Although it has been nearly two years since Hurricane Ian's 15-foot storm surge washed over the streets of Captiva, businesses on the island are still trying to reopen.
This 4.5-mile island is paradise for businesswoman Sandy Stilwell-Youngquist. Captiva is where she opened her first business 23 years ago.
But all of that work was almost shattered in just two minutes. All it took was eight hours, 155-mile-per-hour winds, and nearly 15 feet in storm surge.
Sandy and her staff have been working to reopen their businesses since that late September day in 2022.
“All the people you see around here, they're my staff that used to work in the restaurants as a chef, and now they're doing whatever needs to be done,” she said.
So far, they have officially opened R.C. Otters.
“So we've just celebrated one year of being open here,” she said.
But between demolition, waiting for permits, and hurricane-proofing. It takes time and money.
“But it's necessary if we're going to be in business in Southwest Florida because we know this isn't the last hurricane,” Sandy said. “There'll be more hurricanes ahead.”
Sandy tries to be optimistic.
“I think when we heard that it was going to be the most active year, I had this feeling of dread,” she said.
Whether you want to call it storm anxiety or PTSD, it is overwhelming.
“We had this little storm that just came through two weeks ago, flooded everything, all the septic tanks filled with water, we had to have them all pumped out,” she said.
Sandy said no water or flooding would get in the way of their rebuild. Sounds of construction bring hope back to paradise.
"Then this is Latte da, the little coffee shop, and right now there's the demo,” she said. “But then with all the permits, we can't start putting the new roof on."
Right across the street from that is Key Lime Bistro. Although it looks brand new on the outside it is a demolition zone on the inside.
Most work was halted due to permitting and preservation. Some things have been updated in case a storm comes soon.
"We did get hurricane windows already put in, but then that was where we that's where we stopped at this point, waiting for everything,” she said.
ABC7 asked Sandy, "Five years from now, what are you hoping this area looks like?"
"I hope it's just bustling with people and that all the hotels on Sanibel are back open again and that we have a lot of rooms to stay because I think a lot of the success of the restaurants is having places for people to go," Sandy said.
No matter what storms come our way she is ready.
"Just expect something negative to happen and then you'll be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't,” she said.
Sandy will never give up on her paradise.