Surviving the Storms - Presentation by Charles Sobczak

This event is at capacity and we are accepting names for a waiting list (standing room only).

Please join on Thursday, March 28 at 6 pm when author and lecturer Charlie Sobczak returns to Copperfish Books with a new presentation called "Surviving the Storms: Hurricanes, Humans & Wildlife." Charlie is known for his “eco-humor” -- always fun as well as informative. 

We have copies of Charlie's book The Living Gulf Coast: A Nature Guide to Southwest Florida—a must-have for SW Florida residents and visitors — and he will be pleased to sign copies.

About the Presentation
After Hurricane Ian's devastation on Sept. 28, 2022, Charles Sobczak witnessed firsthand the massive storm's impact on both the residents of Sanibel and the wildlife that share this barrier island's ecosystem. Reflecting on the trauma of the deadly storm surge and 145-mph winds, Sobczak investigated how people, properties and wildlife survived the storm and what lessons Ian carries forward in a warming world.

In this PowerPoint presentation, Sobczak tackles questions such as: How does the immobile gopher tortoise survive an eight-foot storm surge? What happens to freshwater fish when their ponds suddenly become filled with saltwater? Why do many native plant species, supposedly adapted to saltwater surges, die regardless? Why do some homes survive these storms unscathed while others are reduced to rubble?

"Surviving the Storms" will also feature an in-depth history of the hurricanes that have impacted Southwest Florida, from the unnamed storm that struck Punta Rassa on Oct. 7, 1873, with a 14-foot storm surge, through Hurricane Donna in 1960 and all the way to the recent storms of Charley (2004) and Ian. With the threat of "rapid intensification" and the increasing risks posed by climate change, what will be the impact of these powerful storms on our ability to insure our homes and businesses? How we can harden our structures to survive them? This timely presentation will interest anyone living in or visiting Southwest Florida.

About Charles Sobczak
Charlie Sobczak has been a featured lecturer with Road Scholar and has presented to the The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, The Harvard Club and Sarasota Sierra Club, among others. Charlie’s lectures are memorable for their relevance and sense of humor. He lives in Sanibel, Florida.