When Hurricane Ian struck Sanibel Island, Florida, in 2022, Michele Vikartofsky made the decision to remain in her second-floor condo. Upon realizing that most of the few people left in the complex were on the first floor, she reached out to everyone via text, offering them shelter in her unit.
Before long, her doorbell rang, and neighbor Larry Leventhal, along with several others, came to ride out the storm together. The water soon rose 13 feet high, flooding the building.
Leventhal, who had lost his wife in 2021, and Vikartofsky, who had gone through a divorce, soon found that Hurricane Ian had wiped out their cars and destroyed the contents of their storage units.
Prepared for Hurricane Helene, the couple showcases their teamwork, painting Michele’s condo as the winds began to rise
Over the next couple of days, they bonded as they explored the devastation Ian had left behind on Sanibel Island. “We got to know each other by walking around and seeing the destruction,” Michele tells PEOPLE.
As the months passed, their connection grew stronger. Vikartofsky, now 69, and Leventhal, 73, began walking their dogs together daily and talking endlessly. Over time, Michele realized she had fallen in love with Larry, praising his kindness, generosity, and humor.
Larry, too, realized his feelings in December, and just a few weeks ago, the couple got engaged. When Hurricane Helene was predicted to strike, the pair were prepared to face it together. They parked their cars four miles away at higher ground and painted Michele’s condo as the winds picked up to 70 mph.
While the winds fell short of hurricane strength, the water began rising by 5 p.m. “We thought we had made it through,” Michele reflects, “and then the water started coming up.”
Larry recalls watching the water climb steadily, prompting them to check the situation. As the water rose to his knees near the elevator, they were relieved it wasn’t as severe as Ian’s impact. They returned to Michele’s condo and managed to sleep until 2:30 a.m., when they woke up to walk to the beach.
“I think surviving Ian has made us feel invincible,” Michele explains. “It wasn’t scary, just sad to witness the damage again.” They attempted to retrieve their cars but turned back after Michele became uneasy when the water rose above her ankles.
“I got a little frightened and decided to go home,” she admits, while Larry, being more daring, continued the trek. Larry eventually found himself trudging through knee-deep water and chose not to risk driving back, walking the four miles home instead.
Their condo complex ended up with a foot of water, and several streets were still submerged by midday on September 27. Despite the flooding, their storage unit contents remained salvageable. While they feel lucky to have escaped the worst, Larry notes, “We’re just incredibly fortunate people.”
