Waynesburg natives lose Fort Myers home due to Hurricane Ian
The effects of Hurricane Ian destroyed each of the 94 first-floor condominium units in the gated community where Waynesburg residents Robin and Mary Kay Thomas lived. Their condominium was one of the units on the first floor. (Photos courtesy of Mary Kay Thomas)
Courtesy of Mary Kay Thomas
Courtesy of Mary Kay Thomas
Hurricane Ian wreaked devastation and destroyed the Fort Myers condominium and cars of former Waynesburg residents Robin and Mary Kay Thomas.
Courtesy of Mary Kay Thomas
Courtesy of Mary Kay Thomas
The power and force of Hurricane Ian on display.
Trees were taken to the ground by Hurricane Ian, the deadliest to strike Florida since the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.
Each of the residents of the first-floor units lost their cars, as well as their belongings.
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Robin Thomas said he and his wife Mary Kay are just grateful to be alive and well.
The former Waynesburg residents lost their condominium, cars and just about everything else in Fort Myers, Fla., as a result of the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Ian.
The large and destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane was the deadliest to strike Florida since a Labor Day hurricane in 1935. As of Oct. 24, Hurricane Ian had caused at least 147 fatalities, destroyed a great deal of property and caused damage to the Sanibel Causeway and bridge to Pine Island.
Robin said he and Mary Kay moved to Fort Myers in June 2021, but have had a winter home there since 2012. Robin is a retired school teacher from Margaret Bell Miller Middle School in the Central Greene School District, and Mary Kay worked for First Federal Savings & Loan.
Robin recalled he and Mary Kay were watching the rain and wind from their first-floor condominium on Sept. 27, prompting Mary Kay to move to a friend蘑菇视频 third-floor unit.
鈥淥n Sept. 28, we were watching the weather on TV and thought Ian would hit Tampa,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he electric went off around noon and we had no idea that Ian had changed course and was heading directly toward us.鈥�
The Thomas蘑菇视频 condominium was just 2 miles from Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, two of the hardest hit areas.
鈥淎s the hurricane grew in strength, we could see the flood water rising rapidly.鈥� Robin said, adding that within minutes both of their cars were completely under water as were more than 100 other cars in their gated community. 鈥淎ll of the cars were declared a total loss.鈥�
He said each of the 94 first-floor units of the gated community were destroyed, and the inhabitants lost their cars and belongings.
He and Mary Kay lived an a third-floor unit without water and electricity for five days. Having no means to cook, they survived on peanut butter and jelly.
This brought about a two-week stay in Sykesville, Md., with their son, Ryan, a Howard County police officer. Two of Ryan蘑菇视频 friends who are Miami police officers drove from Miami to Fort Myers to take Robin and Mary Kay to Fort Lauderdale so they could get a flight to Baltimore.
The Thomases later returned to Fort Myers to oversee the remediation and restoration of their condo.
Robin said it will be six to eight months until they are able to return. They are currently staying at the second-floor unit of a friend, which was not damaged. However, the Thomases can only stay there until Jan. 1.
鈥淭here are seasonal people who rent here and it蘑菇视频 already rented out from January through March,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e can keep this unit until the end of December and then we have to find someplace to live. They gutted my unit down to the drywall, the bath tub, the showers. Everything was gone.鈥�
He said homeowners insurance would not cover flood damage, but they do have a small flood policy, although he doesn鈥檛 know what it蘑菇视频 going to cover.
Robin said for him the situation was mostly depressing and for Mary Kay it was a bit frightening as she felt the building shaking.
鈥淎 lot of residents had their windows blown out, we did not,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen you drive down the local roads here, it蘑菇视频 devastating. The losses that people suffered are just unimaginable.鈥�
He蘑菇视频 just thankful that he and is wife are fine.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thankful to have such good friends who reached out to us with well wishes and prayers, very generous,鈥� he said.