Fort Myers Beach

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is providing an exemption to rebuild docks, as long as they use the same footprint.

Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay announced the nearly $1 million offering in the form of a $500,000 check and more than $300,000 raised by the Florida group and its Rebuilding Together National office at a news conference on Fort Myers Beach Thursday.

Governor DeSantis said DeSantis said FEMA had agreed to expedite debris removal on private property and was handling an 18-month temporary program for people whose homes were not habitable and said the state was creating a debris cleanup program for the removal of titled personal property such as vehicles and boats.

Musicians and long-time Fort Myers Beach residents Laurie and Steven Martin are among those who lost almost everything due to Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic devastation. Despite their harrowing ordeal riding out the storm in their home, they composed and recorded a moving song meant to encompasses the uplifting determination of the community.

Anita Cereceda, a native of Florida and former mayor of Fort Myers Beach, spoke of what she found when she returned to her home Sunday. Cereceda also owned three businesses of the island, and hopes one can be rebuilt.

Fort Myers Beach remains open to residents, property owners and business owners, claims adjusters and others that need to be on the island.

Tommie and Brea Buster and Mike Heidenreich spent their Sunday running a roadside hot dog stand at the Karl Drews Community Center just off Lee Road to raise funds and gather supplies for Fort Myers Beach residents affected by Hurricane Ian.

Access to Hurricane Ian-damaged properties in Fort Myers Beach began Saturday but only to properties north of Times Square for now. Residents from other areas will get their chance starting at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Fort Myers Beach officials have said allowing more people onto the island would hinder their efforts to search for those injured and killed in the storm. Florida has recorded 92 storm-related deaths so far. Five people were also killed in North Carolina, three in Cuba and one in Virginia.

Sharon Faircloth has three businesses on Fort Myers Beach and 30 employees out of their jobs, so she plans to pivot her mission, working to help officials with hurricane recovery efforts.