Our team is working diligently to get the store prepped and ready for reopening. Officials said the damage was worse in places that from Hurricane Ivan, which landed a direct hit on the same area in 2004. climate change has made hurricanes more destructive. It's led to complaints from locals about "disaster tourism" and snarled traffic already slowed by debris removal and construction equipment. A jet landing in Sint Maarten, where the tourism sector is much larger than that of the French side. The only way to get your attention is to do something to you that you fear, he said. Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith says those homes will be rebuilt and the city is working to add more. 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. In my conversations with the Governor, we were talking about having a Ferry. And you can tell the car was under had been underwater. Sylvie Feucher is the French states top representative in Saint-Martin. Friday, for perhaps the first time, we know what happened behind closed doors in the days after Hurricane Ian. That worries some long-time residents who for decades fought to keep out big developments and protect the island's old Florida charm. 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. The funding Puerto Rico did use was largely spent on emergency work projects, such as debris removal. Rockport Mayor Pat Rios says serious flooding this week has prompted the city to make its ninth disaster declaration since Hurricane Harvey. Two died on the Dutch side, according to the prime ministers office. Ormond Beach and New Smyrna Beach have beach driving available. "You can see how the front of the sanctuary was just devastated." This sailing boat ended up beached in the cemetery of Marigot near the Bay of Nettle on Sept. 9. 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. Florida Gov. Published April 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM EDT. With the help of a developer, he hopes his rebuilt church complex will include workforce housing. This church was destroyed by Hurricane Ian's 150 mph winds and a wall of water that pummeled the island in September 2022. Saint-Martin will be reborn, I am committed, Mr. Macron vowed. I knew I'd be seeing a lot of change on the island, but I was heartened that the landing pattern was still the same. About 5 to []. Abraham Lincoln said, Let the people know the facts and this country will be saved, Atterholt said. After Hurricane Ian, many people wondered how Sanibel and its Causeway would come back and how long would it take? People on Florida's Panhandle used to think they were unlikely to experience a direct hit from a major hurricane. @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. Here, all of the constructions got damaged. Al Cathey, the longtime mayor, says that decision was controversial. Rebuilding Details Historical Timeline For generations, Fort Myers Beach catered to middle-income vacationers, many of them from the Midwest. WINK News asked the City of Sanibel what the estimated population on the island is, but because of the number of people that live there part-time, its difficult to gauge an accurate number. But with the hurricane, Critser says, for better or worse, opposition to redevelopment has melted away. There are many French laws, rulings and court decisions that must be followed before the damaged homes can be removed and rebuilding can commence.". 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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. The FDEM is no longer accepting applications from private and commercial property owners to remove eligible debris, vehicles, vessels, and other title property. Princess Juliana Airport on the Dutch side, which had its roof ripped off and its innards torn apart by the hurricane's wind and water, is functioning pretty well. We were there last week. My short summary is that everything you would need or want is there and ready to go, but expect to see some buildings scat The boutique Read more Maho Village Close to the International Airport, the Maho area's most famous attraction is the beach at the end of the runway. This service extension, which had been provided by the State of Floridas Division of Emergency Management, was approved at Monday's Town Council meeting. hide caption. WebUpdate July 2021: Grand Case has been hit very hard by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and is only slowly recovering from the damages. Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, in particular, since those communities became almost unrecognizable after overwhelming flooding, damage, and devastation. Aerial photos show the recovery of Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in late September 2022, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Employees with Uber and Lyft said theyre not getting paid enough, taking high gas prices and inflation into account. NWS confirms tornado hit Charlotte County. I have called every corporate communications number I could find on the website. Still, St. Martin is making headway. When things go wrong, those in power often promise to make it right. The focus of her mission, backed by Paris, is a push for more severe restrictions on construction and land use in the areas at greatest risk of damage during major storms, like that bluff with the pulverized cottages. COVID didn't help the rebuilding effort. Well, thats the million-dollar question. Hurricane recovery has been no different, revealing that distinctions in culture and governance have had a significant bearing on progress during the past two years. It was a lot like Charlie, it turned last minute. "Everything on the beachside was gone," he says. He says, "The older homes were just completely destroyed. Well in this small world, people want to know when Publix will be open.. 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. We didnt know it could take months, it could take a year we didnt have a timeline, really, Councilmember Smith said. So people like Keith Isaacson could sit down and enjoy a good meal again. ", Pastor Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church operates a forklift moving supplies into his damaged church. We were told that it was going to go to Tampa for every day, Tillo said. Six months after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, there are many homes that remain untouched. It's now cleaner as of Feb. 27. It's slated to open later this year. Marie Abner in her partially destroyed home in the neighborhood of Sandy Ground in Saint-Martin. Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the latest updates on your clients Cruise North America with More Value Than Ever. Property owners who live on the Towns side streets (not Estero Boulevard) can continue to place heavy storm-related debris curbside in the right of way for free pick up until further notice. On Oct. 19, 2022, three weeks after Ian washed away two major parts of the Causeway, Desantis announced it would reopen to the public. After a wet and active week, Monday begins a much more calm and dry stretch for this work week. It's the first major business to reopen here since the storm. This wasteland was on St. Martin, an island that took a direct hit from Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, and where, two years later, recovery is still far from complete. We will do it quickly, we will do it well, and we will do it better.. But that state largess may have undermined private initiative during this reconstruction period. But the threat of hurricanes, climate change and rising seas is not discouraging development along the coasts. It made it difficult to find workers, caused supply problems and pushed up costs. Now, by Ian it's just magnified to such a degree that we have tomake sure people who want to work and live here can afford to. On the Dutch side, much of the rebuilding has been driven by private funds, particularly those associated with tourism, which dwarfs the French-side tourism sector. 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. Mayor Cathey says there's been another change since the storm. "This is a chance todo probably 40 years of (development)in what will probably look like four or five years.". Ocean or bay water advisories are issued to alert the public of real or possible elevated bacteria levels associated with urban and storm runoff at And you can see just driving through town, our town is taller. When hotels are wrecked by a storm, business dries up, unemployment soars and government coffers suffer. But do they? And thats particularly true in Caribbean islands like St. Martin because of a unique combination of factors. In the room, the Mayor of Sanibel at the time, Holly Smith, and Governor Ron DeSantis. The venue for Smart was the two-resort Sonesta complex, a five-minute ride from the airport. The Dunlawton beach access in Daytona Beach Shores is now open for beach driving. hide caption, "When a storm gets in the Gulf, I perk up," he says. He may be 80 but the U.S. Navy veteran has a masters and is quite tech-savvy. In Saint-Martin, a long simmering discontent loaded with racial and class tension is on the verge of boiling over. The beaches are OK, but if you look at the south side of the dunes and the loss of sand, its pretty amazing.. There is still lots of construction going on. Well have divers in the water next week, just to check the integrity of that bridge.. Buildings without roofs. The town's vice mayor, Jim Atterholt, compares it to the destruction some European cities saw in World War II. Buildings will now have to be elevated to protect them from flooding in future storm events. As with two competitive siblings close in age, just about everything that happens on one side demands comparison with the other. This week, major flooding is threatening that recovery. 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. Its wonderful all the things youre doing, but talk to us.. "On the front of the church," he says, "you see this beautiful pristine stained-glass window that was perfectly untouched. It was Miller says, "the working man's beach, nothing too fancy. "Individual houses (are) coming back tenfold," Wood says. The business community has really dug in and gotten things going quickly, Isaacson said. When the Coast Guard got to Southwest Florida, Tillo was one of the people that needed rescuing. At the Pink Shell Beach Resort, cranes tower overhead and jackhammers are tearing up damaged concrete. But Saint-Martins slow, if steady, recovery shows just how difficult coming back from a hurricane can be on a small island, with challenges that go well beyond just the size of financial aid packages. Greg Allen/NPR Recovery has been slow in places like Puerto Rico, but its well on its way in St. Martin, an island that is controlled by France in the north and the Netherlands in the south. Greg Allen/NPR ", "Twenty months ago, the room we're standing in had been ripped apart by the high winds and rain," Chun said. Because most of the damage on Fort Myers Beach came from storm surge, only those with flood insurance received significant insurance payouts. He turned to me, and he said weve got to get that bridge built, Councilmember Smith said. In 2017, Mr. Macron said Saint-Martin will be rebuilt in a durable way that also meets seismic and environmental needs. The widespread destruction, he said, could be blamed in part on buildings that were constructed under conditions that wouldnt have been accepted in other territories of France.. Sadly, this hidden paradise now look like a ghost paradise. 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. Greg Allen/NPR WebThough much smaller than Simpson Bay Lagoon, Oyster Pond is at the center of one of the island's most desirable neighborhoods. He says, "We're going to have what I call a functional paradise once again." "I need probably five times this many." Cracking down on antisemitic acts in Florida, all the way from Isreal, after a new law protects people by hardening punishment for antisemitism. ", Doster's home was flooded and he's doing the repairs himself. The foundation, in the foreground, of the home owned by Bernadette Carty that was devastated in the hurricane. Everything was brown, the dirt, the mud everywhere. If you found the reporting above valuable, please consider making a donation to support it here. Joseph Bautista is on the road to recovery after being shot twice in the arm during a chase in connection to a We had to do things like put hurricane-proof windows in, had to put pilings down. The beaches are open, although a red tide algae bloom has led to big fish kills. It allocated more than $500 million in aid and subsidies in the first six months after the storm to the recovery and reconstruction of Saint-Martin and the smaller, nearby French island of Saint-Barthlemy, according to Sylvie Feucher, the French states top representative based in the two territories. 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. But many working-class residents fear they could be forced to abandon property that has been in their family for generations. Theres nothing we couldve done for Michael. 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. "I pay attention. And they said notice Im limping, and Ive got all these heavy bags. The half-sunken hulls of storm-scuttled ships. We have norms and rules and regulations on the French side, said Angle Dormoy, the president of Saint-Martins Chamber of Commerce. In a town that had some 6,000 year-round residents, people here estimate that only a third or less have been able to return since the storm. To see kids whizzing down the water slides, guests dining and wining at several food and beverage outlets and chaise lounges occupied by guests testifies to the comeback of the two largest resorts on the island. Six months after Hurricane Ian stormed across Southwest Florida, people in many areas are still struggling to rebuild. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - (UPDATE: 8:40 p.m.) Panama City Beach Police have identified the man who was struck by lightning at the City Pier on Thursday. Should inmates in Texas be eligible for early parole if they exhibit good behavior? 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. As Irma rumbled ashore, Ms. Carty, her daughter and two grandchildren dove for cover under a mattress and rode out the storm as it mauled her island. The right of way removal service for hurricane-related debris in Fort Myers Beach has been extended until further notice. This is about 28,714 truck loads. A 15-foot storm surge swept away many structures and left few undamaged. It was in October 2018 Cleanup and rebuilding continues are public access points, however. Greg Allen/NPR But we found that, as of August, the government of Puerto Rico has only expended about $5.3 billion (19%) of available funding. Atterholt is living temporarily in one of those newer homes. Airlines' NDC plans fragment distribution, Dondra Ritzenthaler on her retirement from Celebrity Cruises and what's next, No lava, no problem at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, How All-Inclusives Redefine Luxury Vacations, Tourism booms in Jamaica, overwhelming Sangster Airport, Park Hyatt St. Kitts creates a Destination Dining experience. Its about wealth., Protests against the plan could turn violent, Mr. Bash warned. Publix off Estero Boulevard near the middle of the island has been swarmed with workers in the seven months since the storm. One of our dumpsters floated out from his cage across the parking lot and was about 10 feet back in the trees, Preece said. "I don't think it's so forgotten anymore.". Thats the strength and weakness of France, Ms. Feucher said. 2023 Texas Standard. Top $76,000-a-year New Jersey boarding school admits 'more should have been done' to stop bullying of boy, 17, who took his own life after being falsely He laughs when asked if his insurance helped. 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 remarkable grit and resolve of the people on Sanibel are evident after seeing how the island came back. One case in point: Mexico Beach, a town on the Florida Panhandle almost totally destroyed by a hurricane three years ago, is coming back. 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. Destroyed boats in Simpson Bay Lagoon along the boundary between Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin. ", Doug Miller grills up free food to give to weary homeowners and workers at Beach Baptist Church on Fort Myers Beach. Just getting dropped off and walking up and down Periwinkle. Why hasnt any work been done? An earlier version of this article stated that the U.S. Virgin Islands no longer requires negative covid-19 test results from vaccinated travelers. 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. Weve already got mold growing in my house. In the storm, Pink Shell lost two cottages it used for 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. He says, "We're the exact opposite of South Beach. 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 residents, elected officials and developers, Hurricane Ian has given them almost a clean slate in deciding what kind of community Fort Myers Beach will be. 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. Some suspect a land grab, where their waterfront plots will be taken and sold to wealthy developers. These images, like the ones of Grand Case we shared earlier, were captured by our good friend and SXM resident, Malaika Maxwell, just a few weeks after Hurricane I dined at an elegant French bistro called L'Atelier at Orient Beach. 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. This luxury award-winning all I watched out my window ground-level homes go totally underwater, Tillo said. 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. Plane landings at Princess Juliana Aiport come in low over Maho Beach. Town officials are working on a new comprehensive plan that will determine what the new version of Fort Myers Beach will be. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The consensus view on both sides of the island is that the Dutch half has recovered more quickly. Weve shut off the bedroom where the mold is, and my wife and I are now living in our living room, said Boffman. Pastor Shawn Critser says with the help of a developer, the rebuilt church complex will include workforce housing. A 15-foot storm surge knocked this house off its foundation on Fort Myers Beach. Thanks for your reply. There are so many forum posts about COVID, that I am not sure where to look. Can you point me the way? Inor Status: All clear. The Mercure hotel in Marigot was surrounded by water and debris on Sept. 6, after Hurricane Irma. Pastor Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church operates a forklift moving supplies into his damaged church. The number does not include condos, villas and Airbnb properties. The French government has set up a fund to buy out property owners living in the highest-risk flood zones, but Ms. Feucher insists that nobody will be forced to sell. I'm not a slow learner when it comes to storms anymore.". Mother nature has a way of purifying things and, as painful as After all, at least seven generations of her family had survived numerous hurricanes on this same patch of land, and she figured this time would be no different. The oldest church on the island, Chapel by the Sea, also now is just ruins. for more business re-openings. She did so out of security concerns with the potential for looting amid widespread power outages. This has made the debate less an economic one and more about politics, class, culture and race, often pitting the local majority-black population against the French state. Published April 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM EDT. An apartment complex in Saint-Martin that was ripped apart by the storm sits empty two years later. The News-Press visual journalist Ricardo Rolon recently piloted a drone between 50- to 200-feet above southern Sanibel with views of the damaged lighthouse, Lighthouse Beach and the Gulf and river sides of the island. What will the new Club Orient look like? Rios says hes watching how flood waters impact the ongoing rebuilding of the Key Allegro Bridge, which is the only access to an island containing 800 homes. The conference is a collaborative effort of the Dutch and French tourism offices and hotel associations and normally takes place each spring. I knew I needed to get to the off the island for medical attention, Tillo said. Anyone can read what you share. They pulled up their socks and got on with it, said Lorraine Talmi, board president of the Sint Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association. It came ashore not far from Mexico Beach. The island that Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten occupy was divided between the French and the Dutch in the 17th century. People lived in Tropicana Sands, Plantation Estates, and other mobile home parks, calling it their piece of Heaven. This scene of utter destruction in the aftermath of a Category 5 hurricane was not in the Abaco Islands or on Grand Bahama, devastated by Dorian last month. 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. But Irma was among the most powerful storms ever to hit the island, and a prime example of how climate change has made hurricanes more destructive. He made it through the night and into the next morning. Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin of Sint Maarten said her government had insufficient fiscal, legal and environmental staff to help manage those aspects of recovery after Irma. hide caption. Wood is 82 now. What happens, come what may.". "No," he says. Three-and-a-half years after Hurricane Michael, real estate prices in Mexico Beach are as high as they've ever been. Some people read the letter. The Barrier Islands are an exemplary demonstration of that effort. FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. Few communities in the U.S. have seen the level of destruction Hurricane Ian brought to Fort Myers Beach. Mostly sunny skies and lower humidity for Monday, Tornado touchdown confirmed in Charlotte County, Law stopping hate acts signed by DeSantis, Fort Myers Beach recovery efforts seven months after Hurricane Ian, Downtown Jewelry & Watch Co. in Fort Myers continues Hurricane Ian recovery, Lee County community standing strong after Hurricane Ians devastation. He doesnt understand why FEMA wont help. At 11:52 a.m. on Thursday, a 33-year-old male was hit at the City Pier. However, some are scheduled to open soon including the. Officials here say slow and inadequate insurance payouts are hurting recovery and forcing many long-time residents to sell and leave the island. 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. Fort Myers Beach was particularly hit hard by the 15-foot storm surge. When Hurricane Irma crushed St. Martin two years ago, the French state vowed swift assistance. At least 149 people were killed in the storm from flooding and 155-mile per hour winds. Despite winds over 150 miles per hour, homeowners here have had a harder time with their windstorm claims. The town is just beginning discussions about how it can develop more workforce housing. Condo with new seawall in Daytona Beach Shores, Tiger dams on Daytona Beach Shores help build up sand, Flagler Beach walkway lost steps from hurricanes, Currently, there are very few hotels available on the beach. Its astounding to see, Preece said. The current rains are primarily causing flooding. Home News Local Lee County When will the Publix on Fort Myers Beach reopen? Shawna Wood adds, "Our bank was the first thing to come back. Keep public media strong anddonatenow. The wastewater treatment plant has been affected some, but thats still working, he said. Copyright 2023 Fort Myers Broadcasting. Greg Allen/NPR 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000. When he returned to the island, Preece didnt know if his restaurant would even be standing. To say that this Publix is a cornerstone part of the community is an understatement. The country will burn easily.. Everything is controlled and re-controlled, three or four times.. Sunburned tourists waved as my flight zoomed low over the beach. Beaches: With much more unspoiled shoreline than Sint Maarten, the French sidedefinitely has the advantage for beaches, with popular Orient Bay Beach drawing crowds, and the peaceful Friars Bay and appropriately named Happy Bay providing all the white sands and blue waters youd expect on a Caribbean visit.