Residents of Bocilla Island, a small barrier island off the coast of Charlotte County, are still devastated from the impact of Hurricane Milton, one month after the storm tore through the region.
While the physical damage is stark — with piles of debris still littering the streets and sand drifts waiting to be hauled away — it's the emotional toll that weighs most heavily on the island’s residents.
Ryan Dunlap, a local resident, summed up the situation with a sense of quiet frustration. “We’re not looking for sympathy. But the story is kind of lost,” he said. “People are beat up out here.”
Bocilla Island’s recovery has been hampered by its isolation. Without a bridge connecting the island to the mainland, residents and debris removal crews must rely on a ferry to transport materials and personnel. This has slowed debris removal, with trucks waiting for ferry access to remove debris. “FEMA trucks come through every day. But to get here, you have to take a ferry,” said Dunlap. “It’s slow, but they’re trying. It’s day by day.”
The piles of debris that line the roads contain not only personal belongings but cherished memories. Dunlap recalled discovering family photos, wedding pictures, and even an old baseball card collection among the wreckage. “It’s sad,” he said. “Kids' trophies, appliances, refrigerators, dishwashers... Just a mess.”
“I leave the island, and I’m in a little bit of denial during the day, and I kind of forget about it,” Dunlap reflected. “But coming across the ferry, you start to see the piles and the depression sets in.”