From May 1 to June 15, 2024, SanCap Resilience conducted a survey of residents and business owners on Sanibel and Captiva about how they were doing with their recovery nearly two years after Hurricane Ian made a direct hit on the community. The goals of the survey were to assess the progress made since the Sept. 2022 storm, to understand how resident concerns have evolved, and to guide planning for SanCap Resilience’s future efforts.

Response to the survey was strong, with almost 900 questionnaires submitted.

“We were really happy with the number of community responses we received,” said Bob Moore, chair of the SanCap Resilience steering committee. “We knew that the bigger the number, the more representative of the community the results would be.”

Distributing the survey was a collective effort. Links to the survey were distributed by SanCap Resilience and its partners, including the City of Sanibel, SCCF, COTI, “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, F.I.S.H. of SanCap, Community Housing & Resources, Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, Captiva Civic Association, and America’s Boating Club SanCap Sail and Power Squadron.

“These survey results are timely with Helene and Milton behind us,” said SCCF CEO James Evans. “We are excited to be a part of San Cap Resilience as we work with our community to explore sustainable, forward-thinking  solutions.”

The survey results are now available to the public and can be accessed here (https://bit.ly/3NeXZOq).

“Not only did we receive responses from a lot of people — those who responded had a lot to say,” Moore said. “The community feedback fills nearly 70 pages in this report.”

Moore said it took the all-volunteer organization the whole summer to put the report together.

Included in the report are an Executive Summary that highlights key findings, charts showing responses to each question, and an Appendix listing all individual written comments. These comments convey the breadth and depth of experiences and concerns of nearly 900 residents, business owners, and employees.

The survey summarizes the status of where respondents say they are in the recovery process. It describes investments owners have made to improve the resiliency of their properties and landscapes and the challenges they have faced in the process. It outlines some of the emotional and financial challenges that are still present for many, and lastly, it captures respondents’ views on needs and concerns for the future. 

As a part of those future concerns, the survey raised questions about the impacts of climate change and how the community should respond.

• 84% of respondents are either “concerned” or “very concerned” about climate change.
• 95% of respondents would like to see Sanibel and Captiva become a model of a resilient coastal community through adaptation of critical infrastructure
• Two-thirds said they would like to see the community go further and become a model of how to reduce future climate change risk through energy efficiency, renewable energy, electrification of transportation, and other measures.

SanCap Resilience is a coalition of community organizations and concerned citizens. Its mission is to lead a community-based initiative to build resilience and protect the vibrancy of our sanctuary islands long into the future. SanCap Resilience is dedicated to planning, educating, and taking action to protect our natural and built environments. It is committed to advancing mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce risks from climate change and other environmental threats. It believes in the values of the Sanibel Plan and the Captiva Community Plan, including promoting a diverse community, conservation, and living in harmony with one another and with nature to promote a high quality of life for our citizens.