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Copyright FORT MYERS - Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin | https://www.fortmyersbeachtalk.com | 19260 San Carlos Blvd, Bldg. He tried to stay positive, but when he saw the boat inside his house and the damage done by the surge, his heart sank. Debris in front of a home in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on Oct. 31. "I got over there today and there was a note by the coffee machine, 'Call the sales lady.' Not everything is going to be unfortunately fixed and like how it was last year, Giarratana said. Sand from Immokalee is getting trucked in. WebTropical Storm Gordon, 1994 After a serpentine track through the Caribbean, Gordon moved slow- ly west-northwest, reaching the lower Florida Keys, and then turned northeast, Days after Disney sued Florida's governor in federal court for what it described as retaliation for opposing the state's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, members of Disney World's governing board made up of Gov. The surge snapped Yosts mailbox, rising from about 3 feet to about 10 feet in 10 minutes. Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo on Monday took the stand in his own defense during a civil trial. The home Michael Yost was renting in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. Michael Yost in the bedroom of the damaged home he was renting in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. A downed palm tree in a canal in Matlacha, Fla., on Oct. 31. progress with various recovery efforts continues to be made. It demolished his sunroom and opened the house to the elements. Beginning Monday from 9 p.m. to dawn each day through October, outdoor lighting is prohibited facing the beach except for shielded amber lights, and blinds must be closed. Melissa Chan is a reporter for NBC News Digital with a focus on gun violence. Houses floated by. Islanders on the six-mile stretch of land had been eagerly awaiting updates on their only grocery store for months, reaching out to officials and posting to social media. The Category 4 storm ripped through neighborhoods like Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach last Wednesday after making landfall nearby in Cayo Costa, a barrier island off the coast of Fort Myers. Arbelo, 62, of Whitehouse Station, N.J., confirmed that her brother died after Hurricane Ian hit Florida as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph on Wednesday afternoon. "It will probably be there for six months or a year," he says, "because so many places have been hit.". They amassed donated blankets, bikes and food, formed a makeshift community. "I thought, you gave me one disaster, don't push it. He has no idea whose boat it is or what it will take to remove it and the rest of the rubble that used to be his home. Hurricane Hurricane Got married five times. Indoor lighting should be as far away from windows as possible. The morning the storm hit, Verdream, 66, told his niece Stacy Verdream that he planned to ride it out. Haverfield said she is concerned about the sea turtles encountering dangerous objects on the beaches left over from Hurricane Ian. Lisa is forecast to strengthen before making landfall. The historic storm surge last fall from Hurricane Ian changed the way coastal risks are viewed. Robbie M. Parks, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, said that for many people, evacuation is an out-of-reach luxury. Some have diagnosed cognitive decline that makes it hard for them to plan ahead or make decisions about whether to evacuate. It seemed like in this one, it was like, OK, tomorrow you gotta get out of here, Yost said. Rent vouchers dont help. Based on those records, NBC News determined an overall count of 148 deaths related to Hurricane Ian and analyzed 119 of those deaths that were caused by the flooding, winds and other dangerous conditions during the storm. Hes been stuck before. A Florida couple wonders where to go after losing their Fort Myers Web2005,Oct 24th , Hurricane Wilma comes in approx 40 miles to the south with 125mph winds while moving very quickly NE at 25mph. Over the weekend, gunfire on Hendry Street in downtown Fort Myers leaves the community shaken after a stray bullet hit a man on his way home from work. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I wish he would have called, said Stacy, who lives in Orlando. On the morning of Sept. 28, officials ordered people who hadnt left to shelter in place, because venturing out could put them at greater risk. One of the most common reasons people chose not to leave areas at high risk of storm surge was that they had survived hurricanes before unscathed. The weather is expected to worsen beginning Wednesday morning and intensify in the afternoon and evening, Superintendent Mike Burke said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution, Peak impacts for South Florida will likely take place Wednesday, Subtropical Storm Nicole is now expected to become a hurricane over the Bahamas before hitting Florida's east coast. But the shelter didnt have any beds available, just a wheelchair. An accused killer is in court after his defense missed a deadline. Jay had given up on getting any storm compensation money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The investigation was based on a review of hundreds of death records, an examination of flood maps and interviews with survivors, victims relatives, service providers, disaster preparedness experts and current and former public officials. Turtle Time, the local organization founded by Eve Haverfield to document and protect sea turtle hatchlings on Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach, has been instrumental in creating regulations to protect the reptiles. Smile and enjoy your day.. Blinds must be shut from 9 p.m. to dawn to protect inside light from being visible from the beach in order to protect nesting sea turtles from disorientations, as well as their hatchlings. He was glad to make coffee on a real stove each morning and have ice in his rum and Cokes at night. Thats why hurricane experts say preparing ahead of time is vital. Ron DeSantis has announced he will travel to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom as part of an international trade mission. Most local beaches need sand in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Here's CBS4's Ted Scouten reports on the increasing presence of climate change, and how is making it necessary for us to look differently at hurricanes. They knew days in advance. And the county printed 48,000 all hazards guides for free distribution, Clayton wrote. Hurricane Of those violations, the town issued 44 citations with a total of $19,050 in fines. NBC News determined the precise locations of 86 of the 119 deaths and found that two-thirds were in areas the federal government deemed at elevated risk of storm surge in a Category 4 hurricane. So usually, we have about 14 named storms throughout the hurricane season, and theyre calling for 13, Giarratana said. Before the storm season starts, get the supplies you need to board up your home, know your evacuation zone, and plan for the worst. Facing a Dire Storm Forecast in Florida, Officials Delayed Evacuation The projected path continued moving south through Monday, the center said. Any death, whether its a car accident or storm surge, is tragic. Fort Myers Beach But people dont realize that for older adults who are isolated in their homes and are trying to fly under the radar its extremely difficult to leave, Rothhaar said. After a winter of searching for crabs, mollusks and whelks, adult female turtles begin mating this time of year and searching for coastal habitats like Fort Myers Beach to lay their eggs. Your nonperishable food items really important to want to make sure that you have that those important documents on hand, flashlights, batteries, making sure all your devices are charged up as much as possible, Giarratana said. The season wound up near normaldespite forecasts for above-average activity, but itwas notablefor the death and destruction wrought by Hurricanes Fiona, Ian and Nicole. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It's a blow he's not sure he can recover from. Ian tore through a few hours later, bringing 150 mph winds and a wall of water higher than the area had seen for decades. We are banging our heads against the wall, because it keeps happening.. He insists hes not worried. South Florida can expect heavy rains, gusty winds, and coastal flooding. A House plan to eliminate the business-recruitment agency Enterprise Florida and relocate tourism-marketing efforts also would lead to a change in the name of the state Department of Economic Opportunity. Ian leaves scenes of recovery, despair on Florida coast Rebuilding. "I'm fighting depression. Utterback tried to get out the kitchen window but became trapped. He contrasted the delay to what happened during Hurricane Irma, when the countys evacuation order was announced three days before landfall. Jay said at the end of March, ranting about the boatyard owners. We try to educate people on those worst-case scenarios and their vulnerability, said Cody Fritz, a storm surge specialist at the National Hurricane Center. List of Florida hurricanes (19001949) - Wikipedia 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. County-by-county resources for renters facing eviction, OUR Florida - Emergency Rental Assistance Relief Program, Palm Beach County Department of Housing and Economic Development. Hurricane Ian one month later: Inside Floridas recovery, Overwhelmed medical examiners try to identify those killed by Hurricane Ian, After the storm, an autistic boy and his older brother drowned in a flooded canal. As Yost stood looking at the debris, a neighbor came over to tell him that Pacyna hadnt survived. As each day passes since Hurricane Ian slammed Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022, progress with various recovery efforts continues to be made. Though there hasnt been a nesting yet on Fort Myers Beach, Haverfield said the false crawls (as it is known when a sea turtle emerges on the beach but doesnt lay eggs) on Bonita Beach over the weekend were exciting to see.. FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. Few communities in the U.S. have seen the level of destruction Hurricane Ian brought to Fort Myers Beach. And then we saw satellite pictures of the house, and we knew. Hurricane Yost, the Fort Myers Beach man whod also decided to stay, said he learned that he was in the most dangerous surge zone only the night before Ian made landfall, when a radio broadcast informed him that his home was at risk of storm surge of more than 9 feet in a Category 4 hurricane. He screamed at the storm from behind rattling windows. All rights reserved. and last updated 2023-04-26 18:10:08-04. Cleaning up in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian is underway in Fort Myers Beach. ", Susan Helton has experienced trauma before. We are particularly concerned for everybody in Southwestern Florida, everyone that sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ian, Ross Giarratana from the National Weather Service said. And the Barnacles so much worse than I thought.. He felt the breeze through his beard, looked up at the stars, then climbed into his cabin and poured another rum and Coke. What you do is up to you, Gleason said. Families of the missing are caught in limbo over their loved ones fate. Celebrate mom with great Mother's Day gifts from Apple, KitchenAid, NuFace and more. As wind and water battered her tiny home in the island community of Matlacha, Peggy Collson texted her brother in a panic. CBS4's News meteorologist Dave Warren and Jennifer Correa bring you the latest weather outlook for South Florida. Ians forecast called for heavy rains, but ultimately, the storm brought more rainfall than expected, and with stronger winds, Judge said. Death toll from Hurricane Ian surpasses 100 as the search for Fort Myers News-Press. Lee County officials declined requests for interviews about how they prepare residents for hurricanes, communicate risks and decide the timing of evacuation orders. They were supposed to map out reasons why the death penalty would not be appropriate if a jury convicts Joseph Zieler, but they havent submitted those reasons yet. Michael Yost at the damaged home he was renting in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. Beneath the Matanzas Pass Bridge, where Capt. 0:04. When it comes to windows and glass slider doors, FWC sea turtle biologists have advised that , with 45% light transmittance may not be sufficient to adequately reduce light visibility to nesting and hatchling sea turtles. Seven months to the day after Hurricane Ian completely demolished Fort Myers Beach, another familiar face is set to return to the recovering community. C, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 | 239-463-4421, most of my volunteers have joyfully returned., Lighting compliance is not in place yet, far from it,, We encourage people to use Amber LEDs, remove all furniture from the beach, keep dogs on a leash, do not disturb nests, no flash photography,, This year will be a challenge because of the missing buildings and vegetation that once blocked light from reaching the beach,, All the more reason for the Town to pursue getting amber LEDs put in place. hide caption. But the county relies more on social media, its website and an emergency messaging system to reach large numbers of people. That decision was partly based on initial forecasts for a hurricane that had weakened into a tropical storm, as well as Ians westward and inland approach into the county, said Jim Judge, Volusia Countys emergency management director. But they feel lucky they got a room here after their home was demolished in the storm. A member of a search-and-rescue team checks a home for victims in the wake of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on Oct. 3. But the storm shifted east and weakened, and it arrived at low tide. Theres No Spring Break Here: Floridas Gulf Coast Fights to In the video at the top of this page you can still see hard-hit areas that are still months, or even years away from fully recovering. During those hours, from Sunday night through Monday, forecasts outlined the possibility of storm surge in the Lee County area of up to 7 feet. In some communities, homes spared in the storm are now flooding from rain-swollen rivers. Residents who evacuated and were briefly able to return to their homes are stunned by how little remains. South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. The guy told him: It hasnt been floating in quite a few years.. They say they'll dispose of a property they loved, but which, like so much else on Fort Myers Beach, is now gone forever. Guest: State Sen. Shevrin Jones/(D) South Florida, Guests: Eileen Higgins/MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, Jim DeFede spoke about this with Democratic State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, former mayor of Parkland, who now represents that community in the legislature. 4 min read. Yost moved to Florida 13 years ago from Indiana, and in that time he heard predictions of hurricanes bringing deadly storm surges that didnt come true, Hurricane Irma included. In a three-month period last year, the town issued 220 warnings and 44 citations for lighting violations. Many residents, especially those who were new to the area, didnt know that they lived in storm surge danger zones, relatives and survivors said. That experience influenced many peoples decisions not to flee Hurricane Ian. 1:31 On the morning of Sept. 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Cayo Costa, Florida, a barrier island west of Fort Myers in Lee County. One of the cheapest FWC certified wildlife lighting options that staff has found available online is the FEIT A19 Red Bulb that screws into classic Edison fixtures. CBS4's Ashley Dyer reports plenty of cars were also stalled out. Hurricane Ian killed at least 148 people in Florida, most of them in coastal communities where the danger of storm surge is well documented but not widely understood. "I think one of the biggest tips is to find that insurance policy, take a picture of it and put it on a phone, so you don't have to find it," Norberg said. Some were rescued by Turtle Time but it is believed many likely perished due to predators, exhaustion, and dehydration. Businesses finding their footing and opening again. Efforts to convince people to move out of harm's way as a hurricane approaches face many hurdles. Six months after Hurricane Ian smashed his liveaboard sailboat into the mangroves, after a Coast Guard helicopter rescued him, after spending five months in a tent beneath a Fort Myers bridge, John Jay Burki, 76, finally has a home. Its easy to criticize people for not making the right decision from the outside looking in, but there are many, many factors which can play into that decision, Parks said. Theresa Conway and Daymon Utterback on the day Utterback proposed. Photos: This is what Florida looks like after Hurricane Ian, Flooding and closed roads are some of the challenges Florida's people face after Ian. ", "And the washing machine," his wife Susan adds. Hurricane Irma is the worst hurricane to have hit the Fort Myers-Naples area in recent history in 2017. The Bay to Beach condo complex is at 740 Estero Boulevard, about a quarter mile north of the Fort Myers Beach pier where the rooftop fire with copious smoke was reported around 12:30 p.m. On Aug. 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley passed by Fort Myers Beach and made landfall at Cayo Costa. Most of those who died were over age 65, NBC News analysis found, and many of them lived alone. 79 hurricanes have been recorded in the Fort Myers Beach, FL since 1930. Lighting compliance is not in place yet, far from it, Haverfield said. Hurricane By then, the center was warning about surges as high as 12 feet. We encourage people to use Amber LEDs, remove all furniture from the beach, keep dogs on a leash, do not disturb nests, no flash photography, Haverfield said. The 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially ended Wednesday. Fort Myers Beach Amber LED light is bright, but it has a wavelength that is long which sea turtles and other nocturnal species, including migratory birds, dont react to. New construction. Few places are taking new tenants. She said they were blindsided by the storms ferocity. Right now, there are multiple major violations that will need to be ameliorated by May 1., to wander further inland, possibly onto Estero Boulevard. Jim interviews Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis who was at the White House this week to push for federal assistance for the victims of the historic flooding that ravaged homes and businesses in Broward County. The late September storm exposed shortcomings in how local governments communicate the risk posed by hurricanes, decide when to order evacuations and identify and help the most vulnerable residents. Stunned, Yost went to Utterbacks house. Half were in places at risk of 9-foot storm surges or more. 7 things to know about Fort Myers Beach's'functional paradise,' new damage estimates, No injuries in roof fire that raged at Fort Myers Beach condo building Saturday afternoon, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. Collson told her brother she didnt want to ride out the storm that way she wasnt comfortable requiring so much help with so many people around her. But, Colorado State University issued its season forecast. In this CBS Miami special report, we take a look at a whole host of hurricane season topics from above average activity to complacency concerns. On the east coast of Florida, Volusia County opted for only a voluntary evacuation order ahead of Ian. The next day, with phone lines down, he drove to her house and found her body. Florida Gov. Fort Myers,Florida hurricanes ", Destroyed houses and buildings are visible in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on Friday. File photo. Tom James for WGCU/NPR At the second try, she was not pleased with the presence of a palm tree., just the right spot somewhere, hopefully on one of the beaches that we monitor.. That began to change on Sunday, Sept. 25, when Ians projected path began shifting south, with a growing threat to Lee County. But some of the hardest-hit areas might be out of the line of sight. There is no one to blame. The only access to the Matlacha neighborhood, shown in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Fla., on Sept. 30. An emergency sand berm is built on Fort Myers Beach on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Ian was one of the deadliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. in the past 20 years. Mom, I cant come get you, DeMoss recalled saying. Anjali Nair / Nigel Chiwaya; Thomas Simonetti; NBC News. Michael Verdream moved last year from California to Matlacha, where he rented a one-story house and remodeled homes for a living. A fire burning near Venture Church in Naples off East Trail and North of Triable Boulevard Monday night. The largest hurricane was Unnamed in If passed, Hurricane Tax Relief Week would be May 27. In neighboring Charlotte County, where nine people died from Ian, spokesman Brian Gleason said the government conducts a variety of public outreach efforts, including workshops about flood and storm-surge risks for people in high-hazard coastal areas. A view of the Matanzas Pass side of Estero Island, home to Fort Myers Beach, Fla. Fort Myers Beach is expected to take years to rebuild. Property owners are encouraged to be proactive. It is also just as important to draw your curtains close at night. Lee officials did not yet issue an evacuation, saying Ians path remained uncertain. In recent years, a growing number of older people with impairments have been given the resources health aides, medical equipment, meal deliveries, paid caregivers to remain at home instead of spend the rest of their days in nursing homes or assisted living centers. They matched those records to the Florida Department of Law Enforcements official list of hurricane deaths and did additional reporting to find out where hurricane victims died or were fatally injured, whenever possible. Skulls are emerging on a Hurricane Florida's unemployment rate remained at 2.6 percent in March, as service-related jobs continued to lead in new hiring and construction jobs fell for a third consecutive month. NWS FORT MYERS, FLA. No place in Florida seemed to have suffered more damage from Hurricane Ian than the town of Fort Myers Beach, located on Estero Island Last year, Turtle Time reported that some sea turtle hatchlings were found under condos and houses because the propertys lights disoriented them. At 2:30 p.m., he spoke to another relative, saying the water was 4 feet high and he had to hang up, Stacy said. Hoffman had evacuated for that storm. Hurricane Parts of southwest Florida have been left unrecognizable in the wake of Hurricane Ian. "Sometimes that can be a savings, as well if the company has overstated your replacement costs," Norberg said. FORT MYERS, FLA. No place in Florida seemed to have suffered more damage from Hurricane Ian than the town of Fort Myers Beach, located on Estero Island along the state's southwest coast. Ian had also wrecked 97% of Fort Myers Beach's other buildings, including businesses and homes. This appears to contradict their own emergency management plan, which calls for evacuations of highest-risk areas with forecasts of 3 to 6 feet of storm surge. There were 109 loggerhead sea turtle nests recorded on Fort Myers Beach last year, up from 30 when Turtle Time first began tracking the nests. After months of repairs and planning, Publix officials confirmed Friday morning that the Estero Boulevard location is slated to reopen its doors on May 25. Property owners are encouraged to be proactive. Elizabeth Chuck is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on health and mental health, particularly issues that affect women and children. They included 64 drownings, 19 deaths because of delayed medical care, nine falls and eight deaths due to oxygen machines failing because of power outages, as well as people who died from infections, car crashes and accidents. When Turtle Time first started documenting nests in 1996, there were only 30 recorded. The home of Kristina Peters, who died along with her boyfriend, Joel Jackson, during Hurricane Ian, in North Fort Myers, Fla. Before Ian hit, Peters' son begged her to leave. IE 11 is not supported. In the meantime, he and his wife are thinking about Texas. Over the previous 24 hours, the expected landfall had shifted about 80 miles south, according to the National Hurricane Center. Jerry Springer, the one-time big city mayor whose namesake TV show unleashed chaos on weekday afternoons, has died at 79. Lee County will be receiving more than $1.1 billion from the federal government as a boost to continue recovering from Hurricane Ian. Authorities urge patience. And its only one month until we could start seeing storms developing across the waters. As Ian made its approach toward Floridas southwest coast, many residents thought of the last major storm to come through: Irma, a Category 3 hurricane in 2017, for which nearly 7 million people statewide evacuated. The countys emergency management director also hosted a media day with local news outlets and the county issued multiple warnings and notices on its website and on social media in the days and hours before the storm. Collsons body was found two days later, in the water several hundred feet from where she lived. Jim asks Basabe about the investigation, as well as his stance on LGBTQ+ rights and abortion. It wasnt supposed to be hitting us, Conway said. He and his girlfriend made a plan to hop on an air mattress if they needed to make a last-ditch attempt to save themselves. The stores will be closed by the end of June, so what can consumers expect in the coming weeks? If those numbers hold up, Ian would be the fourth costliest hurricane in U.S. history. The vessel was smaller than hed hoped for, but a foot longer than his old one. Please note, filter wraps, gels, and colored , are not compliant, because the emit light that sea turtles are sensitive to., Efforts will focus on identifying problematic lights and educating property owners on solutions. After his daughter was grown, he sold his house near Lake City and moved onto his first sailboat in 2006. So as Ian approached the coast, Yost didnt feel urgency to leave. Hurricane Ian: Fort Myers Beach Publix set to reopen May 25 I would have gone and picked him up.. This was the seventh hurricane seasonin a row to produce a deadly landfalling hurricane on the U.S mainland. The transport team at Golisano Childrens Hospital is finding ways to make the ER ride less intimidating for young patients. Hurricane Social media posts are capturing the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which made landfall near Cayo Costa on Sept. 28, The damage includes flooding, destruction to homes, businesses, vehicles and infrastructure, and possibly loss of live.

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