Hurricane Ian — One Year Later: Williamson Brothers stayed focused on providing fuel during Ian aftermath
Third generation Pine Islander Jimmy Williamson said the priority for Williamson Bros. Marine Construction during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian was to get fuel to the island residents. In the midst of this, they were also able to give fuel to the Pine Island Water Association.
“We gave them 300 or 500 gallons of diesel one day to keep the pumps running. We heard the county wasn’t going to bring supplies and that everyone needed to evacuate and there were people we knew that were not going to evacuate; they wanted to stay and protect their property,” Williamson said.
At Lavender’s Landing boat ramp in Bokeelia, Williamson recalls seeing a retired Marine veteran whom he believes may have been from World War II, standing in line for gas in his Marine cap while clutching an empty gas can. A woman, still in her car, wouldn’t get out of line, even for a restroom break.
“We sent another barge down to St. James City to evacuate some of our men and our work trucks that were on the island because, simultaneously, we were being called upon as a contractor to barge the prime contractor BELFOR, to mobilize them by barge, on Sanibel so they could perform the emergency repairs to the city of Sanibel municipal buildings, the police department, for their emergency response,” Williamson said.
Because of its license as a roofing contractor, Williamson Bros. found itself on a short-list for BELFOR and was able to offer emergency roofing repairs. The company was also able to transport personnel and materials as needed.
Williamson said he asked only for the cost of the fuel on the first day of delivering fuel to Pine Island but, by the end of the day, he found himself giving the fuel away free of charge, because so many donations were coming in from out of state, from those who saw photos and footage of Pine Island and all that Hurricane Ian had wrought.
It was then that Williamson said he directed the funds to the Matlacha Hookers.
Matlacha Hooker Julia Gaylor was instrumental in the efforts made by Williamson Bros. following Hurricane Ian, he said, describing Gaylor as a 24-hour hotline, with massive amounts of energy.
“After I delivered fuel, I came out with a truck and delivered building supplies that they (the Matlacha Hookers) collected. I delivered to residents on the island that didn’t have a truck to put drywall, plywood — things like that,” Williamson said.
In a multi-joint venture purchase one year later, Williamson Bros. Marine Construction has acquired three local marinas; Jug Creek Marina, Wallace Marina, and Saint James City Marina, where there will be additional dock space for Phuzzy’s Boat Shack.
Williamson Bros. Marine Construction is at 2944 South St., in Fort Myers. For more information, call 239-283-2013 or visit wbdockbuilders.com.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC, please email pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com