Mike Walcher

Destroyed houses and buildings are visible in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., on Friday.

Remediation begins Wednesday at the historic part of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School

Mike Walcher

Two and a half months after Hurricane Ian, remediation is set to begin Wednesday at the historic part of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, according to Lee School Superintendent Dr. Chris Bernier. The Lee County school board now is mulling options on how to restore the school, and bring students back to the beach.

River North Properties hopes to buy this land along US 41 in North Fort Myers. If all the funding comes through the non-profit group would build 72 units of affordable housing for low-income seniors.

Lee County commits money for low-income, senior-oriented housing in North Fort Myers

Mike Walcher

Lee County Commissioners Tuesday approved a $500,000 interest-free loan to help an affordable housing project in North Fort Myers. The Hermosa community could provide 72 multi-family units for low-income seniors.

People dine at sidewalk tables in Fort Myers, a little more than two months after Hurricane Ian flooded the downtown. Some shops and restaurants have cleaned up and reopened, but others along the gulf beaches will take longer to rebuild and open again.

Beach tourism could take years to rebound from damage by Ian

Mike Walcher

The biggest industry in Southwest Florida may be facing its biggest challenge ever: coming back from Hurricane Ian's catastrophic damage. Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers Beach sustained the worst damage, and they have to rebuild hotels, resorts and condos to rent to visitors.

A shelter for those displaced by Hurricane Ian still operates in a mostly-empty shopping plaza in North Fort Myers. Some people there reflected on spending Thanksgiving in a shelter.

Ian's displaced reflect on Thanksgiving in a shelter

Mike Walcher

As many as 300 people will wake up Thanksgiving morning in a shelter in North Fort Myers. Many of those displaced by Hurricane Ian have been living in shelters for nearly eight weeks.

Groups promote Thanksgiving meal giveaways for Ian recovery

Mike Walcher

Some charitable groups in Southwest Florida are getting donations for Thanksgiving meal giveaways in the middle of recovery from Hurricane Ian devastation. Some see it as a way to take joy in the holiday, while others dealing with severe damage or destruction from Ian say they're having trouble getting into a holiday mood.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office has found several suspected debris piles allegedly dumped by bout-of-state contractors cleaning up debris from Hurricane Ian. This pile was in northwest Port Charlotte.

Charlotte County warns about illegal dumping of debris from Ian

Mike Walcher

Charlotte County said it is investigating several cases of suspected illegal dumping of debris from Hurricane Ian. Charlotte says it believes out-of-state contractors may be dumping at places around the county, rather than taking trash to the landfill and paying disposal fees.

A huge pile of hurricane debris sits along a street in North Fort Myers. It will take at least another week, and perhaps 10 days, for collection trucks to make a first pass in every neighborhood in unincorporated Lee County, according to the head of the solid waste department.

Lee County and Cape Coral express satisfaction with pace of hurricane debris collection

Mike Walcher

Lee County and the City of Cape Coral are expressing satisfaction with the pick-up of debris from Hurricane Ian. Officials with the county and city are asking residents to be patient: the big debris trucks are coming to your street, and for more than one pick-up.

Volunteers from Floodgate Medical in Tampa put tarps on a hurricane-damaged roof of a home in Suncoast Estates, North Fort Myers. People from the recruiting company in Tampa have devoted several days of work in Suncoast since Ian hit in late September.

Tampa company's workers help Ian-ravaged community recover

Mike Walcher

FloodGate Medical, a recruiting company headquartered in Tampa, has adopted a hurricane-ravaged community 120 miles away. Volunteers from FloodGate are helping Suncoast Estates, often called the world's largest trailer park, come back from Ian's damage and destruction.

A vegetable plant blasted by debris and bent to the ground by Hurricane Ian. Some growers can re-plant vegetable crops, but according to the region's agricultural extension agent, some smaller growers may not be able to afford to re-plant.

Ian caused severe damage to some crops and small farmers in Southwest Florida

Mike Walcher

Hurricane Ian blew over about 4 million acres of farmland in Florida, according to the best estimates of those in agriculture. The storm uprooted citrus trees and tore away vegetable plants on its path from the Southwest Florida coast northward over the peninsula. One former extension agent said agricultural losses could approach or top Irma's roughly $2 billion.

Changes to election rules could help storm-displaced voters

Mike Walcher

Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order to allow election rules changes in Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. The changes could make it easier for displaced voters to get mail-in ballots.