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Fort Myers Beach was particularly hit hard by the 15-foot storm surge. Florida Gov. The half-sunken hulls of storm-scuttled ships. hide caption. Remember to call the business directly for up-to-date information. I watched out my window ground-level homes go totally underwater, Tillo said. Greg Allen/NPR MEXICO BEACH, Fla. Forecasters with NOAA say the Atlantic Hurricane season which begins today will be busier than usual. It was in October 2018 when Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach with 160 mile per hour winds and a 17-and-a-half-foot storm surge. This week, major flooding is threatening that recovery. One of the places severely damaged by Hurricane Ian was Fort Myers Beach, and seven months later, theres still more to do, but theyve come a long way. Businesses still shuttered. Were hoping that this influx of the water into the bay doesnt damage the structure of that bridge, Rios said. Its wonderful all the things youre doing, but talk to us.. Rebuilding Details Historical Timeline An earlier version of this article stated that the U.S. Virgin Islands no longer requires negative covid-19 test results from vaccinated travelers. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a photo from Martinique. But on a visit to the island in late August, a checkerboard of remaining damage was visible all around. Two years after Hurricane Irma, many damaged buildings can still be seen on Saint Martin, the French side of the island.CreditMeghan Dhaliwal for The New York Times. He says, "We're going to have what I call a functional paradise once again." A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, Sensing Blood In The Water, Multiple Opponents Are Circling Ken Paxton, Afghans Who Helped U.S. for more business re-openings. But in May 2018 neither destination was yet ready for prime time. Tillo, who spent his life dedicated to his artistry, had been through every major storm to hit Southwest Florida in the last few decades. Cracking down on antisemitic acts in Florida, all the way from Isreal, after a new law protects people by hardening punishment for antisemitism. Published April 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM EDT. Rockport Mayor Pat Rios says serious flooding this week has prompted the city to make its ninth disaster declaration since Hurricane Harvey. Rockport, Texas continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey. The number does not include condos, villas and Airbnb properties. Some places have recovered but there is still very noticeable areas of ruin. It's an on going rebuild. "In a way," he says, "the hurricane has forced us tostay in your lane, worry about what you got, take care of your stuff. Recovery is also hamstrung by the fact that few are left untouched by a severe disaster: The officials responsible for leading the recovery are themselves sometimes fighting to get on their feet. Join TravelAge West and severalAlaskapartners for a three-part series exploring all the incredible possibilities https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/A-return-to-St-Martin. Many here see it as the end of an era. Daytona Beach December 30, 2022. A Google search on Thursday showed the Publix with a message listed in orange saying the store would reopen on May 25. We want our little Publix on the island, Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said. In Saint-Martin, the toughest, most uncomfortable questions are less about who will pay for rebuilding France has delivered more than a half-billion dollars of aid but where and how to rebuild, or whether to rebuild at all amid the threat of evermore powerful storms. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hurricane Ian: A birds eye view of SWFLs recovery one month later. It's slated to open later this year. During Hurricane Harvey, wind did the most significant damage in Rockport. We are going through our standard processes before we open any store to ensure we are prepared to provide all our customers with the best possible experience. I was getting my first look at the dual-nation island of Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin since it was slammed by Hurricane Irma 20 months ago. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hurricane Ian: A birds eye view of SWFLs recovery one month later. Throughout Southwest Florida, six months after Hurricane Ian, rebuilding is going slowly. Some people read the letter. Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt says the height limit will be raised and new hotels and condo buildings will be taller. That was construction workers, residence employees, and things like that. hide caption, Volunteers load free drywall into trucks and SUVs during a recent giveaway at Beach Baptist Church on Fort Myers Beach. The French state runs a famously laborious bureaucracy that, according to residents, has slowed the rebuilding process. We write about Florida beaches on every coast. This location was torn down and built back, brick by brick.. When hotels are wrecked by a storm, business dries up, unemployment soars and government coffers suffer. Crouse says the risk of living on the coast in an area that was recently leveled by a hurricane hasn't hurt home values. "I pay attention. ", Big changes are underway on Fort Myers Beach. May-Ling Chun, director of tourism for St. Maarten, referred to the Sonesta re-openings earlier this year as "just one of many stories of inspiring recovery on this island. "You can see how the front of the sanctuary was just devastated." ", Jim Atterholt, vice mayor of Fort Myers Beach, stands in front of Chapel By the Sea. Three-and-a-half years later, the mountains of debris are gone and rebuilding is well under way. WebUpdate July 2021: Grand Case has been hit very hard by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and is only slowly recovering from the damages. I saw boarded-up homes and businesses and rusted hulls of yachts along shore lines. But with the hurricane, Critser says, for better or worse, opposition to redevelopment has melted away. Grant Brown, the Gulf Shores spokesman, said the city has hauled away 80,000 cubic yards of debris since the storm, but still has another 450,000 cubic yards to move. Theres nothing we couldve done for Michael. But the differences have also left some on the Dutch side wondering whether in their haste to rebuild, and in their comparatively looser regulatory environment, the rebuilding did not happen with enough thought given to withstanding future storms. hide caption. The resort's owner, Bob Boykin says as terrible and destructive as the hurricane was, it now provides the island with an opportunity to build for the future. But to do that, we're going to have to provide houses for those families to live in. It was crazy.. It's the first major business to reopen here since the storm. hide caption. Greg Allen/NPR A police sergeant with the Golden Beach Police Department is recovering after being shot overnight Saturday during a pursuit of two suspects in a stolen vehicle, authorities said. SAINT-MARTIN, French West Indies In the debris that had once been furniture and a roof were the vestiges of a holiday home: a cluster of flip-flops, a romance novel, a childs ball floating in a plunge pools fetid waters. Jah Bash, a farmer, says the governments recovery effort is a conspiracy to take over the island.. Troops Say Theyre Running Out Of Time As They Await Visas, How Austins Multibillion-Dollar Transit Expansion Hinges On Federal Racial Equity Standards, Sin Vergenza: Mexican Soccer Wanted Women To Pay The Penalty The Mens Team Earned, Allen West Ramps Up The Drama In Final Days As Texas GOP Chair, Texas Republicans push to end countywide voting. All Rights Reserved.301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ On Oct. 19, 2022, three weeks after Ian washed away two major parts of the Causeway, Desantis announced it would reopen to the public. The former Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort, whose site was obliterated by Irma and later purchased by Sunwing Travel Group, will reopen as a Planet Hollywood property in 2020. That's especially a concern for people who live in the Southeast and along the Gulf coast. Unfortunately, the area has been stricken by Hurricane Irma, and not much has been rebuild. How much money has been distributed from the Florida Disaster Fund? After the cleanup, and less than two months after the storm hit, Cielo became the first restaurant to open on Sanibel. "But I don't think it will be like Miami," he says. There are few places to stay on Fort Myers Beach now, but visitors, especially those with long ties to the island, have already begun to return. Hi inOr, Many of us have been back on the island since Irma, some of us several times. Here are links to a few posts you may find helpful. https:// In Rockport, which was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey nearly four years ago, even more rain is expected Friday. He fractured his foot while picking up the pieces of his life. ", Doster's home was flooded and he's doing the repairs himself. Greg Allen/NPR But that state largess may have undermined private initiative during this reconstruction period. Buildings without roofs. WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPBF) West Palm Beach native John McKendrick says he missed all the warning signs. While we still dont know exactly when the store will reopen, people on the island say theyre willing to stick it out. The foundation, in the foreground, of the home owned by Bernadette Carty that was devastated in the hurricane. But Ms. Feucher conceded that persuading people to accept new regulations is no easy task. But in May 2018 neither destination was yet ready for prime time. The rebuilt Driftwood Inn is the first major business to reopen in Mexico Beach since Hurricane Michael. They pulled up their socks and got on with it, said Lorraine Talmi, board president of the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association. Copyright 2023 Waterman Broadcasting of Florida, LLC. The town is just beginning discussions about how it can develop more workforce housing. The amount of traffic on Sanibel and the Causeway, rebuilt in less than a month after Ian, its clear that the people of Sanibel can, and will, do whatever it takes for their community. Hurricane recovery is hard anywhere. The rebuilt Driftwood Inn is the first major business to reopen in Mexico Beach since Hurricane Michael. Now, Boykin says, some employees are commuting to the island from homes 30 or 40 miles away. Shawna Wood and her father, Tom Wood, say their hotel has been rebuilt to be able to withstand 140 mph winds. According to Miami-Dade Urban Search and Rescue records, 5,126 structures on Sanibel were considered damaged., Red tide, blue-green algae, and other water bacteria issues are monitored by, The State of Florida. The top French official on the island says she wants more restrictions on construction in the areas most at risk to future storms, in order to protect lives and the economy. Then we come back.. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hurricane Ian: A birds eye view of SWFLs recovery one month later. At 11:52 a.m. on Thursday, a 33-year-old male was hit at the City Pier. So, Friday night, theyre demanding action in the cell phone lot at Southwest Florida International Airport. Household trash pickup is operating on a regular schedule. Should inmates in Texas be eligible for early parole if they exhibit good behavior? ", At Beach Baptist Church, Doug Miller has been serving a free breakfast and lunch for residents since the day after the hurricane. Buildings will now have to be elevated to protect them from flooding in future storm events. For the most part, the Dutch side of the island is up and running, with new attractions like the Rainforest Adventures Rockland Estate and Topper's Rhum Distillery. Seabourn will do a circumnavigation cruise of Africa, Enjoying the magic of Maui at Marriott's Wailea Beach Resort, A plane with 14 seat products? GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) Alabamas beaches have reopened, but the states coast has hardly recovered fully from the effects of Hurricane Sally last month. That rules out high-rise condo buildings and other developments that might begin to erode Mexico Beach's small-town character. With the help of a developer, he hopes his rebuilt church complex will include workforce housing. Published April 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM EDT. This year was a different story. Sunburned tourists waved as my flight zoomed low over the beach. Sandy Ground bracketed by a bay on one side and a lagoon on the other was first settled by squatters decades ago, many of them black immigrants from other Caribbean islands. A week before the official start of hurricane season, meteorologists began tracking a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. Contractors with FDEM will continue to collect this debris. Hotels and restaurants have reopened, and tourists are again lounging on its beaches. Its astounding to see, Preece said. There are two housing developments going up and a third one starting soon. Smith, now the former Mayor of Sanibel, loved the governors idea but didnt know how he could get it done. Ms. Feucher said she was trying to get the population to take the long view in these matters: that getting the rebuilding right, even if it takes time, could save lives in the next big storm. Ms. Feucher, the deputy prefect for Saint-Martin, is convinced that some areas of the territory are just too dangerously exposed to the power of the most severe storms to be safely inhabitable. MUST WATCH: Aerial tour of SWFL seven months post-Hurricane Ian, Official opening day scheduled for Fort Myers Beach Publix, Fort Myers Beach, FL Publix Structural Analysis, Man arrested after throwing Bud Light can at woman & children in San Carlos Park, Clewiston man dead after car crash in Alva, Panthers oust record-setting Bruins 4-3 in OT in Game 7, Forecast: Warm, sunny and less humid weather Monday, One victim from Downtown Fort Myers shooting identified. Many homes, too damaged to be repaired, are waiting to be demolished. Tourists on Great Bay Beach in Sint Maarten. Gulf-front lots are going for a million beachside or a half a million. Doug Miller grills up free food to give to weary homeowners and workers at Beach Baptist Church on Fort Myers Beach. On the eve of Hurricane Ian, Shanna Matyas and her family removed every watch and piece of jewelry from her Downtown Jewelry & Watch Co. store in Fort Myers. ", Doug Miller grills up free food to give to weary homeowners and workers at Beach Baptist Church on Fort Myers Beach. Its been two years since the Florida Panhandle town of Mexico Beach was leveled by Category 5 Hurricane Michael. We didnt know it could take months, it could take a year we didnt have a timeline, really, Councilmember Smith said. Ron DeSantis, and the effort has made its way to schools here in southwest Florida. By Jill AmentJuly 9, 20211:09 pmEnergy & Environment. Noticeable in most of Saint-Martins neighbourhoods, Hurricane Irmas visit results are surprising. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. On the French side of the island, Hurricane Irma damaged about 95 percent of the buildings, including the home of Bernadette Carty. That could be a model for Fort Myers Beach. And as the water was crashing in on his home, Tillo was fighting to survive. "You had some fire sales there in the beginning," he says. And someone had put in a new starter and a new battery in the car well, and they rolled down the window, and they say, Excuse me, sir, do you need help? Photo Credit: Gay Nagle Myers. Just getting dropped off and walking up and down Periwinkle. "I need probably five times this many. When things go wrong, those in power often promise to make it right. Charlie Doster took the maximum available, 25 sheets saying, "I need probably five times this many. She did so out of security concerns with the potential for looting amid widespread power outages. The town's mayor says FEMA has so far reimbursed about half of what's needed for rebuilding. He laughs when asked if his insurance helped. The damaged bathrooms have been removed. Pastor Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church operates a forklift moving supplies into his damaged church. The oldest church on the island, Chapel by the Sea, also now is just ruins. NBC2 asked when the store will reopen, but we havent heard back. Valerie Damaseau, St. Martin's minister of tourism, youth, sports and district culture, told me that "the recovery is a slow process. Lee County was responsible for debris pick up on Estero Boulevard and that service ended on March 1. But the storm's impact was unpredictable. Along the South Texas Coastal Bend, heavy rains this week have brought major flooding, and concerns about drinking water supplies to cities including Corpus Christi, Port Aransas and Rockport. She couldnt have predicted what actually happened. Shawna Wood adds, "Our bank was the first thing to come back. Two years after Hurricane Irma, many damaged buildings can still be seen on Saint Martin, the French side of the island. Some residents, and the city itself, are still repairing damage caused by the hurricane. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.What are forum guidelines? WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We eat lunch every day at Publix, said Mike Mulrooney, who works at Snook Bight Marina on the island.. But I also drove through some vibrant neighborhoods. Immediately after the storm blasted the island, President Emmanuel Macron of France promised a speedy recovery for the French side. The man behind Mattress Mack: salesman, gambler introvert? Unfortunately, the Club Orient property was completely wiped out by hurricane Irma in September 2017. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Susan and Bruno are travel bloggers. ", Pastor Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church operates a forklift moving supplies into his damaged church. For questions about pickups, contact Waste Management at 239-334-1224. This church was destroyed by Hurricane Ian's 150 mph winds and a wall of water that pummeled the island in September 2022. "Individual houses (are) coming back tenfold," Wood says. No deadline has yet been set for this work to end. We are right back there at the top of the market, and it's still climbing.". "Thanks for coming," he said. The right of way removal service for hurricane-related debris in Fort Myers Beach has been extended until further notice. Residents were also advised that applications for private property debris removal are no longer accepted. Drivers who encounter them have gotten stuck. "I don't think it's so forgotten anymore.". Volunteers load free drywall into trucks and SUVs during a recent giveaway at Beach Baptist Church on Fort Myers Beach. Uber and Lyft drivers demanding change to make ends meet, Former employee accused of breaking into, stealing money from Naples store, Future of education uncertain as DeSantis targets DEI, Sanibels recovery efforts seven months after Hurricane Ian. Here's how Fort Myers Beach, Southwest Florida are recovering 6 months after Hurricane Ian Kim Luciani USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA 0:00 2:11 On Sept. While the French state may seem overbearing to some in Saint-Martin, whose residents are French citizens, its people are entitled to all the protections of Frances generous social net. Along the South Texas Coastal Bend, heavy rains this week have brought major flooding, and concerns about drinking water supplies to cities including Corpus Christi, Port Aransas and Rockport. Friday, for perhaps the first time, we know what happened behind closed doors in the days after Hurricane Ian. When the Coast Guard got to Southwest Florida, Tillo was one of the people that needed rescuing. Pinel Island in St. Martin is a popular day trip for visitors. I think theres plenty of room for compromise.. Boffman told WPMI-TV he has no insurance and his mobile home may not be habitable due to damage. Changing mentalities is always difficult, she said. Its up to about 8,000 a day, Marcus Preece, general manager of Cielo, said. After Hurricane Ian, many people wondered how Sanibel and its Causeway would come back and how long would it take? Saturday night shooting in downtown Fort Myers under investigation. (Sophia Germer/The Advocate via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Information on applications submitted prior to the March 29 deadline is available at 850-961-2002, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Waterways debris removal contractors vetted by the Florida Division of Emergency Management have been cleaning Hurricane Ian debris from public waterways for several months. Well in this small world, people want to know when Publix will be open.. But there are signs the town is starting to come back. She was one of 11 people who died on the French side of the island, according to the local authorities. Anyone can read what you share. For generations, Fort Myers Beach catered to middle-income vacationers, many of them from the Midwest. HOLLYWOOD, FLA. (WSVN) - Golden Beach Police Sgt. The French side of the island was a different scene. Because most of the damage on Fort Myers Beach came from storm surge, only those with flood insurance received significant insurance payouts. The authorities turned a blind eye to the settlement, allowing it to grow, and now thousands of people live along the neighborhoods narrow streets and unpaved lanes. When is the reconstruction expected to begin? Six months after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, there are many homes that remain untouched. On nearby Sanibel Island, a non-profit corporation supported by the city provides nearly 90 workforce homes, some of which were destroyed in the storm. The Google search saying the store will reopen on May 25 is giving some people hope. The venue for Smart was the two-resort Sonesta complex, a five-minute ride from the airport. On the French side, some believe their patience will pay off with a more resilient island, better able to withstand the effects of the Atlantics warming waters. The right of way removal service for hurricane-related debris in Fort Myers Beach has been extended until further notice. @inOr, if you scroll through several pages of threads you will get lots of information. Many of us have been back, and posted comments or reports. Cruise arrivals jumped 84.4% in Q1 over the same period last year; two new hotels will come on line later this year; and stayover arrivals are up 144% over 2018 year to date. Why hasnt any work been done? It's a story you hear often. hide caption. My arrival was just as I remembered from previous visits. A woman is accused of breaking into a retail store in Naples on Monday, April 3, hiding her identity by holding an umbrella while taking money from the business. Thank you for continuing to reach out and help keep your viewers informed throughout the coming weeks., The same applies for their other store at the corner of Summerlin Road and San Carlos Boulevard. This luxury award-winning all Six months after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, there are many homes that remain untouched. It's now cleaner as of Feb. 27. Considering the dire shape Saint-Martin was in right after the storm, with its infrastructure flattened, the fact that much of the territory is back on its feet confirms the aid has made a difference. Thanks for donating today. We are grateful for our customers and look forward to reopening the Fort Myers location. According to Crowder Gulf Regional Manager Barton Holmes at todays meeting, more than 1.1 million cubic yards of debris has been collected from the right of way since Hurricane Ian. Employees with Uber and Lyft said theyre not getting paid enough, taking high gas prices and inflation into account. hide caption. Sadly, this hidden paradise now look like a ghost paradise. A jet landing in Sint Maarten, where the tourism sector is much larger than that of the French side. GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) Alabamas beaches have reopened, but the states coast has hardly recovered fully from the effects of Hurricane Sally last month. A 15-foot storm surge knocked this house off its foundation on Fort Myers Beach. Ron DeSantis is supporting legislation aimed at propping up the state's troubled insurance industry. This week, major flooding is threatening that recovery. One of Boykin's concerns is where he'll find housing for his employees. "I think we got $700 you know which doesn't go far.". On this anniversary, weve taken to the sky again, this time to Several of the flood-prone coastal neighborhoods of greatest concern to Ms. Feucher have large low-income populations, and many residents suspect the French government is waging a veiled campaign to drive poor, black residents off their land through condemnation so it can be sold to developers. Part of HuffPost World News. The Mercure hotel in Marigot was surrounded by water and debris on Sept. 6, after Hurricane Irma. Charlie Doster was among those collecting the maximum 25 sheets. "For 20 months we have worked together to rebuild, retrain and reunite, and we're gaining momentum day by day.". New HBO Max series Love & Death anchors a Texas true crime story in the human condition. 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