Direct landfall, September 28, 2022
Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm directly at Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach on September 28, 2022, with storm surge reaching as much as 15 feet along the barrier islands — one of the highest surge readings recorded anywhere from the storm — and the causeway connecting Sanibel to the mainland was severed in multiple places. Few communities anywhere in the storm's path took a more direct hit.
Why Ian is Sanibel's benchmark, not just a data point
A restoration estimate on Sanibel should be measured against the real damage patterns Ian left behind, not a generic coastal-flooding assumption, and that measurement matters more here because the island's 1974 development cap means many surviving homes are older and were rebuilt or repaired under real time pressure right after the storm. Comparing a current claim to anything less than Ian risks underestimating a serious water event.
Water damage restoration services for Sanibel
What to bring to a Sanibel restoration inquiry
Share the timing of the water event, any Hurricane Ian repair history for the same area of the home, and current access constraints. Provider availability varies, and homeowners should verify credentials directly.
Sanibel's surge history in context
Lee County recorded at least 52,514 structures impacted by Ian, with 5,369 destroyed and 14,245 carrying major damage — and Sanibel's barrier-island position put it among the hardest-hit locations in that count. Homeowners should verify the current flood zone and base flood elevation for the specific parcel.