There is some relief for the many Southwest Florida business owners still navigating hurricane insurance claims and facing urgent rebuilding needs.Just in time for Small Business Week (May 4-10), the Small Business Administration has extended a critical 60-day grace period for Hurricane Helene and Milton survivors to apply for disaster recovery assistance.

The Causeway Islands Park opened Thursday morning on the Sanibel Causeway with its first phase of amenities, the first time that visitors were able to enjoy the shoreline since the devastation of Hurricane Ian in September 2022.The park had been closed due to the essential rebuilding activities by the Florida Department of Transportation, which used the site during the critical process of rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway to make it more resilient.

WGCU’s “Untold Stories: Sanibel Island’s Store” is an official selection of the Fort Myers Film Festival. The festival, in its 15th year takes place May 14-18 at various local venues.

FEMA will remove Fort Myers Beach off probation status under the National Flood Insurance Program after the town met program requirements.The notice, issued Monday, will be effective November 18, 2025.

Work on Sanibel City’s storm water repair project is scheduled to start Tuesday, April 22. The project is a component of the storm water masterplan update. As part of the masterplan update, the entire storm water system was inspected by Johnson Engineering and this project incorporates the results of those inspections and additional items identified by City staff.

The Captiva Erosion Prevention District will hold a public hearing Monday on a tentative apportionment for a beach renourishment project set to start this summer.The estimated $26.67 million project cost will be paid, partly, through special assessments imposed on the properties that benefit.

Over the past year, the City of Sanibel placed more than 400,000 tons of sand to restore beaches devastated by recent hurricanes. With that phase complete, the focus shifted to replanting the beaches to reinforce the natural dune structure. Over 32,000 plants of a variety of species were planted, strengthening the beach with their root systems.

The Florida Department of Emergency Management is providing information and assistance on “Elevate Florida” for Marco Island residents on March 19th.The program is designed to protect homes and communities by reducing damage caused by natural disasters and flooding.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management will host a series of application assistance sessions for Elevate Florida, a statewide residential mitigation program designed to protect homes and communities from natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods.Elevate Florida representatives will be available at Tringali Community Center, 3460 N. Access Road in Englewood, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. March 19-21. Residents can learn about the program’s eligibility requirements, types of projects available, and receive assistance with their applications. Elevate Florida educational presentations will take place daily at noon and 5 p.m.