Hurricane Ian Heroes: Recognizing some of the game-changers on Sanibel Island
We asked for Hurricane Hero nominations. We were amazed out how many emails we received. Our goal is to recognize as many of the Ian Heroes as possible. Here are some of the hero nominations for Sanibel Island:
Heroes: Holly Smith and Dana Souza
‘I give them an A-plus’
The heroes I would choose are Holly Smith mayor of Sanibel and city manager Dana Souza. They began daily briefings immediately and presented over the months ahead a masters course in how to communicate with residents.Despite both Mayor Smith and Manager Souza being displaced themselves, they tirelessly were on island and then back at the Fort Myers ‘city hall’ location at the Bell Tower to brief, LISTEN, follow-up on questions, and make notes to get back to people and provide what people needed.I have never seen such an aggressive, compassionate, active DAILY response which allowed folks in the area and in other states to feel totally up to date and engaged.They also brought in experts from FEMA and other agencies to do mini-lectures about how things would work and staffed a desk providing hurricane passes.
I give them an A plus for how the communicated and the numbers of residents touched with the daily zoom/in person meetings was staggering.
I have pictures in my mind of Holly at the podium all sweaty and in boots and her husband's fishing shirt answering agitated residents' questions calmly and with compassion every single day working on our behalf.
Submitted by: Clair Beckmann
Hero: Julie Ramirez
'Filling the gaps'
Why doe she stand out? Julie didn’t wait for the medical society’s physician members to reach out for help following Ian, as executive director of Lee County Medical Society, she used technology and her contacts in emergency management to expand outreach and initiate programs that filled a gap, like opening an emergency clinic on Sanibel, soliciting, collecting, and distributing medical supplies, connecting physicians who needed living accommodations with local resources, finding members who would share office space with physicians who had office damage, finding and delivering diapers, furniture, clothing to members who lost items, and generally responding and spearheading on-demand requests as much as possible.
As I write this, Julie is in Orlando at the Florida Medical Association’s annual meeting where she will be honored with this year’s FMA Distinguished Layman’s Award for her actions and leadership following Hurricane Ian.
Submitted by: Mollie Page
I would like to nominate Julie Ramirez, CAE, Executive Director of the Lee County Medical Society as a Hurricane Ian Hero. Julie immediately reached out to members of the medical society after the storm through email. She also set up a website to act as a clearinghouse for those physicians needing support, and those offering support in terms of supplies and office space. Julie personally delivered personal supplies to physician families.Additionally, she assisted Lee County Medical Corps in organizing and staffing the Sanibel Medical Clinic. I was one of the physicians recruited to provide care to Sanibel residents without them leaving the island.
In fact, we physicians and Julie just received awards from the Florida Medical Society for these efforts.
Submitted by: Amber Jandik, MD
Hero: Maria Espinoza
'Always available to someone in need'
Maria started with FISH in 2017, initially as a volunteer, after Hurricane Irma. Her talents were evident and FISH brought her on as a full time employee quickly. Now as Executive Director, she spearheaded FISH’s immediate response to Hurricane Ian and continues to organize the organization’s long term recovery effort. In addition, she leads other FISH programs and oversees the day-to-day operational and staff functions. Her unique talent to create efficiencies in cumbersome programs, develop new partnerships to maximize community impact, and enhance the experience for all involved is why FISH is able to assist so many, and a prime example of how FISH, through Maria’s leadership, direction and support, has become the community’s long term recovery organization. Maria is dedicated to the community around her—always available to help someone in need or taking time with staff or volunteers to hear about their day or problem solve. Her exemplary service to our community, particularly post Ian, is extraordinaire.
As Ian was pummeling our community, Maria was quickly developing a plan for response, rescue and recovery. Her innovative thinking, particularly in an unprecedented event, enabled FISH and our team to immediately spring to action to ensure we had the resources necessary to be some of the first responders on the ground helping in the recovery process. Through her leadership, Maria continues to make an impact on the residents and workforce of our community. She rallied our team who, even without power or cell phone access and sustaining damage to their own homes, went to local shelters immediately after the storm to provide resources. Maria and team members were some of the first people on the island to bring water, ice, charging stations, supplies and hot meals to those on the islands and recovery crews. Maria has worked hard to expand her knowledge by attending disaster training events and to expand the organization’s reach by joining service clubs, task forces and more.
Always cultivating partnerships, Maria has led the FISH team to join forces with island and off island organizations to bring mental health services, furnishings and rebuilding supplies to disaster survivors. Never taking ‘no’ for an answer, Maria is determined to ensure there are no unmet needs to the residents and workforce of the island community. Many that we are serving now have never had to ask for assistance before. Maria excels in ensuring their experience is positive and supportive from start to end. She always takes the time to listen to those around her and is eager to find solutions through the understanding she gains through conversations to ensure needs are being met. Maria, who is multi-lingual, uses her critical language skills when communicating with FISH’s diverse community of clients—she wants each client to be able to discuss their situations comfortably. Maria exemplifies professionalism and a can-do spirit always, and particularly since Ian’s landfall, where she has worked around the clock to ensure our community receives the support and resources they need to recover from this catastrophic event.
Maria is a member of the Rotary Club of Sanibel-Captiva and organized the volunteer efforts for disaster relief, muck removal and building gut projects. Since Ian, Maria has joined the Health and Social Service Branch of the Resilience Lee Task Force, the Lee County Unmet Needs Governing Board and was awarded the Rotary District Disaster Response award. Maria leads by example and helps other staff in the organization bring that energy to their work. Maria is eager to find solutions by thoroughly thinking through processes with a big picture lens and making intentional decisions for the greater good of the community. She is respected widely by FISH staff, leadership, volunteers, and the Sanibel/Captiva communities as a go-getter, problem solver, and a compassionate advocate for those in need. Most recently, Maria was recognized by the community and her peers as the recipient of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce 2022 Young Professional of the Year award.
Maria treats everyone with kindness, respect, and empathy in her interactions. She brings positivity into every project or day, setting the tone for the culture at FISH that spreads to those we serve. She’s transparent and open to new ideas or perspectives and has developed new ways to serve our community, joined long term recovery groups and task forces, fostered new partnerships and encouraged team members to expand their role to assist community members. These qualities translate to a workplace and a social service organization that is approachable which in turn allows FISH to be more effective in its work.
Submitted by: Maggie Goldsmith
Hero: Ron Bartolmucci
'All in from Day 1'
I would like to nominate Ron Bartolomucci as my Hurricane Hero. On Day 1 after the storm Ron decided that he would help us rebuild our condominium complex, Blind Pass Condominiums on Sanibel.
The day after the storm Ron contacted a friend of his who owned a boat. Ron got himself and a crew of his workers to Sanibel every day for the next two weeks before the Causeway was reopened. Ron and his crew secured our eight buildings and tarped all our roofs so that no more damage could occur. He has worked tirelessly these past 10 months to repair and help rebuild 107 individual owners’ units.
Ron has managed to navigate all the issues that have popped up these past months to keep progress moving along to get us back to where we were before Hurricane Ian hit. Ron has worked with the Insurance Adjusters, Public Adjuster, Electrical Contractors, Plumbing Contractors, Debris removal company, Engineers, Framing contractors, Roofing Contractors, Fire Systems companies, City and Building Officials at Sanibel to get our complex rebuilt.
Without the help of Ron Bartolomucci from Day 1 after Ian hit, I don’t know where we would be today in this process without him!
Submitted by: Dean Engdahl
Heroes: Organizations that were nominated
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Ian recovery boosted by Sanibel Island heroes
