Sanibel Island Restoration – Rebuilding After Hurricane Ian

Project Scope

When Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28, 2022, it devastated Sanibel Island, Florida. The Category 4 storm brought catastrophic winds and storm surge, with floodwaters reaching between 11 and 13 feet across much of the island. Entire neighborhoods, businesses, and infrastructure were destroyed, including the vital bridge and causeway system connecting Sanibel to the mainland. The causeway’s collapse left the island cut off for weeks, and although initial estimates suggested repairs would take a year, the Florida Department of Transportation was able to open a temporary causeway in just three weeks, a remarkable milestone in the early recovery effort.

Haley Ward’s Fort Myer’s office, historically one of the leading providers of engineering and surveying services on Sanibel Island, was quickly called upon to assist with the rebuilding process. Our teams have been involved in numerous projects across the island, helping property owners, businesses, and the City recover and rebuild stronger.

Much of the work has focused on major condominium developments along the Gulf side that suffered extensive storm surge damage. Many of these structures – built in the 1970s and 1980s – required complete demolition and reconstruction, while others underwent extensive floodproofing and renovation. Our engineers and surveyors have provided comprehensive site and civil design services, restoring drainage systems, stabilizing eroded shorelines, and redeveloping infrastructure to meet current standards for resilience against future storms.

Working in the aftermath of such widespread destruction presented unique challenges. Access to job sites was initially limited, with power outages, debris, and damaged roads complicating logistics and communication. Many records and survey markers were lost, requiring our teams to reestablish baselines and reference points from scratch. The permitting environment was also evolving rapidly, as the city and state updated regulations to strengthen building codes and reduce vulnerabilities exposed by the storm. Despite these obstacles, our staff worked closely with local officials, contractors, and property owners to move projects forward safely and efficiently.

Haley Ward’s work also extended to high-end residential projects and inland municipal infrastructure. The city itself faced months of recovery, with an increased focus on strengthening review standards and reducing grandfathered exemptions for older, less resilient structures.

In addition to project work, Haley Ward offered support to partners impacted by the storm. One of those, Coastal Vista Design, a landscape architecture firm based on Sanibel, lost its office during the hurricane. Haley Ward’s team reached out soon after the storm, offering office space and technical support. With the help of our entire team, Coastal Vista operated from our facilities for nearly a year while planning their new Sanibel office, a small but meaningful part of the island’s broader comeback story.

Haley Ward is proud to contribute to Sanibel Island’s recovery and redevelopment, helping residents, businesses, and the city move forward after one of the most destructive storms in Florida’s history.

Market

• Commercial
• Housing
• Land Development
• Municipal & County
• State & Federal Government

Services

Project Data