Sanibel Island

Californians may mourn the charred Joshua tree, Floridians the loss of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island.

But Sanibel Island, one of the area’s most popular vacation destinations, was hit especially hard.

Home to Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach and Fort Myers, where Ian made landfall, the county recorded a death toll from the storm higher than anywhere in the state.

The marine researchers on the cruise found high counts of the naturally-occurring algae that causes red tide offshore Punta Gorda, Boca Grande and southwest of Sanibel Island.

They offer work demolishing storm-damaged buildings on wealthy Sanibel Island and tarping roofs in Fort Myers.