City of Sanibel
Tourism Center
To: The Mayor
From: Dean Dungaree, City Tourism Director
Regarding: General Island Facts, Hurricane Worries
I just wanted to let you know my feelings about this hurricane. I am worried that we will end up frightening our tourists if we make a big deal about this storm. I say we should let people make up their own minds.
I know that you know the basic facts:
- Our island has the Gulf of Mexico on one side and that San Carlos Bay on the other.
- Our island is a tourist hotspot! A bridge connects our island to the city of Pensacola. Visitors love to come here to fish, swim, or just sit on the beach.
A lot of people here have already been through one hurricane - Hurricane Erin. That storm picked up strength so quickly that there wasn't time for everyone to get out.
Sure, the storm frightened some of those people, but others thought it was great. Yes, there was some damage - the winds reached 85 miles per hour. But some local residents rode out the storm then, and they can do it again.
It's true that this storm looks a lot more powerful - Erin was only a category one storm; Olivia is a category four right now. But why not let people make up their own minds? Let them decide if they want to take the risk.
Our businesses depend on tourists. There are stores, hotels, condos, restaurants, and more. There is still a good chance the storm will miss us. If it does, evacuation would cost us a lot of money for nothing.
I say we should let people make up their own minds. Let people know what is happening, but don't force them to leave.
Many people are already evacuating on their own, but some people will stay here just to see the storm! This will mean money for our businesses - money they may need to clean up from the storm.
Click here to read the next memo:
Mayor's Assistant: "We already weathered one hurricane"