Progress after one month-plus

For Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Board member Cynthia Welch, the recovery process has been “ongoing but incredible to watch.”

“Just from the initial clearing of our roads before we even have had a bridge, our islanders were doing all that so that by the time we did get our road back, (Lee County Electric Cooperative) and their cohorts that they brought out could actually get out here and get started,” Welch said. “That was a huge step in the right direction right from the get-go. A lot of people kind of forget that … our roads were clear before we ever had any help from anybody outside.”

After Ian’s hit, Welch describes the devastation as mind-blowing, saying it was hard to look at initially. However, she applauds the strength of the community for banding together.

Now just over a month later, it is their strength that has allowed Pine Island to recover as quickly as it has.

“Most of our businesses are back open in some level or another and are functioning,” Welch said, with more than half of their over 200 members back and running. “People are going about their daily lives and cleaning up and picking up and getting their roofs fixed and their siding and all the other stuff. It’s incredible in just a month to see the difference.”

Through all of the tragedy and destruction, Welch said there has been no shortage of neighbors helping neighbors and terrific people coming out to support the community.

“From the linemen that come from God knows where to the volunteers who that have come out to help, the people who have donated stuff to help those who have lost everything … the hot meals were a godsend for everybody when you’re trying to do everything else,” Welch said. “All that stuff just restores your faith that good people are out there and then when push comes to shove, people band together to help each other out.”