Fort Myers Beach, Fla. (WBH) – Two weeks after Hurricane Ian delivered a devastating and historic blow to Fort Myers Beach, city leaders are ready to help property owners return to the island.
On Saturday, only people with property north of the Times Square area were allowed to return to the island and were forced to board the Matanzas Pass Bridge.
As of Sunday, anyone who owns, rents or has a legitimate purpose to be on the island will be allowed to return.
The city of Fort Myers Beach has decided to close the island on Oct. 1 to allow search and rescue crews to complete their response. A total of 29 survivors have been found, including one as of Thursday.
“It’s in ruins like this, and it’s nothing short of miraculous,” said Councilman Bill Veach. “I’ve heard estimates that 80-90% of the buildings on the island will never be habitable again.”
If you take a road in Fort Myers Beach, you can drive home and find house after house either destroyed or damaged by Hurricane Ian.
“This is one street of dozens,” Veach said.
Sunday will be an eye-opening experience, at least for home and business owners.
Here’s how the city plans to reintroduce property owners:
- Property owners between the Big Carlos Pass Bridge and the Beach Theater on the south end of the island or Times Square and Bowditch Point Park on the north end of the island can enter starting at 7 a.m.
- Properties between the Beach Theater and Publix will be open after 8 p.m.
- Properties between Publix and Town Hall will be open after 9 p.m.
- Properties between Town Hall and Times Square can be accessed after 10 p.m.
“We’re trying to get people on and off as efficiently as possible,” Veach said. “We don’t want a fuss at 7 a.m. with everyone and their moms because what you’re doing is waiting anyway.”
It’s an opportunity to capture what you want and see what it takes to rebuild, but not to go back. Even if the city cannot stop you, there is not much for you on the island.
There is no water. There is no power. There is no food. And it won’t be for a while.
“And it takes a long time to do those things.”
Like Mike Curran Jr. Long-term residents don’t need all that. After all, he is living in paradise.
“It’s heaven. It took a little left turn,” Carran Jr. said.
From the second flood of the beach house, there is not even the slightest hint of the natural disaster outside.
“It’s comfort. No, this is my house. This is home,” he said. “This is where I stay. It’s where we raised our family.”
He’s in it for the long haul. How does he do it?
Daniel: “Have you ever gone camping?
Gage: “i’ve got”
Daniel: “So it’s you. You’ve got your answer.”
Unfortunately, he stands out here. A lot of houses now look like Councilman Veach’s house, all but gone.
But make no mistake. He and many other islanders are determined to raise a new beach from the rubble. It may not be what we know, but it is certainly what we learn to love.
“Everyone loves fun Fort Myers Beach. The little old beaches, the little old restaurants, things like that,” Veach said. “Unfortunately, Ian kind of blew the whistle. We have to find a way to reinvent something to make it interesting.
