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City officials: Island fared well with last storm

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Numerous crab traps were found near Sanibel Moorings after Monday’s storm. PHOTO BY SUZANNE DRESSLER
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Numerous crab traps were found near Sanibel Moorings after Monday’s storm. PHOTO BY SUZANNE DRESSLER
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Numerous crab traps were found near Sanibel Moorings after Monday’s storm. PHOTO BY SUZANNE DRESSLER
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Numerous crab traps were found near Sanibel Moorings after Monday’s storm. PHOTO BY SUZANNE DRESSLER

Although the City of Sanibel was under a tornado watch through the early morning hours of Monday, Jan. 23, no significant damage was reported.

City Manager Judie Zimomra said the fast moving wind event had minimal rain and minimal wind considering the projections. She said with the wind gusts the island received, up to 60 miles per hour, it is not uncommon to have impacts to the shoreline, or have debris and shells wash ashore.

The island experienced more sand deposited onto the beaches with this storm despite the turbidity and wind gusts.

“This storm had accretion,” Zimomra said.

Among some of the debris found on the gulf side of the island were 250 crab traps. She said Public Works collected the crab traps, which all have tags on them, and brought them back to their department. The professional and licensed crabbers then retrieved their traps from Public Works.

Zimomra said if the storm is well forecasted the crabbers will go out and retrieve their traps before the storm hits.

As far as damage, she said a boat was disabled in front of Sundial, but everyone was able to exit the vessel. Due to rough seas, the boat was not removed until Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The residents of Sanibel received many weather alerts about the conditions. The first alert went out at 7:26 p.m. Jan. 22 to urge citizens and visitors to monitor the severe weather that was to pass north of Sanibel between 7 p.m. and dawn.

The next alert was sent out at 10:28 p.m. the same day instructing citizens and visitors that the island was under a tornado watch until 6 a.m. Monday, Jan. 23. The threats the city reported included “isolated hail, wind with isolated gusts up to 70 mph possible and tornadoes possible.”