Nicole Schoch – Class of 1999

Nicole Schoch, a behavior specialist with Lee County School District and a 1999 TAHS graduate, explained how being on the outside of Ian’s eyewall was still a harrowing experience.

Schoch lives in Southern Lehigh Acres, about 25 minutes from Fort Myers. Lehigh Acres is the highest point in Lee county so Schoch’s home did not receive much damage, however, there were many down trees, branches, and limbs over the property.

Two nights after the initial hit of Hurricane Ian, a rainstorm hit Schoch’s community. Schoch became concerned about the destruction that the hurricane and its aftermath storms made upon her community. She saw the devastation of friends and families as they drove down roads where entire trees were ripped from their roots and gas station overhangs laid on the ground.

The parents of a close friend of Schoch on Sanibel Island lost everything. She is grateful that she and her family are safe and did not have much damage, but her thoughts and prayers go out to those that were not as fortunate.

“I am concerned for students as they return to school in the next weeks and will need to find their safe place again to regain a sense of normalcy,” said Schoch.

Schoch said that preparing for the storm was a lot like preparing for a bad snowstorm in Pennsylvania.

She filled all available containers with water and charged all her batteries, flashlights, and a solar-powered radio. Schoch also kept busy by making sure her daughter was occupied with games.

“I remember preparing for one or two tornados growing up and it felt much like preparing for those. However, the devastation is what really took its toll on my emotions,” said Schoch.

According to Schoch, the intensity of the wind was the most frightening thing. The storm sounded like a freight train and trees snapping sounded like popping fireworks.

“When I opened the screen door it slammed shut from the wind and that was the final time I opened the door until the next day. It was scary and very loud,” said Schoch.

The rain lasted for hours as Bridges’s community was hit by the wall of the hurricane. The winds that blew past her home were strong enough to blow mature trees down.

After the storm, the National Guard brought ice, MREs (meals ready to eat), and water to Schoch’s neighborhood.

Many school districts in Lee County provided hot meals and water to residents. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has also been in the area to provide assistance where needed.

Three schools in Lee county were completely destroyed and the teachers lost everything in their classrooms. Schools organized clothing drives with the help of local Kiwanis and the National Guard to help families who lived in the most affected school districts.

Schoch said that Lee County is a beautiful place and she is confident that they will rebuild their community. It will take time, but everyone will come together to help those in need.

But even before the hurricane, there was a lack of affordable housing for teachers in Lee County, and the hurricane will likely make that situation even worse.

Schoch says she’s had enough and plans to return to Pennsylvania soon in search of a new home and a new start.