In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Pine Island residents have turned to social media to create a modern-day lost and found.
They’ve set up a Facebook group where community members can post about items that were swept away by the storm. If you find something, you can post it in the group, and if you’ve lost something, you can share details to help others keep an eye out.
The idea came from resident Parker Carwhile.
"When Hurricane Ian hit us, there was debris and possessions and boats and kayaks just scattered all over the island in Saint James City and everywhere else. And, it was just kind of a mad scramble to try to find the things that you're missing. So I just started a Facebook page, 'The Lost and Found Hurricane Ian.' Sadly, two years later, I felt the need to do it. It worked so well the first time," Carwhile said.
Hurricane Milton scattered debris all over Pine Island, from furniture and medication to photo albums, washing up in people’s yards. So far, about 75 people have posted on the Pine Island Lost and Found Facebook group.
“It’s fascinating. Something you might think is trash, someone else is actually looking for,” said Parker Carwhile of St. James City.
He mentioned that the group has helped people recover everything from mailboxes and kayaks to ornamental yard decorations.
One resident, Frank Dulin, shared his story of losing a handmade manatee mailbox to the storm. It floated across a canal and washed up in someone's yard. Someone found it and posted about it in the group.
“I was surprised how far it traveled,” Dulin said. “We named it Milton after the storm. My neighbor saw it on Facebook and helped me get it back.”
Ron Kaiser and Heather Lamb, who run small businesses Apex Aqua Adventures and Pine Island Kayaks, had a similar experience when their kayak rack blew away. They made a post in the Facebook group.
"People from the community on the Facebook group were kind of like, oh, we think we saw something. And then Ron went and checked it out and there it was. So thank you very much, everybody," Lamb said.
While interviewing Kaiser and Lamb, another item — a chair — was found that had floated onto their property. The group continues to be a resource for the community as residents rebuild and recover from the devastation of Hurricane Milton.
Lamb said, "We're a very neighborly community. People know each other, and they look out for each other. I think that's just really cool."
Those still searching for lost belongings or wanting to help reunite items with their owners can visit the Pine Island Lost and Found Facebook group.