Rescuing 1,200 after Hurricane Ian's powerful punch, SW Florida boating brothers honored
There's hospitality, and then there's HOSPITALITY, as we all saw in the aftermath of devastating Hurricane Ian.
Many played a role in assisting the public that horrific Sept. 28 day and the subsequent weeks, often as part of their jobs, their calling, their mission in life.
Others, though, took it beyond, as a personal responsibility for their hometown, their neighbors, whether strangers or not.
Like Noah and Josh Stewart, who run Adventures in Paradise boat excursions. Yes, his name is Noah, and yes, he helped immensely during a flood. And boy, did the Sanibel-raised brothers have an adventure when paradise appeared gone, and island villagers and visitors needed rescuing.
Among the winners selected out of 784 nominations from vacationers, travel professionals and residents, the pair were honored at Thursday's 23rd annual Elaine McLaughlin Outstanding Hospitality Service Awards by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau and The News-Press. Also known as the E Awards and held at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, they're named after the former head of Lee's tourism office, which helps guide the vital $4 billion local industry.
What was first Sanibel rescue effort involving Adventures in Paradise?
Regardless of the industry, that was the furthest of thoughts for the Stewarts, who also run retail shops hammered by the hurricane. Their focus last fall: Doing "whatever it took to help our island," said Noah Stewart, who unlike his trapped brother wasn't on Sanibel for the wicked storm, and that turned out to be fortuitous. By the wee dark hours of the following morning, he had found that some of their vessels from their family's four-decade old business were still floating at the mainland's Port Sanibel Marina off McGregor Boulevard, and he knew where he had to go first.
"We stayed on the island. Highly regret it. Probably the worst decision in my life. (It) was terrifying. Storm surge came up just about to our second floor, and we are closer to the bayside," said Josh Stewart, who also did regular Facebook Live reports to guide marooned inhabitants to safety, connect loved ones and encourage volunteerism instead of his usual "Drinks with Josh" segments known around the island. He recounted his brother finding his family and him first on something not exactly planned out, with the storm crippling communications at that point.
"We biked out, kind of to the end of Dixie Beach (Boulevard). One of the things we knew by daybreak is, 'He's coming. He'll be there.' And sure enough," Josh Stewart said, pausing to try to steady his voice, "he was there."
How many did the Stewart brothers and their teams rescue after Ian?
Despite a lot of what they owned in shambles, the thirty-somethings were just getting started, with the Sanibel Causeway "broke in five different spots, (and) there's no cell service out there. No water. No electricity," as described by Josh Stewart, who also previously was the Sanibel chamber's 2021 volunteer of the year. "Yeah, pretty crummy situation. (It) was horrible. It looks like a war zone. (Instead) of dolphin-watching or taking people to go shelling, we're in emergency mode. (We) are going to try to do what we can to make the most of things, (and) do the best we can."
Tamara Pigott, the visitor bureau executive director, detailed their efforts as she presented Thursday's Hurricane Hero award:
They "immediately started transporting the Sanibel firefighters and police to start search and rescue, (and contacted) staff to see if anyone was available to help run the other boats that survived the storm. From that point on, these nominees ran their boats seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for three weeks straight. They rescued approximately 1,200 people off the island and transported search and rescue teams including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Guard, Red Cross, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, contractors, workers, city and county officials.
"These two individuals were raised on Sanibel and felt that it was their responsibility to do what had to be done with the tools they had to work with. They transported people and pets off the island and brought everything from refrigerators, generators, ice, food, ATVs, cleaning supplies, tools, tarps and building materials out to the island. They saw things that no one ever should have to see and did not stop until the job was done."
When was last time the Hurricane Hero category was used in E Awards?
The hurricane-related category used initially after 2017's Irma came "back for the second and hopefully last time," Pigott said. "When we put the call out that this category would be part of the E Awards, we wereoverwhelmed by the many, many stories shared. (It) was very difficult to pick one nomination out of the many received."
She named several of them, such as Fort Myers Brewing Company's Rob Whyte quickly transforming a food truck into a mobile laundromat and Keep Lee County Beautiful's Trish Fancher "coordinating countless beach, road, and park cleanups all across Lee County."
Who "are the heartbeat of tourism" in Lee County for their many efforts?
But the ongoing long recovery for the industry goes beyond public places. Early on, for example, employees across Southwest Florida helped their hotels and other businesses painstakingly dig out of the wonky-smelling miles of slippery sludge that smothered sites after the flood waters receded.
Staffs from several coastal points were nominated for those tedious tasks and other endeavors including the Lani Kai, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina, Sundial Beach Resort and South Seas Island Resort, which partially reopened in July, two months ahead of schedule.
"You are incredible people," Pigott said, in saluting the numerous undertakings. "You are the heartbeat of tourism. And we are very, very proud of you."
For the 750 or so in attendance, the gathering served as a bit of a reunion, a homecoming, a celebration of sorts, a long way from that dark day 11 months ago. Some Gulf of Mexico destinations, remnants of Old Florida, such as the Sandpiper and Castaways, are gone forever. On Thursday, LSI Companies announced the wrecked vintage Lahaina Inn Resort hit the market for $30 million, and a few days earlier, a touristy spot that for decades had accommodated attractions on Sanibel's west end, such as the Lazy Flamingo, became available for $15 million.
Others like the Outrigger and Neptune are slated to return, but it may be 2026 before doors are reopened. At the same time, Margaritaville hopes for a debut by the end of the year while other new resorts have been proposed like at Moss Marina.
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How were a veteran and a shoeless family assisted at RSW airport?
Thursday's awards included eight categories plus the top Honor of Distinction for Lee County Port Authority Police's Traci Fixler, who fixed several challenges faced by would-be stranded travelers including a U.S. Army war veteran and his service dog, and a shoeless mother and child dumped by a man at Southwest Florida International Airport.
After learning the veteran, who had severe PTSD and other medical issues, "hadn’t eaten in over 24 hours, this individual got to work gathering MREs (ready to eat meals) for the veteran and contacted the K9 unit to see if they had dog food for the service dog," Pigott said. "She was an integral part in making sure this gentleman got back home safely."
In one of the other cases Fixler helped resolve, a young woman and son told authorities they "were driven to the airport by her boyfriend who had kicked them out of the car" after their booked flight had already departed, Pigott said. "She only had $100 to her name, and she and her son did not have shoes on their feet. (Fixler) responded tothe call for help and was able to provide proper clothing for both the mother and child. She also offered to assist in paying for any fees to rebook the missed flight."
As it turned out, the latter wasn't necessary because United Airlines ticket agent Ron Smith "found the previously booked flight and rebooked her at no charge and waived baggage fees," Pigott said, in naming Smith as the winner in the transportation category. "Because of the care this employee showed, the woman and her son were able to fly home safely to her family."
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Who are the 2023 award winners in the Lee tourism industry's E Awards?
Honor of Distinction. Winner: Traci Fixler, Lee County Port Authority Police.
Accommodations. Winner: Ammie Plummer, Hampton Inn Bonita Springs Naples North. Honorable mention: Becky Jo Crews, Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers Airport/FGCU; Michelle French, Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village; Tim Wodjeski, Sanibel Moorings Condominiums.
Attractions. Winner: Kathy Arthur, Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Honorable Mention: Casey Shepherd, Estero River Outfitters; Glynn Moore, Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
Best Tourism Boss. Winner: Jay Frias, Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Myers-Estero/FGCU.
Good Samaritan. Winner: Brian Price, Tim Gard, Lee County Parks & Recreation. Honorable Mention: Joshua Kerekes, Connor Magoon, Christopher Leonard, Sabrina Trout, Gabriela Melendez, Roberte Melidor, Lee County Port Authority Police and HMS Host; Richard Guillen, Chuck Whitright, Lee County Parks & Recreation.
Hurricane Hero. Winner: Noah and Josh Stewart, Adventures in Paradise.
Restaurants. Winner: Marshall Barnhart, Dudley’s Beachside BBQ. Honorable Mention: Donna Friedman, Pinchers Tarpon Point Marina; Justin Spott, Cthyna Louis, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa; David Mable, Shangri-La Springs; Iana Boilard, Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon.
Transportation. Winner: Ron Smith, United Airlines. Honorable Mention: Diann Kynett, Airport Terminal Services; Kristian Blanco, Matthew Timothy, Thomas Sweeney, James Byers, Lee County Port Authority.
Other Services/Businesses. Winner: Glicelle Torres, Home Depot. Honorable Mention: Cheryl Anderson, Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife; Jacki Liszak, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce; Karl Steidinger, Midwest Food Bank.
Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com), who grew up in Southwest Florida, writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Support Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: SWFL boating brothers and workers honored for Ian storm efforts
