I also thought it was kind of funny that on Sanibel while they still wouldn't allow residents back on (after the bridge had been OK'd), that on TV they told people the following:
"If you need medications from your home or if you have a pet left in the house than needs feeding or care call ______, bring a key to your house,
and someone will be sent to your home to take care of that for you."
Now if it was OK for a stranger to get to your house, enter, and take care of those things, why couldn't a resident do it himself?
As I said, I don't think we've heard the end of this controversy.

SwimChick-glad to hear you're back on the island. Btw- I looked up Diamondhead Resort's website, as I was thinking of grabbing a quick weekend down at FMB, and they said they'll be open for business next week on the 26th-so apparently things must be getting back to normal on Estero Island.

Information remains spotty regarding South Seas as the vegetation clean up is taking more time than anticipated. The new mega beach houses that have been built in the past few years are ok. Older units of course were less capable of withstanding the storm. Christmas time should have this resort back in operation.

Here is a link to some of the Sanibel resorts most often discussed here. My favorite, Sanibel Cottages, has some pretty heavy damage but none is really structural. There is some structural damage on Sanibel but nothing like Useppa and North Captiva.

http://www.hgvc.com/hurricane_charley.htm

LMF

Indeed, I was thinking about Useppa, and my favorite and lovely Collier Inn-how it weathered the hurricane, given its age. I'll go look up the info.

Collier Inn sustained serious damage. It may not be able to be restored. Many homes survived and others are total or major losses. Useppa is a lovely place and a favorite of wealthy Floridians as well as snowbirds. LMF

Collier Inn report:
http://www.news-press.com/news/weath...ss-update.html

I'll find out tomorrow from a fellow worker if it truly collapsed as reported. Residents of the island are upset. LMF

LMF: I went to the Useppa Island Club website, and wow! Collier Inn has sustained SOME damage-but the Island leaders appear to be very well organized, there are daily updates on the website, they've got barges coming in with building supplies, insurance adjusters, all kinds of supplies and workers. It looks to me as if Collier Inn can be repaired-I understand most of the lovely tropical foliage is gone, and the homes on the island, like North Captiva's Safety Harbor Club, (thank goodness I decided to sell there!) took the brunt of the storm. They'll repair and rebuild, though, and the tropical foliage will grow back. Believe it or not, this 'cane is a real boon for botanists and other scientists who study sub-tropical island eco-systems to see the manner in which an area like this begins to regenerate.

Aside to Spygirl: I was on FMB two days ago; clean up was in full force and things were bustling.

thanks, Swimchick-I figured as much-the storm damage there clearly wasn't that of San/Cap.

Tully, thanks for the offer. You can email a pic to me at bayneso"at"yahoodotcom ;)

For other Casa Ybel owners -- I've found another resource specifically for owners -- casaybel.com. The forum there is pretty active on status and the problem of conflicting info, and the lack of good hard data on what the damage really is.

It's starting to sound as if early reports were over-optimistic, and it could be 3 months before they're up and running again. But still no real reporting. <sigh>

SB_travlr - will do, you'll get them tomorrow, hope they help some in assessing the damage.

Can anyone tell me what the damage is to Pointe Santo on Sanibel?

Thanks!

Pointe Santo: one report easily found by Googling.

http://www.SanCapProperties.com/hurrican.htm

Clean up everywhere is proceeding at a rapid pace. Too much of the SW Florida economy is at stake to let much time pass.

LMF

Does anyone have photos of the damage on Ft Myers bneach? I have seen a few yhere and there (mostly on news-press.com), but am dying to see more. the press are only showing Punta Gorda and PC. I am desperate to see what has happened to my favaorite place on earth.

Also, SwimChick...how are Pandora's Box and McT's?

Thank you everyone!

For those of you who still want to donate money to help the Hurricane Charley victims, here is the address you need. ALL money will be used ONLY in SW Florida! This is being sponsored by the News-Press and several TV stations and the Red Cross.

American Red Cross of Lee County
Care of Disaster Relief
2516 Colonial Blvd. Suite 201
Ft. Myers FL 33907

I'm sure if you donate to another disaster relief organization and specify it for SW Florida, or where ever you want it to go, that is where it will go.

Thanks for helping the people down here in any way you can.

Idunfee: Most stores at Periwinkle Place were untouched. Unfortunately one section (Congress, the chocolate store, Trader Rick's, and H2O) had roof damage and water damage. The banyan trees toppled, however their root systems are being kept wet and they will be replanted (they've fallen in previous storms and have been successful). All of us at Periwinkle Place will be looking forward to seeing you!

For those wanting to hit Fort Myers Beach in the next few weeks, virtually every place I checked on the hotel websites are all opening for business right now. It appears there will be beach aplenty on Estero Island in time for Labor Day Weekend.

Anyone going to SouthSeas - be prepared. We have a unit on SouthSeas. Major damage in the resort. According to letters we received, South Seas won't be opened until early 2005. No confirmed estimates. Go to HGVC.com and click on hurricane charley and pics will be available. All trees are gone. Major room and water damage. Some units need to be gutted completely. It is so sad!!! My daughter and I almost cried!

I was amazed when a lot of people (even the local news stations) were saying how minimal some of the damage was. When they say things like "minor roof damage" or "broken windows", I know what that means. Throw a bunch of rain water into Florida interior drywall and turn off the air conditioning for a week, and you're talking about gutting the entire interior. It's that simple. You don't simple clean or wipe up soaked drywall, cabinets, doors, moldings, not to mention carpet and furniture. You throw it out and start over.

I'm sorry for your loss, geller.

It is so sad. It will take years for the trees to grow back. It's just frustrating because we are supposed to go down in the spring, but no one can tell you if the resort will be operational. It is questionable.