Hurricane Ian

Closed since Hurricane Ian, the Sanibel Recreation Center reopens Tuesday, with free community services.

Two months after Hurricane Ian hit SWFL, two sites that accepted hurricane debris from the public are being closed due to diminished use.

A new analysis says overall reinsurance prices are expected to increase by more than 10 percent in 2023, pointing to losses from disasters such as Hurricane Ian and “increasing frequency and severity of natural catastrophe claims.”

Post Hurricane Ian, finding gratitude may not come so easy for many storm-weary residents. One Port Charlotte woman is counting her blessings and not her losses.

Around one million dollars for homeless people waits for local governments’ approval. Collier County agencies for the homeless criticize local governments for what they say is a delay in releasing those funds to help those who lost their homes in Hurricane Ian.

The disaster declaration includes the Florida counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia,

It is not necessary to visit a center to apply for assistance. Survivors can go online to disasterassistance.gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call 800-621-3362. The line is open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The Naples Zoo came through Hurricane Ian just fine, thanks to years of preparation.

Florida’s state-led sheltering and housing program is available through IanRecovery.fl.gov and provides temporary sheltering options — such as travel trailers and recreational vehicles — and temporary or permanent repairs for households whose needs are not met through insurance or FEMA’s Individual Assistance program. Residents impacted by Hurricane Ian can also access the Unite Florida Portal to report unmet needs such as transportation, household items and social services.

While it might seem obvious that a devastating hurricane would have an immediate negative impact on the mental well-being of those impacted, there is a growing understanding among mental health professionals that underlying concerns over possible future natural disasters is also weighing on many people’s minds. And there is growing evidence that the growing size and scope of natural disasters is being driven by climate change. We talk with Dr. Lise Van Susteren, she is a forensic psychiatrist who is an expert on the physical and psychological impacts of climate change.