Sanibel Lighthouse Gets It’s Light Back After Hurricane Ian

It's big news today. The Sanibel Lighthouse gets it's light back after Hurricane Ian. It happened this morning, February 28th, five months after the iconic structure was battered by the hurricane. Battered but not broken. That was the theme when Sanibel Island city leaders gathered at the base of the structure a little after 6am.

This is how I remember the Sanibel Lighthouse

After the storm, Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith said one of the first questions people asked, and leaders wondered was if the lighthouse was still standing. One of its legs is broken. There is little left of the lush beach area. But yes, the 138 year old lighthouse is indeed still standing as a symbol of hope and resilience.

Mayor Smith lead the ceremony this morning with an encouraging speech. She said, "We see this lighthouse as a beacon of hope, a beacon of light and a beacon of community." Then she counted down for the flip of the switch. It was much like the countdown to the lighting of the island's Christmas Tree.

When the small crowd got to one, there was a pause. A moment of silence. Nothing happened at first. All of us watching (me on the live feed) held our breaths. I silently chanted, "please light up." Smith warned it might take a minute to power up. Then finally, a flicker that lead to a full light. There it stood shining bright for all of Southwest Florida to see for the first time since the storm.

A chorus of cheers went up. There were lots of tears as well. "It's a light that will keep shining on Sanibel. We will all keep shining on Sanibel," the mayor said. Those in attendance were wearing T-shirts reading "Shine on Sanibel." After the ceremony, the Lighthouse Beach area closed again. The public is still not allowed on the beach so that repairs can continue.

While there is still so much recovery left, seeing the light again for so many of us who've lived here for so long, is like a giant exhale.

After ripping apart islands such as Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, and Pine Island, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa. Cayo Costa is an island off the coast of Fort Myers, just after 3 p.m.  Ian came in with 150 mph winds, the fifth-strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. Additionally, according to ABC News, “Ian then made a second landfall 90 minutes later, still as a Category 4 storm with 145 mph winds, just south of Punta Gorda, near Pirate Harbor.”

Florida Department of Transportation did an amazing job getting Pine Island's bridge reconnected. The Sanibel Causeway is a much more difficult task. As you can see, Ian washed away several parts of the span.

That being said, the projection is still to have temporary fixes in place by the end of the month. Around 30 days after Hurricane Ian's landfall. Crews are working 24/7 to make this happen.

Currently, Sanibel residents reach the island by boat. There's also supplies delivered by helicopter. There's no power or water service on the island and a curfew remains in place. Sanibel is one of the most beautiful places in Florida. With a lot of work and determination, the island is rebuilding. Miami based Joe Raedle of Getty Images was on the island over the weekend.