"Mommy, Don’t Let Me Die": Surviving Hurricane Ian
On the ground in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, I coordinated with my anchor and crew to capture the story of the Gutierrez family, who lost everything when Hurricane Ian made landfall. Maribel Guiterrez recounted the harrowing moments that the foundation of their home started to crumble as the storm surge came in, forcing the family of six to find refuge at a friend's house. In the middle of the hurricane, her son begged her, “Mommy, don’t let me die.”
Six months after Hurricane Ian, I returned to Fort Myers Beach, Florida, to speak with the Gutierrez family about the process of recovery. I found out that the emotional wounds from that day are still very fresh, while the financial challenges of starting anew are ongoing.
