LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Storm surge is a major threat in Florida, leading many homeowners on Sanibel Island to elevate their properties after hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton flooded Gulf Coast homes.
SEE WHY THE GULF COAST IS SO VULNERABLE TO STORM SURGE IN THE VIDEO BELOW:
Barb Lasky, who has lived on Sanibel Island for five years, has faced significant challenges during this time. “Ian was the first one. And then Helene and Milton,” Lasky said, describing the repeated storm surges that inundated her home.
In 2024, Lasky captured the surge from Hurricane Helene on camera, but Hurricane Ian was even worse. “I had 4.5ft of water inside the house,” she said, documenting the damage with photos. In 2024, she decided to make a change. “How long did it take you to decide? Okay, we’re going out,” Channing asked. “Three weeks,” Lasky replied. “Three weeks? Why was it so quick?” Channing asked. “Because it’s a lot of work,” Lasky said.
Preparing for hurricanes and the flooding they can bring is a lot of work. “I still have tape on my back doors. I haven’t gotten off yet because it doesn’t come off easy,” Lasky said. Her solution was to lift her house about 10 feet. “So they started May 8th. I was back in the house September 8th,” she said, having dipped into her retirement savings to get the job done. “Can you give me a ballpark of how much it ended up costing you?” Channing asked. “$500,000 to $600,000. You could probably you could do it for $400,000 a house a size without a big deck off the back and without a pool cage,” Lasky said…