Hurricane Ian made landfall with a vengeance last week. The catastrophic storm that kept everyone guessing made landfall south of Punta Gorda as a Category 4 hurricane. Its sustained winds wreaked havoc along much of the southwest coast of Florida. Heavy rainfall and a historic storm surge crested post-storm, guaranteeing widespread flooding in many Florida counties.
Details of Desoto County Post-Storm
The Peace River, usually a lazy and meandering body of water, crested at an alltime high of 23.9 feet, flooding homes, RV’s, and businesses. Arcadia and the surrounding area received more than 20 inches of rain as Hurricane Ian dropped roughly half a year’s worth of rain within hours.
One week after the storm made landfall, residents are still experiencing extensive flooding. While many residents hunkered down, the resulting flood waters caught many by surprise.
Using small boats and airboats, The National Guard deployed to rescue stranded residents. At the same time, volunteers handed out hot meals, water, and other necessities. In DeSoto County, over 149,000 meals have been distributed, over 900,000 bottles of water, and 1,200 tarps.
Updates on Peace River Charters
The flooding left the Peace River Charters property underwater. Most importantly, our staff, boats, animals, and equipment are safe! Supplies are arriving via boat, and we are working to clear debris, clean the property, and organize.
Our beloved big fella Dale, smaller alligators, tortoises, ponies, goats, steers, and your other favorite animals are safe and snacking on their hurricane snack!
At this time, we are unable to operate our tours. We have created a makeshift office to call customers and touch base with those who have tours scheduled. We will continue to share updates as we prepare to reopen. Our plan is to resume tours by October 17, though that plan hinges entirely on the water receding.
We are grateful to our customers, supporters, and friends who have sent messages of support and to those who have inquired about our safety. Peace River Charters looks forward to the day when we can once again take you on a real Florida ride.