Summary:
Our initial assessment of high-resolution aerial imagery from the Sanibel Island and Fort Myers areas shows a large number of buildings to be structurally intact with roofs remaining in place. This could be related to the reconstruction of several properties in these areas post the Hurricane Charley event in 2004 where stricter building code regulations were then applied.
However due to the storm surge these properties could have resultant damage due to water damage including mould, fungus and dry rot which may take time to manifest.
With the Sanibel Causeway being partially destroyed and currently unusable, there will be business interruption for Sanibel Island and the surrounding areas.
Skytek has collected recent pre-event satellite imagery and post-event satellite and aerial imagery of all of the areas affected by the hurricane. Please get in contact with us with detailed asset damage assessment requirements for a bespoke report.
SANIBEL ISLAND
Located about 30 miles off the coast of Fort Myers is Sanibel Island. Sanibel is a popular tourist destination known for its beaches. More than half of the island is made up of wildlife refuges. The main town is located on the eastern end of the island.
Sanibel Island is connected to Fort Myers by Sanibel Causeway which collapsed when Hurricane Ian made landfall completely isolating the island.
An estimated 6,461 people lived in the City of Sanibel as of July 2021 and a total of 3,919 households, per the US Census Bureau.
SANIBEL CAUSEWAY
Sanibel, a barrier island outside Fort Myers that’s home to fewer than 7,000 residents, faced the brunt of the storm as it made landfall Wednesday afternoon. The island is connected to the mainland by the Sanibel Causeway. The Sanibel Causeway in San Carlos Bay, Southwest Florida, is the only connection available between Sanibel Island and the Florida mainland. A section of one of the three bridges this is composed of, has collapsed on Wednesday due to the passing of Hurricane Ian, as shown in pre/post imagery below. The structure will have to be rebuilt.
On Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed the bridge was damaged and is no longer passable.
The Sanibel Causeway and the Matlacha Pass Bridge, which connects nearby Pine Island to the mainland in Cape Coral, will both likely need structural rebuilding due to the storm, DeSantis said.
A group of 100 engineers are on site to do bridge inspections.
Construction of the current bridges commenced in May 2004. Construction on the current spans lasted three years, and cost $137 million. (approx. $215 million today)
SANIBEL CAUSEWAY
Pre-Event Image: Detailed zoomed-in area of the satellite image dated August 22nd, 2022 of the Sanibel Causeway – Credits @AirbusSpace
Post-Event Image: Aerial image dated September 30th, 2022 of Sanibel Causeway with significant damage – Credits @ NOAA
SANIBEL MARINA EXPOSURE
Pre-Event Image: Satellite image dated August 22nd, 2022 of the Sanibel Marina – Credits @AirbusSpace
Post-Event Image: Aerial image dated September 30th, 2022 of the damage in the Sanibel Marina – Credits @ NOAA
HOTEL AND CONDO EXPOSURE
There are approximately 1.667 hotel rooms available within the Sanibel Island district with:
- 3-Star Hotels having 890 rooms.
- 4-Star Hotels having 318 rooms.
- Condos having 459 rooms.
A complete listing of hotels/rental accommodation and a detailed breakdown of rooms is available upon request to Skytek.
PRE/POST IMAGERY - HOTEL LOCATIONS
Casa Ybel Resort
Pre-Even Image: Satellite image dated August 22 nd, 2022 of the Casa Ybel Resort – Credits @AirbusSpace
Post-Event Image: Aerial image dated September 30th, 2022 of the Casa Ybel Resort – Credits @ NOAA
Ocean Reach Condo
Pre-Event Image: Satellite image dated August 22nd, 2022 of the Ocean Reach Condo – Credits @AirbusSpace
Post-Event Image: Aerial image dated September 30th, 2022 of the Ocean Reach Condo – Credits @ NOAA
Sundial Beach Resort
Pre-Event Image: Satellite image dated August 22nd, 2022 of the Sundial Beach Resort – Credits @AirbusSpace
Post-Event Image: Aerial image dated September 30th, 2022 of the Sundial Beach Resort – Credits @ NOAA
RESIDENTIAL EXPOSURE
The estimated average family home in Sanibel is around $1.2M compared to mean value in the state of Florida of $245,100, while the estimated condo value in the Sanibel is around $700K.
Sanibel Coast
Pre-Event Image: Satellite image dated August 22nd, 2022 of the Sanibel coast – Credits @AirbusSpace
Post-Event Image: Aerial image dated September 30th, 2022 of the Sanibel coast – Credits @ NOAA
