Robert Podgorski had no idea how powerful Hurricane Ian could be. Then, within hours, his home, business and life as he knew it, were flooded and destroyed. 'It was just so unfathomable,' he said. 'The next thing you know I lost my entire life.'
He swam to safety from his flooded Florida home as Hurricane Ian destroyed his business:"I lost my entire life"As floodwaters swallowed Robert Podgorski and Jennifer Carbajal's home, the two swam to the safety of a neighbor's second-story balcony with their dogs above their heads. At the same time, their small and well-loved Fort Myers business, the Green Cup Cafe, was being decimated. Podgorski and Carbajal were living with two roommates when Ian hit.
The water was filled with gasoline from all the cars and boats it had damaged, unleashing carbon monoxide within the neighbor's house., which are odorless and colorless, can quickly become deadly during storms. Podgorski became lightheaded and another person in the house had to stand outside during the storm to be able to breathe. "That was probably the scariest moment in my life, thinking that we're not done yet," he added."...
But then, water that was once hundreds of yards away from the restaurant found its way into its walls. Based on the damage, Podgorski believes there was roughly 5 feet of raging water inside – he's 6 feet tall, and says the water got to about the height of his chest. Now, as he and Carbajal stay in the guest room of one of their restaurant patrons, all Podgorski can do is focus on rebuilding and keeping his employees paid, a feat that will cost up to $20,000 a month. That doesn't include the thousands it will cost to redo the cafe, which needs its walls rebuilt, new electric and plumbing and thousands of dollars worth of new equipment. The couple launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs.
The loss of their home and business is scarring, but Podgorski also knows people who are among the more than 100 whoOfficials are continuing to survey the state – evenon Wednesday – but Podgorski says he hopes they continue to pay attention to the millions impacted by the storm after the immediacy ends.
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