CLEAN : Sun shines in Bonita Springs exposing Irma's destructive work

The speaker describes their experience with a storm surge, noting it was less severe than expected. They discuss the challenges of navigating through flooded areas, including taking multiple routes due to downed trees and high water levels. Despite these obstacles, they persistently searched for a passable route and eventually succeeded.

What was the speaker's initial expectation regarding the storm surge?

What was the condition of the roads that the speaker had to navigate?