New aerial photos show Little Gasparilla Island in Florida needs help days after Hurricane Milton

GLADES COUNTY, Fla — After Hurricane Milton, Raphaela Williams asked for help for Little Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County, a barrier island with seven miles of beach. It is only accessible by boat. Cars are not allowed, so residents ride golf carts along thin sandy paths.

Williams evacuated and when she returned, she used a generator, Starlink and Facebook to share photos of the destruction in the We Love LGI group. She reported that the island’s chapel remained, but some docks were gone and there was tons of debris.

“Looks like a train went through our main floor and got out on the other side,” Williams wrote of her home.

Other residents asked Williams for updates on her property. Your photos from Thursday showed collapsed houses. There was water and sand intrusion. Golf carts were thrown around like toys. Across the harbor, on the mainland, William Meyers of Rotonda West Township in Charlotte County feared the island was forgotten.

“No officials or assistance have reached us since Hurricane Milton. It’s like we no longer exist while others get the resources,” Meyers wrote in a GoFundMe. “The devastation is immense and heavy machinery is needed to begin rebuilding. It is heartbreaking and traumatic to witness the destruction.”

Williams had similar concerns. She asked islanders returning to the island after Hurricane Milton to check their homes and bring work gloves in men’s and women’s sizes, “machinery, propane, gas, food” and helping hands.

On Saturday the situation began to change. Karress ORourke reported that officials, including the sheriff, were on the island. Williams shared a photo showing a few boxes of “prepared meals” and water in case of an emergency. She also announced that the gas station was open for business but was only accepting cash.

Rob Roberts flew over the island on Friday and shared aerial photos on Facebook. Federal survey flights to capture images of Hurricane Milton’s destruction continued Saturday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released satellite images of the island.

NOAA commissioned the National Ocean Service team for aerial surveys and the National Geodetic Survey team for imagery to determine flood damage and compare baseline coastal areas. The images support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) response.

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