Hurricane Ian

ROAR Offshore to return to Fort Myers Beach September 11-13, first time back since before Hurricane Ian

Emma Rodriguez

For the first time since before Hurricane Ian in 2022, powerboat racing competition ROAR Offshore is returning to Fort Myers Beach. It will take place at Margaritaville Beach Resort from Sept. 11 to Sept. 13. Town Council members approved requests to waive the island's noise ordinance and use town property on Monday.

The final phases of repairs to the J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island are underway, and included repairing the boardwalk entrance ramp to the visitor and education center.

Environment

Repairs to J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge from Hurricane Ian wrapping up

Tom Bayles

Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage to the wildlife refuge when it struck Sanibel Island on September 28, 2022. Repairs are just now wrapping up four years later.

Before-and-after images of Lighthouse Point on Sanibel Island, designed to highlight the huge maroon plumes of nutrient-polluted water pouring from the mouth of Caloosahatchee River into San Carlos Bay, also show a breath-taking scene of destruction the Category 4 storm left on the eastern tip of the island. Trees are stripped bare. A boardwalk is askew. The two historic lighthouse keepers’ cottages are gone, as is a newer white building. The 98-foot-tall Sanibel Lighthouse, first lit with kerosene oil on Aug. 20, 1884, is still standing.

Government & Politics

Public workshop Sept. 15 on Sanibel fishing pier replacement

WGCU Staff

A public workshop updating plans for the permanent replacement of the Sanibel Fishing Pier at Lighthouse Beach Park will be at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 15, at MacKenzie Hall in the Sanibel City Hall.

Four Sanibel businesses start over in the Village Shops on Sanibel.

Business/Economy

The island's vibe helps Sanibel businesses weather string of hurricanes, sluggish sales

Tom Hall, Andrea Melendez

The day before Hurricane Ian, there were well over 150 businesses on Sanibel-Captiva Island. Not one was open the day after the storm. But island vibe helps several Sanibel shops, stores and restaurants weather string of hurricanes and slow summer sales.

A mobile home community in North Fort Myers.

Housing

The rising cost of mobile home park living in the Sunshine State hitting seniors hard

Melanie Payne/Florida Trident

For decades the answer to inexpensive, safe housing for older retired Floridians was found in mobile home communities. Yet with Florida’s growth and an increasing and longer-living senior population, for many, that once sure answer is wrong.

Government & Politics

Ribbon cut on Big Carlos Pass project; officials also announce Fort Myers Beach pier permit OK'd

WGCU Staff

Lee County celebrated the new Big Carlos Pass Bridge and the Big Carlos Bridge Artificial Reef Tuesday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The San Carlos Island Working Waterfront Resiliency and Emergency Marine Operations Project will use federal funds for enhancements to the site, which is located on San Carlos Island and is commonly referred to as the San Carlos Island Maritime Park. Ehancements include dredging and expanding the boat ramp.

Government & Politics

Lee Commissioners authorize posting RESTORE Act implementation plan for public comment

WGCU Staff

The Lee Board of County Commissioners on June 16 approved the draft RESTORE Act Direct Component Multiyear Implementation Plan (MIP) and authorized a 45-day public comment period as required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Intermittent closures of the Lighthouse Beach Fishing Pier parking lot will occur over the next few weeks for Hurricane Ian damage repairs.

Human Interest

Intermittent closures set at Lighthouse Beach Park fishing pier parking lot for Ian improvements

WGCU Staff

Intermittent closures of portions of the Lighthouse Beach Park Fishing Pier parking lot will be made over the next several weeks as Hurricane Ian recovery improvements are completed.

Rising water levels by Tarpon Point along the Myakka River due to Hurricane Helene

Government & Politics

SWFL projects share $90M in disaster recovery, hazard mitigation funding

WGCU Staff

The funding from FEMA is meant to support more than 50 recovery and hazard mitigation projects in Florida communities affected by Hurricanes Helene, Milton and other past disasters.

Human Interest

WGCU wins regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Hurricane Ian documentary 'Rising'

WGCU Staff

WGCU Public Media recently won a regional Edward R. Murrow award for news documentary. The Murrow awards are among the most prestigious broadcast and digital journalism awards in the United States. WGCU received the award for Rising: Surviving the Surge, a documentary about Hurricane Ian, the 2022 storm that forever changed Southwest Florida.