiring as reconnection was accomplished.  Many others are not as fortunate.  When the power comes back on it is always a mixed blessing. Thankfulness is accompanied by a sense of guilt in knowing there are so many still without basic utility services.

According to the LCEC utility company 42,906 homes are still without power.  There is zero restoration on the barrier islands (7,400 homes on Pine Island and 10,946 on Sanibel).  Major infrastructure repair work is underway on the islands as the effort to remove debris continues.  Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Pine Island will be rebuilding for a long time.

Water restoration services are still underway throughout the county and boil water notices still present for many areas.  There is joy in the simplicity of taking a hot shower in your own home and having the ability to wash clothes changes the outlook on a task many consider a chore.  My prayers continue for those who have a long way before that simple joy returns.

There are no words adequate enough to express appreciation for those volunteers who organized field hygiene stations, portable showers, cooling tents, and even laundry services in community parks and neighborhood parking lots.  Trust me, this is an underappreciated and valuable resource needed during emergency operations. Related to this, please remind yourself to include topical antiseptics and skin creams in your own hurricane or emergency kits.

It is also appropriate to give a huge shout of appreciation to the small engine mechanics who keep all the generators, power saws, winches, tools and chainsaws buzzing. One small piece of equipment that stops working can have a major cascading impact.  Those who use Lava soap nightly, and undress in the utility room so they don’t drag the smell of diesel and gasoline inside, are another underappreciated crew.

Coincidentally, I had the good fortune to run into the deployment teams who establish internet services for emergency operations.  These are the cool cats who quickly deploy satellite systems, including Starlink, to get the emergency communications networks up and running.  They have a seriously important job, and they are extremely good at it.  That Starlink system is pretty spiffy.

Residents are being allowed back onto Fort Myers Beach now.  That’s a good thing.  That likely means the search crews are optimistic every structure has been searched and cleared.  A survivor was found alive last Thursday under the rubble, eight days after the storm.  FMB Residents are being allowed to look for belongings and retrieve personal items, but they will not be staying there.  There are zero utility services.

Pine Islanders are picking up the pieces and preparing for the long-haul of restoration.  Sanibel will likely begin the same once access to the island is reestablished.  Prayerfully and stunningly, an interim roadway system may even be completed this month.

After a full day of sleep yesterday, I will be returning to more regularly scheduled postings now on events leading up to the midterm election.  There’s still a lot of work to be done in/around my community, but the immediate emergency aspect is in the rear view.

I have missed you, our Treehouse family, and I am looking forward to our conversations again.  Thanks to the site admins Ad rem, Stella, WeeWeed and Menagerie for keeping everything afloat.

Above all, my deepest and most sincere appreciation to YOU.  I am thankful for the opportunity to deserve your support and fellowship.

Love to all,

~ Sundance

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 8, 2022 | Sundance 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was in the devastated town of Fort Myers Beach today to deliver an update on the aftermath from Hurrican Ian.  Incredibly we are ten days post storm while search teams are still conducting operations to locate and recover bodies.  The collapsed and unstable buildings are very challenging and rescue workers are almost always kept out of unstable buildings.  {Direct Rumble Link}

Fort Myers beach is about 7 miles long (+/-) and about a half to three-quarters of a mile wide (average), a large percentage of the compacted homes have still not been searched.  It’s not the distance of the damage taking time to search, it’s the actual scale of the damage in this zone.  So many structures collapsed and flooded with storm surge.  WATCH (remarks begin at 7:15 of video):

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[Florida Gov]  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis traveled to Fort Myers Beach to give updates on recovery efforts in areas that have been impacted by Hurricane Ian. Floridians continue to show resiliency through communities coming together to help each other. Full remarks can be found here.

Governor DeSantis was joined by local officials to announce that access has been cleared for residents to return to Fort Myers Beach. Portable showers and restrooms were brought in for residents to use while the clean their homes. Governor DeSantis was also joined by Eric Silagy, CEO of Florida Power and Light (FPL) to give an update on the progress they have made in restoring power to their customers. FPL has already restored power to 99% of the households they cover in Lee County and Southwest Florida that can receive power.

On Wednesday, Governor DeSantis announced that bridge repairs were completed in record time to restore access to Pine Island. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has teams working around the clock on the Sanibel Causeway, the last barrier island to restore access to, and work is expected to finish by the end of the month.

Additionally, Governor DeSantis highlighted local efforts to aid residents in debris clean up and reiterated FDOT and the Division of Emergency Management’s commitment to help with additional resources as needed. Panama City Mayor Greg Brudnicki and his team will be traveling to the impacted areas to help oversee cleanup and recovery. Just four years ago, his community was hit by Hurricane Michael and Mayor Brudnicki will be providing his knowledge to help southwest Florida navigate their community rebuild.

There are currently 69,009 reported power outages. More than 42,000 linemen have already restored power to over 2.6 million accounts across the state, representing over 97% of accounts restored since the peak. There are currently 11 fueling depot stations open statewide, and mobile fuel trucks have been deployed to Arcadia and Dunbar to support residents without access to fuel.

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that the Florida Disaster Fund has raised nearly $40 million since activation. To read more info, click here. To contribute, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222.

Additionally, the First Lady has worked with the State Disaster Recovery Mental Health Coordinator, Sara Newhouse, to compile a webpage of resources to help first responders navigate resources for mental health needs post hurricane. To visit the site, click here. Mental health resources for individuals and communities are available at MyFLFamilies.com/HurricaneIan. Floridians’ health and well-being are a top priority, and the Department of Children and Families is reminding individuals that they are not alone. All Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian can find someone to talk to today through the Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 800-985-5990.

Safe and found persons can be reported safe at http://safe.fl.gov.

Additional programs that have been put into place to aid communities include the activation of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, the initiation of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Operation Blue Roof, and FDOT’s diligent work to construct temporary bridges into areas that are cut off from motorists. First Lady Casey DeSantis, Volunteer Florida and Tervis have created a design with Florida imagery for a new tumbler product. With every sale of this tumbler, all proceeds will go to the Florida Disaster Fund. Products are available for purchase on the Tervis website HERE and will soon be available in stores for purchase.

State response efforts include:

Search and Rescue

• There have been 2,500 rescues made to date.
• There are more than 1,000 team members performing search and rescue.
• DCF has created a First Responder Support Line (407-823-1657) that all first responders throughout the impacted areas can contact. This line combines current resources into a single point of contact that will connect first responders with mental health professionals.
• The Missouri Task Force 1 Disaster Situational Assessment and Reconnaissance (DSAR) Team is deploying to Florida through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to support urban search and rescue efforts and incident assessment.
• A Florida Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Team deployed to Central Florida to support state USAR Task Forces and incident assessment.
• Task Force engineering resources have also been deployed to assist with route clearance in Pine Island and Charlotte County.  The FLNG has cleared 51.5 miles to date in the impacted area. Guardsmen continue to assist law enforcement with roving patrols, security, traffic control and curfew enforcement missions.
• Following Governor DeSantis’ authorization, Joint Task Force Florida has 4,351 personnel activated and is executing missions in response to Hurricane Ian. The Florida National Guard has supported a total of 246 missions.
• (read more)

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 8, 2022 | Sundance

There is a particular texture and smell familiar to those who have trekked through saltwater marshes.  In ordinary times the moment when the greyish matter takes custody of your shoe, you quickly ponder whether to stick your hand into it or just buy another pair of sandals and move on… often it’s the latter.

The sand, sediment, dirt and decomposing nature -to include fish bits and wildlife food sources- creates a blended muck and grows slowly over years.  The moist muck does not like to be disturbed.  It has a very particular smell when it is disturbed, until it dries, almost like a natural defense mechanism.  Hurricane Ian disturbed the backwater shoreline inland and introduced that sludge mix to places it was never before, like inside buildings.  Thankfully it is drying out now.

The officials in charge of Fort Myers Beach have determined that almost every structure on the island is unsafe after the storm pushed a massive surge of water onto the island while the wind destroyed the buildings.  Residents are being carefully managed and kept away from areas where search crews are still looking through rubble.

A plan for a limited number of residents to be bussed into one part of the area to look for belongings has been released [link].  Beach officials are calling it, “debris management and the effort to locate our friends and loved ones.”  It is now a full ten days later, and no one wants to use the real words, ‘dead people.’   I think about Ms Veronica being so clear and true in her point a few days ago, “there are dead people and there are survivors.”

Further north and to the west on Pine Island there are lots of survivors.  With the temporary road giving access, there are lots of people picking up bits, fragments, and other important stuff that holds their memories; each bit revisited in the handling of it, many bits thought about tenderly for the first time in decades.   Fragmented bits hold memories, and those memories are exactly what make up the invisible links of our lives.

Living is what we do right now, but life is in the memories.  I have my own cigar box full of bits that I have thought about recently, and now as we watch how each individual person picks up their bits amid the chaos, I have greater context for why they matter.

Memories matter.

A recently widowed Ms. Grace was describing life after her husband died when she said, “my husband George was here” and immediately -despite all the chaos around her- she reached for one bit to prove it.  Memories matter.  Yes, those bits matter.

On a practical level the ability to retrieve the mementos of life is a big part of why clearing the way, what the officials call “cut and toss”, is important.  Pine Island is accessible now and generally vehicle transit to within walking distance of most bits is possible.   However, after a day of retrieval the long-haul perspective sinks in.

The whisper of ‘daunting‘ wants everyone to look at the scale of the challenge.  We have new phrases like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to explain what the daunting dance does to the psyche.  However, the wise rebuilders are looking only at the two feet in front of them.  Move that pile today and it will not be there tomorrow. So, I shall move that pile… for tomorrow.  And for the many more tomorrows to come, we are blessed and thankful.

For a great representation of who/how Pine Islanders are, as well as the resourcefulness of those who are attached to the community, this local video story is one example amid hundreds that are identical.  WATCH:

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Pine Island Strong

Here’s the notification for FMB…

Love to all.  More later….

~ Sundance

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 7, 2022 | Ad rem

I just received the following message from Sundance…

“Camped on Pine Island.  No electricity, water, or internet, and limited cell service.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide an update tomorrow.”

The following photo and video show the utter devastation that occurred on Pine Island.  The only bridge to the island was heavily damaged, so earlier it could only be reached by boat or air.  Out of respect for those who may be involved, I’ll let Sundance describe what he’s seen take place throughout this past day….in his own words.  They decided to take a pass on the last boat out.  

I do, however, take great comfort in knowing that a caring God is watching over him and his team.

Aerial View of Hurricane Ian damage on Pine Island and Matlacha taken today…

Armstrong Economics Blog/USA Current Events Re-Posted Oct 6, 2022 by Martin Armstrong

Those of us in the Tampa Bay area were lucky. Floridians in the eye of the storm experienced devastating floods and winds. At least 109 people are dead, and 55 of those deaths are in Lee County, Florida, alone. A friend of mine has family in Punta Gorda in Charlotte County. They were unable to reach their family by phone for days as the power grid went down. As of Tuesday night, 400,573 people in Florida were still without power. So, while the storm did not head in the originally reported direction, significant damage occurred.

Mark Friedlander, spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute (III), said those in the Sunshine state pay three times the national average at $4,231. In July, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation deemed 27 different insurance companies as not financially stable. There is now a risk more insurance companies will fail.

Florida’s insurance agencies are in a panic. Six insurers have already claimed insolvency this year despite the last few hurricane seasons being pretty tame. Property insurance has skyrocketed by up to 50% in the past year alone for some homeowners and will likely continue to rise. Insurance, regardless of what insurance we are discussing, be it dental or health, only covers certain areas.

“There’s a lot of folks that have a homeowner’s policy. And sometimes they’re told that that could also be for flood and those are just different policies. The homeowners’ is from the wind, direct storm damage; the flood insurance obviously from rising waters,” Governor DeSantis explained. Only 13% of Floridians have flood insurance, and those not covered will be forced to rely on FEMA grants, which take a long time to process.

To help displaced Floridians, Biden is sending more money to Ukraine. With the leftovers, Washington will pay for rescue efforts, debris clearing, and rebuilding of public infrastructures. People can file claims with insurance companies, but they are certain to deny as much as possible, especially since many do not have the funding to process all claims. The attorneys point the finger at the insurance companies while the insurance companies blame litigation and greed. Lisa Miller, the State of Florida’s former Deputy Insurance Commissioner, explained that 80% of the nation’s litigation is in Florida. DeSantis also vowed to “get rid of the scams and litigation.”

There is a price to pay for living in paradise. The total cost of the storm is still being assessed, and it will take a significant amount of time to fix the areas that were hit hard. The insurance companies in Florida were already facing hardship prior to the hurricane and this incident could be the catalyst for numerous failures.

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 6, 2022 | Sundance 

It was a week ago Wednesday, around 1:00pm, when Hurricane Ian first approached the coast of southwest Florida.  In the aftermath, once again the coastal topography has changed.

Incredibly, rescue workers are still going through rubble on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Pine Island and Matlacha while recovery operations continue in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Arcadia, Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.  Approximately 50% of Lee and Desoto counties are still without power and water.

The closer to the SWFL coast, the more devastating the infrastructure is damaged.  However, the inland areas were also heavily impacted by wind damage and historic flooding.  Hurricane Ian left a wide swath of chaos in his slow and sizeable wake.

On a positive note, there are fewer helicopter flights crisscrossing overhead, which would indicate most of the barrier islands have been searched and residents rescued in one of the largest air mobilizations in Florida hurricane history.  The flights seem more focused on delivering personnel, equipment and supplies for recovery efforts.

The rednecks and roughnecks also delivered a remarkable accomplishment today, opening a temporary bridge to Pine Island.   A few days before Governor Ron DeSantis announced the State DOT effort to help build the temporary bridge, locals from Honc Marine were already in ‘git r done‘ mode.

Incredibly a week after Hurricane Ian took out the bridge connecting Pine Island to Cape Coral, the temporary bridge was finished and five semi tractors/trailers from Publix Supermarket were first to cross into Pine Island with relief supplies. {Direct Rumble Link}  WATCH:

Matlacha, the small area between Cape Coral and Pine Island that encompassed the bridge, has been devastated.  However, the ability to drive into (and out of) Pine Island is a major cause for celebration amid the blue-collar working-class community.

Pine Islanders are known for their grit and independence.  The devastation on the island is large from Saint James City (south) all the way to Bokeelia (north), but these are hardworking and industrious people. They will rebuild and restore their community street by street, and the bridge will speed up that process.  An exceptional outcome in only a week.  Many joyful tears flowing.

Above picture, Today – Below picture, last Thursday

The result is stunning, but, well, then again…. that git r’ done sensibility is locally known to live on Pine Island.  Honc Marine is also a local company that knows how to git sh*t done.  Put those two elements together, get the hell out of the way… and well, that’s the result.  There ain’t no gender confusion, wokeness or cufflinks in this tribe.

….Additionally, Governor DeSantis announced yesterday that the contract to begin repairs to the Sanibel Causeway was awarded. Equipment was mobilized last night, and there is already a team on the ground to begin repairs. The repairs to the Sanibel Causeway are expected to be completed by the end of the month. (link)

Jumpin’ ju-ju bones.  If they can get roadway access to Sanibel completed within a month… that’s beyond awesome.

From the Governor’s Office:

There are currently 298,820 reported power outages. They have already restored power nearly 2.4 million accounts across the state, representing 88.92% of accounts restored since the peak. There are currently 11 fueling depot stations open statewide, and a mobile fuel truck has been deployed to Arcadia to support residents without access to fuel.

Additional programs that have been put into place to aid communities include the activation of the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, the initiation of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Operation Blue Roof, and FDOT’s diligent work to construct temporary bridges into areas that are cut off from motorists.

First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that the Florida Disaster Fund has raised nearly $35 million since activation. To read more info, click here. To contribute, please visit www.FloridaDisasterFund.org or text DISASTER to 20222. Additionally, the First Lady has worked with the State Disaster Recovery Mental Health Coordinator Sara Newhouse to compile a webpage of resources to help first responders navigate resources for mental health needs post hurricane. To visit the site, click here

Mental health resources for individuals and communities are available at MyFLFamilies.com/HurricaneIan. Floridians’ health and well-being are a top priority, and the Department of Children and Families is reminding individuals that they are not alone. All Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian can find someone to talk to today through the Disaster Distress Helpline by calling 800-985-5990.

Safe and found persons can be reported safe at http://safe.fl.gov.

State response efforts include:

Search and Rescue

• There have been 2,500 rescues made to date.
• There are more than 1,000 team members performing search and rescue.
• DCF has created a First Responder Support Line: 407-823-1657 – that all first responders throughout the impacted areas can contact. This line combines current resources into a single point of contact that will connect first responders with mental health professionals.
• Florida National Guard engineering resources were deployed to assist with route clearance in Pinellas and Lee Counties.
• The Missouri Task Force 1 Disaster Situational Assessment and Reconnaissance (DSAR) Team is deploying to Florida through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to support urban search and rescue efforts and incident assessment.
• A Florida Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Team deployed to Central Florida to support state USAR Task Forces and incident assessment.
• Following Governor DeSantis’ authorization, Joint Task Force Florida has 5,050 personnel activated and is executing missions in response to Hurricane Ian. The Florida National Guard has supported a total of 247 missions.
• 27 POD sites operating and distributing food, water, and ice to local populations:
  • 2,728 pallets of water distributed
  • 2,331 pallets of food distributed
  • 606 pallets of ice distributed
  • 385 pallets of tarps distributed
• FDEM is working with feeding partners to open kitchens for impacted and displaced residents. More than 410,800 were served on Tuesday, October 4, and more than 936,100 hot meals have been served since volunteer kitchens opened.

• FDEM is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct infrastructure assessments of water treatment plants, wastewater treatment plants, and assisted living facilities.
• Through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), more than 1,800 personnel from 26 states have deployed to Florida to assist in response and recovery efforts.
• FDEM has activated the State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) to provide an additional resource for Floridians to receive up-to-date information regarding Hurricane Ian. Residents and visitors can call this toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3557.
• FDEM Recovery staff are conducting rapid damage assessments in Charlotte, Flagler, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Putnam and Osceola counties to expedite available federal assistance for disaster recovery.
• FDEM has eight active fuel depots throughout Central and Southwest Florida to ensure first responders have the fuel they need to conduct search and rescue operations. An additional two public, mobile fuel depots are open in Arcadia and the Dunbar community to provide fuel for vehicles and gas cans for generators to impacted residents.
• FDEM is leading the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) for the Hurricane Ian response, with more than 350 SERT members staffing the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC).
• FDEM has received more than 4,500 resource requests for Hurricane Ian and fulfilled. Over 3,700 of these requests are currently being processed and are either en route or being mobilized. This includes the coordination of resources such as: trucks of food and water, generators and tarps.
• FDEM is mobilizing pet food and supplies for displaced pets, including: rabies vaccines, dry and canned dog food, dry and canned cat food, cat litter, disposable pet bowls and disposable leashes.
• FDEM is deploying the following resources for distribution to impacted areas:
  • Coordinating to set up 4 barges to aid in the delivery of commodities in Lee County to Pine Island and Sanibel Island.
  • Trailers for restrooms, showers, laundry, sleeping and sanitation to ensure the care of first responders in the field.
  • More than 4,000 gallons of diesel to Lee County to power water plants that provide water to nearby hospitals.
  • Drone teams to assess flooded areas.
  • 500 traffic barrels to Charlotte County to safely modify traffic patterns.
  • More than 400 bottles of oxygen to Charlotte County.
  • 255 ambulances
  • 200 trucks of food, water and ice
  • More than 500 generators for traffic signals and other traffic needs
  • 2 full service mechanical shops
  • 500,000 tarps
  • 375 kits for parents of infants and toddlers with critical supplies that will last for 10 days each
  • Four mobile triage units to Miami-Dade County
  • Five truckloads of blankets and five truckloads of cots to support displaced residents
  • Coordinating the provision of meals for first responders staged in Orange County
• FDEM is in constant communication with all 67 county emergency management offices and state agencies to coordinate recovery actions and needed resources as communities experience storm impacts.

Power

• There are currently 298,820 people without power.
• Nearly 2.4 million accounts have already been restored across Florida.
• For a full report on current outages, click here.
• 42,000 linemen from utilities across the state are working 24/7 to restore power.
• 325 Florida Highway Patrol are transporting utility crews.
• 560 health care facilities have had power restored since the onset of the event.
• MORE

Lastly, on a personal note…  I also have some good news.  Jesus put a roof over my head today.

Literally, at my house today the crew leader for the roof repair team was a guy named Jesus.

How could I not forgive Jesus for poking fun at my carpentry (plywood cutting) and roof patching skills.

Jesus the roofer and carpenter.  Big smile too.

Yeah, subtle as a brick through a window….  God is good and filled with humor.

Love to all,

~ Sundance

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Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 4, 2022 | Sundance 

Ms. Veronica, an incredibly wise and multigenerational counsellor of souls.

Ms. Veronica is a lady of impeccable generosity, identified not simply by the hospitality and greeting, but also by the few moments of grace deserved and afforded in polite request to make herself more ‘presentable‘ for unexpected company.

Upon return, Ms Veronica immediately became Vera, a woman, widow, great grandma and neighbor who may not have enough, but she’d give a stranger half – and they would never know.

This is a powerful woman filled with a message. “Hurricane Ian did not create victims,” she immediately captured my full and undivided attention.   She continued, “I am not a victim.”

“There are dead people, and there are survivors.”

Long pause.  The depth of her eyes, intense.

I am wise enough to notice moments when my prior opinion of self, strength and fortitude are immediately being redefined. I am also smart enough to stay silent.

“Our loving God does not create victims, and apparently he is not finished using me.”  Veronica’s eyes now alight. “In this moment I am filled with rejoicing,” she said, “because I know there is a purpose I have yet to fulfill.”  From me, more smart silence.  “How incredible is it for me at 90 to realize there’s more use, more purpose, and more time,” she concluded.

Then, just as casual as one might order a familiar coffee on any ordinary Tuesday, Vera asked…. “How is it I can help you boys?“…

There are rare moments in life when we say the right thing.  For me today was one of those moments. My reply was simply, “I think you just did.”

You know something, she’s right.

All the Mr. and Mrs. Veronica’s are not victims; none of us are.  God doesn’t create victims – people do.

How stark is the reality of hearing, “there are dead people, and there are survivors.”

If you are not in the former, none of us are, then we should rejoice and realize we have purpose yet unfulfilled.

♦ Scott from Fort Myers beach lost every worldly possession including his home.  Scott is not a victim.  How do I know this?  Because I’ve seen Scott over several recovery efforts, and today I worked side-by-side with Scott for almost two hours before someone passing a water bottle told me he lost everything.

Eventually after the task at hand was accomplished, ear plugs removed, I asked Scott what he needed.  His reply was simple, he didn’t know enough yet to be able to answer that question.  Oddly, I think I understand.  Scott needs to accomplish the two feet in front of him.  Purpose within this moment, because his new normal is miles ahead.  Yes, today I was the incredibly shrinking man.

Now the fun part of this…. Remember Veronica?  When she said, “how is it I can help you boys,” Scott was the plural, he was standing right beside me.

When we jumped in the back of the truck, he leaned over and said to me, there’s the answer to your question.

The message was big.  Ms. Veronica was the vessel, and it was Scott -not me- who was the intended target.

♦ Cynthia (aka Cindy) and John are successful small business owners.   They are as attached and committed to the Cape Coral, Florida, community as any young couple could be.  After originally planning to ride out the storm, they changed their mind.  Late last Tuesday they loaded their car with all their most important possessions and evacuated a few miles inland to stay with friends.

Cindy and John survived Hurricane Ian and returned late yesterday to survey their property and evaluate if they could start to rebuild.  A massive power pole and tree blocked their driveway, but from the street it looked like the house was structurally okay.  Nervously John and Cindy navigated the debris and went inside to check.

In the fifteen minutes they were inside their home, someone stole all their possessions from the car they parked on the street.

Cindy and John are victims, that’s the difference.

Oh, and the guy who handed me the water bottle and told me about Scott’s loss….  That was John.

Today I learned again that bearing witness makes you small in comparison.

Love to all,

~ Sundance

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 4, 2022 | Sundance

Fortunate is a word often accompanied with thankfulness; the complicated conversations always begin with both.  We are blessed, fortunate and thankful. Personally, I have tried to avoid the complicated conversations, choosing instead to throw the starfish back into the water one at a time.

According to most, hurricane recovery and restoration is complicated business. They are likely correct; however, I do not see a broom, mop, screw gun or sandwich delivered as complicated business, so y’all are not going to read analytics of the complex from me.   Instead, the focus is on seeing a person with a problem and tackling it in a way to make their situation just a little bit better.

I’ve watched ants move rocks because rocks needed to be moved.  The task did not seem complex, the only variable seemed to be the number of ants needed.  I doubt they used extras. The ants somehow knew exactly how many of them were needed for the task and modified their assembly based on the terrain.  If you watch closely, the ants keep arriving until exactly the rock moving number of ants are on task – and they move the rock.

Perhaps it is a complicated process for ants to move rocks.  Is there a boardroom of ants, with ant planning and zoning?  Or does one ant just start pushing on the obstacle and the other ants join in.  I think the latter is more likely.

Need gasoline, we can get it.  Need the road cleared, we got that too. We can make a sandwich, deliver fuel, saw, sweep, mop, scrub, clean and/or make just that little space closer to the normal of memory.  It is entirely possible to replace a missing downspout, and it is entirely possible to provide an uncomplicated ear to listen. Both tasks are equally important during recovery because both outcomes reduce burdens.

Day 5 finds more ants arriving in the western impact zone of Hurricane Ian.  Here’s the rock:

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Right now, there are tens of thousands of unemployed service workers looking for wages.

We need an uncomplicated way to put hands-on tasks and move the rocks.

More later….

Posted originally on the conservative tree house on October 3, 2022 | Sundance 

Shortly before sunset this evening, as the search and rescue missions continue throughout the western impact zone, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Cape Coral to provide the latest updates and new information for the people in Southwest Florida (SWFL).   Toplines:

♦ Cape Coral, Pine Island and Sanibel only have 3% power restoration.  Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) is overwhelmed and refusing to pay the mutual aid costs for assistance. LCEC is making people suffer.  The Florida Governor has seen enough. The state is stepping in.

♦ Effective tomorrow, up to 3,500 personnel from Duke Energy are being redeployed into Cape Coral and Lee County, the State of Florida will pick up the bill for the mutual aid payments LCEC is unwilling to support.  As a result, the power restoration timeline for Cape Coral is now moved from October 23rd to October 8th.

♦ Effective tomorrow, 50 generators from the Florida Dept of Emergency Management are being moved into Cape Coral to service water and sewer issues created by LCEC unwillingness to restore power.  Lift stations will be powered by state generators until Duke Energy personnel take control and do the work LCEC is unwilling to do.

♦ Effective tomorrow, The Florida Dept of Transportation and the Florida Army Corp of Engineers will begin rebuilding an interim bridge for Pine Island Road access.  A temporary bridge is expected to be completed by the end of the week, allowing Pine Island residents to cross into the mainland.  Lee County can then figure out a permanent solution.

♦ Effective immediately, the Florida Dept of Transportation will begin a parallel operation with Lee County Transportation to outline a temporary bridge and transit system to reconnect access to Sanibel Island from Punta Rassa (South Fort Myers).  Governor Ron DeSantis said there’s no reason to wait a year for a permanent fix to begin.  The state will pick up the tab for a temporary bridge system, as Lee County begins the process of figuring out what to do.

♦ The Florida National Guard will begin airlifting utility crews into Sanibel and Captiva Islands to begin restoration assessments.

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All good decisions by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Ancillary NOTE:  Remember what I said yesterday… “On a practical note, I see the millionaire/billionaire boating class are being told they must remove their status yachts from a couple of major locations.”….  24 hours after that notification to the white wine spritzer crowd, the Florida State DOT now says they will build a fast temporary bridge and local municipal port operations (barges) will not be needed.  These issues and rapid responses are related.

The White Wine Spritzer Crowd are the major DeSantis donor crowd. Tell the SWFL millionaires/billionaires they need to move their yachts and suddenly a temporary bridge is being built by the State of Florida. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I ain’t bitchin’, but I also ain’t stupid. Everything is always related to the economics of the thing.