“Herculean would be an understatement.”
Here’s how Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Convention and Visitors Bureau, describes the recovery efforts in the Fort Myers, Florida area, after Hurricane Ian devastated the area in September 2022.
Hurricane Ian made landfall in the United States on an island off the coast of Fort Myers on September 28, 2022. The Category 4 hurricane made landfall in the Gulf Coast resort destination of southwestern Florida, including towns Famous beach towns such as Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers Beach and Cape Coral. It brought sustained wind speeds of 155 mph and storm surges of up to 12 to 18 feet above sea level, according to the report. Storm control unit at the National Hurricane Center.
As the largest hurricane on record to make landfall in Lee County, Hurricane Ian left unprecedented levels of damage and destruction to beaches and communities in the Fort Myers area. An initial damage assessment found that Ian caused more than $7.3 billion in damage to residential and commercial properties; it generated about 12 million cubic meters of debris, affecting every beach and county park, along with countless homes, hotels, restaurants, businesses and roads.
They’ve worked hard on rebuilding since then, and you can help restore this world-class beach destination just by visiting for a vacation.
Tourism impact
Tourism has a huge impact on Fort Myers’ economy. “Visitors already spent $4.2 billion on Lee County’s economy in 2022,” Pigott told TPG. “If we don’t have visitors, that will have a big impact on economic resilience,” Pigott told TPG. I consider visitors an important part of our recovery,” she added.
If you’ve spent time in the Fort Myers area before, Pigott knows it can be a while before the destination looks the way you remember it. Many properties have been completely destroyed and much work remains to be done.
However, Fort Myers doesn’t just want to see tourists return because of the economic impact. Pigott shared: “Travelers are part of who we are. “People come here because they want to be near the water and because of our commitment to nature conservation,” she added.
Those two things are central to the Fort Myers community, and they consider visitors an important part of that community.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
The road reopens
Just in time for spring break travel, Fort Myers began reopening its tiered beaches to visitors in February. At the time of writing, Most area beaches are openalthough some facilities (such as restrooms and piers) may still be under repair.
Currently, 9,825 hotel rooms are open and welcoming guests to Fort Myers — 68.6% of those that opened before Hurricane Ian. So your favorite beachfront hotel may not be open at the moment, but that doesn’t mean you need to find a new beach destination this spring break.
“The number of hotel rooms right on the beach is limited,” says Pigott, “but there are plenty of other hotel options in the area.” Instead of completely changing your destination, Pigott encourages visitors to discover new parts of Fort Myers they haven’t been to before.
Nature lovers can still experience the natural beauty and wildlife of the area at Six Mile Cypress Slough Reserve — a mile-long boardwalk through freshwater marshes — and Magic garden in Bonita Springs. Families can have fun at Cape Coral and Fort Myers’ Sun Splash Family Waterpark’ IMAG Center for Science and History. Foodies can sample drinks and food at the restaurants, breweries and wineries in downtown Fort Myers and Bonita Springs.
Sports fans can watch the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins prepare for the 2023 Professional Baseball season during spring training. Spring training runs from February 25 to March 28 at JetBlue Park and Hammond Stadium, respectively.
Related: The best spring break destination for families to have an easy vacation
You can still enjoy the things you love about Fort Myers and the surrounding beach communities, but you can also discover something new. You can stay up to date with the attractions, restaurants, accommodation and beaches that are currently open on Visit Myers . Fortress website.
If you visit, you should wear water shoes at the beach as a precaution. Although the beaches have been thoroughly inspected for debris, they are still in the process of being restored. Foot protection is a simple safety measure you can take while touring.
How can you help?
The easiest way to help is to head to the Fort Myers area for a relaxing beach break, but you can help even more by volunteer your time to support cleanup efforts. Even giving as little as a few hours to volunteering can have a lasting impact on Fort Myers’ recovery.
Many local organizations are leading recovery efforts:
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular, volunteering is a unique way to give back and ensure the longevity of this beloved beach destination. Not only can you play an integral role in the restoration of Fort Myers, but you can also create lasting memories and witness the fruits of your labor every time you return to the area.
A beacon of hope for the future
A recent milestone provided a literal and figurative glimmer of hope for Fort Myers’ future. In the early morning hours of February 28, the iconic Sanibel Lighthouse officially reopened for the first time since Ian washed away one of the lighthouse’s legs and several above-ground structures.
“Rebuilding the lighthouse was a really important day for us,” says Pigott. Seeing such an important structure restored has provided a much-needed boost of morale and a renewed sense of determination to a community that has gone through so much hardship over the past few months. . “It will take some time, but we are committed to rebuilding the community into the place we want to live and tourists want to visit,” said Pigott.
It’s pretty remarkable that you can help fulfill that commitment just by visiting, but that’s exactly what Pigott hopes travelers will do.
Related readings:
