In search of the Hurricane Ian heroes. Who are they? We want to know

A grateful Karen Plak gets a hug from Toney Wade of the United Cajun Navy in the Island Park neighborhood on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. The United Cajun Navy was handing out food, water and supplies to those that have been affected by Hurricane Ian. Plak was living on the bare necessities before the United Cajun Navy arrived.

Hurricane Ian will live in our memories forever. So will the countless people who stepped up in heroic ways on Sept. 28, 2022, and in shocking days and weeks after this historic storm turned much of Southwest Florida upside down.

Maybe it was your neighbor, or a friend of a friend you heard did something above and beyond. Maybe it was somebody in an official role, like local government or law enforcement. Maybe it wasn’t even a person, but a group of people who became a team to make a difference.

This is where we are asking for your help. The News-Press and Naples Daily News are in search of the Heroes of Hurricane Ian for a series of stories we are planning for the one-year anniversary of Ian. We have some of our own candidates in mind, but we know there are others out there and it is impossible for us to wrap our arms around everything that was going on that day, and the following weeks, in Southwest Florida.

Marylou Holler gets a hug from Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith on the dock at Port Sanibel Marina after being evacuated from Sanibel on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

We are looking far and wide − from Marco Island in Collier County all the way up to Boca Grande in northern Lee County.

It’s a simple as a quick email (see below) with a name, contact information and a few details for why this person or persons should be given Hurricane Ian Hero consideration.

We know lives were lost. We know homes were destroyed. We know recovery will take years. Without the efforts of so many in this community, all of the above could have been much, much worse. We want to recognize at least a few of these people (heroes) in a special way and we appreciate your help in finding them!

Please send your nomination(s) to mbickel@gannett.com and make sure to include your contact information, the contact information of the nominee (if you have it), and why this person should be called a Hurricane Ian Hero.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Ian created instant heroes but who are they