Floridians focus on recovery after Ian as death toll climbs

Geoff Bennett:

The death toll in Florida from Hurricane in reached 47, a number that is expected to climb. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will visit the state on Wednesday after a visit to Puerto Rico tomorrow.

The island is still reeling in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. For both Puerto Rico and Florida recovery is now the primary focus.

The sounds of hurricane recovery echoed around Fort Myers as the first heavy machinery got to work clearing storm debris. For now, the Florida Air National Guard is moving the wreckage into piles to clear the streets.

The task at hand is enormous across southwest Florida. Given the sheer scale of devastation from Ian. Bridges destroyed, trees and lampposts tossed into pools. Gutted hotels, damage estimates go as high as $100 billion.

With 850,000 people still without electricity, the U.S. Army has set up distribution sites for bottled water and food. Rickey Anderson a recent transplant from Illinois among those pleading for help.

Rickey Anderson, Displaced Sanibel Island Resident:

We have no power no phone service nothing so we just like little help that like little helped get my home back in shape because I have nowhere to go.

Geoff Bennett:

On decimated Sanibel Island, rescue operations continued today.

Man:

Your son sent us. We're a rescue organization.

Geoff Bennett:

Some are volunteers helping concerned family members.

Man:

So we got this one clear. And you have 648 and 68.

Geoff Bennett:

Others are with the fire department going door to door checking for signs of life.

Tim Barrett, Division Chief, Sanibel Fire Department:

You see people chipping in, I got paid for it. There's even people whose homes are destroyed. But they're helping.

Geoff Bennett:

On Pine Island, rescue operations arrived on the largest barrier island on Florida's gulf coast where the storm was ferocious.

Joe Conforti, Pine Island Resident:

The water was at least eight, eight to 10 feet high for sure. And it was four foot waves in the streets. And the water just kept pounding the house and we watched those houses. We watched everything just flying by. We lost so much at this point.

Geoff Bennett:

The head of the National Guard said there have been more than 1,000 rescues along Florida's southwest coast alone.

For more on the recovery in Florida, I'm joined by Nick Pachota. He's the vice mayor of Venice which is about an hour south of Tampa. It's great to have you with us.

And when we last spoke with you on the NewsHour on Thursday, you told us that there was standing water in roadways, water in people's homes, people were without power without cell phone service. What's the situation there today?

Nick Pachota, Vice Major, Venice, Florida:

Showing that it's we're actually doing a lot better. We've got quite a bit of power back. We've got a good cell service. There's some cell towers that have been brought in some mobile cell towers, so that people can at least reach family outside of the area and let them know they're doing OK. Not as much standing water.

Some of our rivers did crest early this morning about 4:00 am. So we did have some outlying areas that had some major flooding. And to the south of us in the south end of the county, there's still a lot of standing water and hoping will recede over the next few days. So, you know, in all, I think we're doing pretty good right now.

Geoff Bennett:

How is the recovery effort progressing? And do you do you have a sense yet of, of what the rebuilding process will encompass?

Nick Pachota:

Yes, so basically, you know, our state government, the Florida Division of Emergency Management has been fantastic. We've got points of distribution setup in the county. The federal government has been giving them what they need to give to us. You know, and then now it's just going to be a matter of seeing how things go with FEMA and everyone getting the support that they need for the for rebuilding.

But I would say it's been a great response. I mean, this could have been a lot longer to get power and cell service where we are.

Geoff Bennett:

What's your message to Florida residents who have been displaced by the storm?

Nick Pachota:

You know, I think it's tragic. And I just want everyone to know we will come back from this, you know, Florida has been hit by hurricanes over the years, and one thing about Floridians is they're very resilient people. They're very powerful and we will come back from this. We will build back stronger and just remember Florida strong.

Geoff Bennett:

Nick Pachota is the vice mayor of Venice, Florida. Nick, our best to you and everyone living in the affected parts of Florida.

Nick Pachota:

Thank you so much.