The Sanibel Police Department and Sanibel and Captiva fire departments all suffered challenges and damage as a result of Hurricane Ian in 2022 and hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, SanCap Chamber members learned at their monthly business meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at The Community House on Sanibel Island. Leaders of all three public safety departments expressed optimism about returning to normalcy and appreciation for island businesses, partners, and chamber.
Lieutenant Shawn Kilgore stepped in for Captiva Island Fire District chief Jeff Pawul to report that it suffered more from Milton than the other storms, but is recovering steadily and helping local businesses do the same “due to wonderful partnerships that we greatly appreciate.”
Representing the Sanibel Police Department, chief Bill Dalton showed a short video of the fierceness of recent storms. “Our squad room has been flooded two or three times in the last year…We’re getting back to normal, I guess you would say,” Dalton said. “We’re not normal yet.”
He summarized beach and parking lot restoration still under way and introduced the department’s new captain, Patrick Harris.
The biggest changes to island public safety facilities are happening at the two Sanibel fire and rescue stations. Ian had the strongest impact on operations, forcing all personnel to leave the island and putting the fire department out of commission for three months.
“For two to three weeks, we didn’t know if we’d have a community,” said chief Kevin Barbot. “Then the question was ‘how do we sustain our operation, how do we provide the same level of service, the same equipment without being a burden to the community?’”
After Ian the fire department began work on the new station at Bowman’s Beach, a strategy that avoided flooding from Helene and Milton. Work is also under way to raise the living quarters at the station on Palm Ridge Road to provide housing immediately after future storms. Barbot proudly reported that funding for the projects came from state and federal grants and not local property taxes.
“I think we all were encouraged to hear that safety has been restored to our islands so quickly, and our first responders are in a good position to help our business and residential communities thrive once more,” said John Lai, president and chief executive officer of the SanCap Chamber. “We thank them all for their loyal service and forward thinking during difficult times.”
Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen of Sanibel Island sponsored and catered the luncheon. The Community House also was a sponsor.
The next SanCap chamber monthly business meeting will be the second annual State of the Islands breakfast presentation at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers on Jan. 22.
ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER
The SanCap Chamber is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].
