FORT MYERS BEACH - 7 MONTHS AFTER IAN

[@maryanndunchuck3434]

Still so sad. Thanks for the update

[@LarryWarden]

Hope to do a 1 year one next october

[@pkheine]

I am 75. It reminds me of Ft. Myers Beach 70 years ago when you could actually drive down the road and see the beach and water all along long stretches of the road.

[@cirosotomayor3900]

was thinkin the same thing im.70.

[@gfriedman99]

Yeah, now all you can see are ugly condos.

[@LarryWarden]

Youa re both right, will be more difficult now , with the rising of Margaritaville and similar structures

[@cirosotomayor3900]

im gonna call gentrification via tax and infaltion and only mega $$ will come to ft meyers it will resurect as an extention of naples/ bonita springs etc etc ill just leave this here and wait say 10 years thats how ling ot took kendall to come back fully after andrew ( and that was half the srea affected cimpared to ft meyers beach.....see ya in 2033....send ya drone vids ....

[@LarryWarden]

It certainly will be a long time , you are correct

[@dorisperkins3722]

Thank you for this update. I was there a couple of times this winter. They have definitely made some progress. However, I don't consider the likes of Margaritaville to be progress. I'm afraid the day will come when you drive down Estero Blvd. and can't see the water because of the high rises.

[@LarryWarden]

I agree with you, old Florida , is gone , all the quaint buildings are gone forever

[@PSCA1988]

Thank goodness our Governor's priority is Disney and banning books. He could use his platform to promote the recovery but that would be stupid. Crickets from his office.

[@LarryWarden]

I hope everyone gets the help they need from the State

[@WeWander2]

It looks just like 1980 except for some missing decking

[@sandyfox9947]

Enjoyed the video. Prayers for all affected. I live in a hurricane area as well, we suffered from Florence, but things are better now and the important thing is that I still have my life, things can be replaced and rebuilt. Looking great, Fort Myers Beach!! May you be looking fantastic again soon!!

[@LarryWarden]

It will take a while but its is coming

[@gregorycoates9643]

It will take years to recover!

[@hoffrun]

It'll be a decade plus some.

[@LarryWarden]

They are making progress , but you are correct with the years time frame, and it will be a very different Fort Myers Beach

[@susansturch7591]

See "The Dimming" -- weather warfare & land grabs ?!?

[@chriszanotti9685]

Spent many November’s with my kids on the 90s I can not believe the devastation How do you rebuild with the potential of another storm

[@colblood4426]

I lived in Fort Myers for 42 years and had to move to Tennessee because we had 2 foot of storm surge and rental prices went through the roof after the storm . I miss my home so much

[@LarryWarden]

You are correct , cost of housing and rentals has skyrocketed

[@Sushi2735]

Thanks for the tour. Must say it is refreshing to actually see the ocean. Before it was so built up you could only catch a glimpse or two of the sea.

[@frankloree2462]

Was a wonderful place . Many good times at lighthouse inn tiki bar and top of the mast. Now big money buying up the beach. Nothing left to go back for unfortunately.

[@LarryWarden]

I think your correct Frank. Old Fort Myers Beach is gone

[@dougschmidt5132]

I wish they would rebuild the town pier in a big hurry. That is a big symbol of town spirit and would attract tourists to visit the few businesses already opened.

[@LarryWarden]

It is certainly an important landmark. I loved to go out on the pier on almost weekly visits

[@MarvinWatson-ko5zd]

Great fix it and wait till next hurricane, it's coming, it's FL. You can keep it.

[@veronicaroach3667]

That has always been true for anywhere low lying close to the sea. the big problem going forward is sea level rise in the future, so why rebuild here at all now - well you likely have 35 yrs or maybe even 50 yrs, but it's coming ! I would get out while I could, in fact nothing would entice me to move to such a place it's just a huge sandbar really !

[@joedonzi9552]

Hey Larry W. Love your vids ! Need you to talk about "Hiome Owners Insurance" that "SCAM" is worse than a CAT 5 Hurricane because NO BANK will finance your home purchase unless you can get "INSURANCE" ?

[@gfriedman99]

The bank will get you insurance if you can't find it on your own but expect to pay 50% more.

[@LarryWarden]

This has certainly been the main challenge in the restoration and recovery of homes and busineses , is the insurance

[@robinbee7799]

I’m in tears. I have so many good memories of Fort Myers Beach..It will never be the same. Mother Nature can be so mean! I pray for all who were effected by Ian!

[@LarryWarden]

We’re all with you on the prayers Robin

[@kennixox262]

Foolish to rebuild. I get it that many of the smaller cracker cottages were destroyed but why rebuild? Turn it into a natural preserve. Building on a sandbar is stupid.

[@chodkowski01]

Nice place to visit but living on the edge of disaster every time a storm comes isn’t worth it to me. I’m content living 5 miles inland with an 18’ elevation and a 20 minute drive to the beach gives me peaceful sleep whenever a storm comes.

[@kevincooper5463]

Thank you for this video. I plan to visit there in June and have been watching every video I can find on the recovery efforts. I know a lot is still to be done but good to see progress. I love the idea of coming to Fort Myers Beach and being a small part in the recovery process.

[@LarryWarden]

They have started , residents and business are resilient in their effort

[@tomrizzo1554]

Great job plenty of information you gave us thank you

[@jimfarrell7196]

Breaks my heart, I was fortunate enough to spend 8 wonderful winters in Ft. Myers. Praying for all affected by this horrific storm. We will be back again when things return to normal.

[@LarryWarden]

im sure your prayers are appreciated by the folks there

[@LarryWarden]

I love Fort Myers beach and will be glad to return as well

[@johnp.1971]

Glad to see they’re recovering so quickly!!!

[@ronnyber]

Kinda silly to rebuild it all when the whole place will be under water in 50 years.

[@LarryWarden]

certainly a possibility

[@tomh648]

The gullible believe the climate alarmism.

[@sheilacarter-xw1eh]

Thank you… a very informative video

[@Cozydrone]

Thank you Mr. Warden for this informational video.😊

[@LarryWarden]

Glad you liked it James

[@MegaBait1616]

Matlacha n Pine Island got clubber bad too....... Nothing left.. Did a video on it 3 months after Ian...... be well.

[@LarryWarden]

I did one on Matlacha as well , it was such a pretty old Florida town, gone forever

[@MegaBait1616]

@@LarryWarden , I'll check it out... Yeah it's all gone 😞.. be well..

[@karencalnan5043]

Thank you so much for a well-done video and commentation. Very Sad. I have had a condo for 17 years near the Sanibel Bridge, and it is in the same shape, heading back down again next from up North in a month and although shocking, it prepared me.

[@kemcipriano7301]

So sad. But I’m glad improvements. We lost our place. 😞

[@LarryWarden]

So sorry you lost your home . Can you rebuild?

[@clifffoltz651]

Thanks for the excellent update, have friends that live in N. Ft. Myers but still haven't heard from them yet . Thanks again for the update !

[@katylynn4244]

The sunken boat at 2:24 was my parents home. ❤️‍🩹

[@LarryWarden]

I am so sorry about the loss of your parents boat . They must be devastated by this loss , so many noats were lost , homes etc . Hope they can get another boat

[@janetsmith5449]

Thank you.

[@janetsmith5449]

Good video

[@LarryWarden]

Thanks Janet, just an amateur but love making these

[@KarinHarmsen-u6i]

Thank you for the update! We spent a couple of winters on Ft. Myers Beach before the hurricane - so sad that this happened to our winter paradise!

[@Tammylrichardson0302]

Great footage. Thank you.

[@LarryWarden]

Thanks for your affirmation. I an fairly new at doing videos but enjoy it

[@gcman1111]

Doesn't look like a place to go this summer that's for sure, thanks for the video. Probably another 2 summers you think 2024 or 2025?

[@LarryWarden]

probably a good idea.Give the rebuild a couple more years

[@halsmith2174]

Larry, do you know if St. Francis Catholic Church is standing? Thx.

[@LarryWarden]

I cant find any information on this church . I didnt see it when inwas on Fort Myers Beach , there is at St Francis Church open in Fort Myers though i found

[@verzaalmari5322]

@@LarryWarden Thanks - I attended when I lived at Ft Myers Beach in the late 1960's. Long time ago!!

[@halsmith2174]

@@LarryWarden Wrong Name - Church of the Ascension - I was confirmed at St. Francis in Ft. Myers.

[@myra9495]

Sad, that he doesn’t announce the date the video was made

[@LarryWarden]

Sorry i may have omitted that but it was April 28, 7 months after the Hurriicane i did this video

[@kyleharris2437]

The large sand piles are actually new sand brought in for the sand dune/berm project to help protect the island against the next big storm. Also, The Wyndham owner has sold (or is in the process of selling) the property. He has stated he will not be rebuilding. Also, Charley's boathouse grill (the one with the copper colored roof) has been sold along with The Outrigger across the street to developers that are unfortunately building large luxury condos.

[@LarryWarden]

hopefully the sand bern will help for a future hurricane

[@charlesgerlach7059]

thank you for the video we have been going to FMB for the past 10 yrs every july or august. we got married on the beach behind Lani Kai Aug 2018. we were just there this past August just before the hurricane hit. FMB Strong it will be back. We loved the tiki bar at Wyndham. great place l hope it will be back

[@LarryWarden]

well the restoration has started and it will take awhile but glad its happening

[@michaj.526]

Nice Video . I come from Germany and was in Fort Myers Beach in 2018 in the Gulf Breeze Condors apartment, which, according to the pictures, is unfortunately completely destroyed. But I will come back sometime.

[@LarryWarden]

Hope you get back and find some accomodation in one of the new structures or a repaired one like the Diamondhead

[@wendyrobertson3899]

Oh boy this breaks my heart! Thank you for the update and tour. Stay safe out there. So somber to see so much damage. Any update on Pine Island? Useppa?

[@LarryWarden]

Hi Wendy, I also did some videos on Pine Island this past winter , go here kzbin.info

[@FreshGrey-pm4vw]

do you know if Old Olga Rd was destroyed? old friend there.

[@LarryWarden]

sorry I an not sure where they is , but if its on Fort Myers Beach chances are it was damaged unforunately

[@LarryWarden]

if it was near the Calossahatchee River it could have had flood damage as well

[@loadedfun4764]

There’s a rebirth going on from Marco to Sanabel island and further up. As you can see from the video that things are still very fragile. Just now insurance companies are starting to get checks to some of these people.

[@LarryWarden]

I like your term “ rebirth” , yes insurance companies can speed up their cheques

[@jb5music]

Ian-henge

[@JimHaysTechGeek]

So sad. Spent a lot of time in Ft Myers’s Beach. While it is good to see the progress, the devastation is heartbreaking. Thank you for posting this. Those of us who vacation in that area are crushed that our home away from home is basically gone. Hoping to return in the future.

[@LarryWarden]

Hope you get back soon Jim

[@RobtRoma]

Thank you for posting this. My dad’s condo is across the street from the Wyndham Gardens. We’ve been to the Pinchers there many times. Very sad to see what’s happened but encouraged by the progress. I know how hard the folks at our complex are working to get things cleaned up and repaired. It’s a monumental task. Hoping we will be able to get down there this coming winter…

[@LarryWarden]

All the best on the restoration of your dads condo

[@dmarshall5148]

That Wyndham has been my go to in FMB since the 90s when it was a Holiday Inn, I hope it reopens.

[@RobtRoma]

@@dmarshall5148 It was a nice place. I haven’t heard anything about it reopening. I saw an interview with someone at Pinchers a few months ago that said there were no plans to reopen and, if I remember correctly, the owners are trying to figure out what to do with the property. My understanding is it was a complete loss. 🙁

[@LarryWarden]

We use to go there to see the Sandcastle competiton for years

[@RobtRoma]

@@LarryWarden I was lucky enough to see the sand castle sculptures a couple times while visiting my dad. Some of them were absolutely amazing. Hopefully we’ll be able to see them again soon.

[@Pepito-1776]

Great to see progress. You know if this happened in a California Beach town there would have been no movement at all. You would have seen the homeless take over drug attics take refuge in the abandoned buildings.

[@LarryWarden]

The response has been tremendous

[@Kaaaaammmm]

If you ask me they are doing good for 7 months, I went through Andrew in South FL, and some things took a year or two to recoup, it took me 8 months just to get back in my house.

[@LarryWarden]

Thanks Keith for your comment , It sure may take these residents a long time to return to a home

[@michaj.526]

Thank you I hope I come back . I hope that a hurricane of this kind does not come again.

[@LarryWarden]

we all have this same hope !!!

[@BobABooey.]

Dixie's!! My usual hangout.

[@LarryWarden]

We loved eating at the Dixie Fish House, then we’d go to Bonita Bills

[@BobABooey.]

@@LarryWarden Yup, I love Fort Myers, just sad to see the mess Ian left behind. Hopefully it will come back.

[@LarryWarden]

Were all with you on this wish

[@Deekened]

Thanks Larry

[@patriciaschuren2834]

Yikes!

[@catherinedenreyer8742]

Thank you so much for updating on the Sandpiper Gulf Resort. That is where we used to stay and there is very little information on it. Very much appreciated!

[@LarryWarden]

The Sandpiper was a popular place!

[@catherinedenreyer8742]

@@LarryWarden I agree. We always stayed there. I hope they will repair it so travellers can, once again, appreciate the beauty of Fort Myers Beach and the Sandpiper's amazing service.

[@LarryWarden]

I hope it reopens as well as the structure is still there so maybe it has a chance

[@paulat7659]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@LarryWarden]

glad you like dit Paula

[@shadowgolem9158]

Thank you fot sharing this!

[@LarryWarden]

Thanks for watching it

[@SteveMelchiori]

thank you very well done!

[@LarryWarden]

Thanks Steve

[@debbieholman906]

Thank you for the updates

[@LarryWarden]

Thanks for watching

[@cindysanchez7929]

Thank you for taking us along on your tour😊

[@LarryWarden]

You can come on any of my tours

[@donaldcassidy1592]

One of my best friends,Brian(and wife) are recovering and sticking by his guns...recently retired and BAM home detroyed. Amazing rebuild progress and "RILEY" will be living his dream once again! Good video and keep on keeping on!!! DC your Kentucky native and native relocated in SOFLO who wishes only the best for that group. GOD BLESS AMERICA AND STAY HEALTHY as possible, 74 year old Cancer FIGHTER who knows its coming back.

[@LarryWarden]

So glad your friends are in the rebuild stage . All the best to them

[@chodkowski01]

Hopefully they will finish before the next storm comes to take it all away again. Like that will never happen again. With rising sea levels, climate change heating up the ocean giving us more powerful storms. People just close their eyes to those facts and live their lives storm to storm.

[@stevez7854]

Talking with locals when I was there in January, they told me most owners didn't have insurance due to 10000 per year cost, also everyone is waiting on permits, and the word is anything rebuilt has to now be 14 feet above sea level

[@LarryWarden]

Wow , this is going to be sooo costly

[@maryrenaud6732]

It’s good to see such amazing progress and that so much debris has been removed. I hope the people of Ft Myers can see that they are on the road to recovery. Blessings to all.❤🙏✝️

[@LarryWarden]

they sure appreciate your blessings

[@chodkowski01]

Hopefully they will be finished for the next storm to come wipe it out again. The small price to pay dealing with storm surge from living at sea level on the oceans edge.

[@CathyMeis]

Lived there almost 50 years ago year round with my grandma on Mid Island Dr. Explored on foot, bike and boat to my hearts content, even by air as my uncle was on beach patrol as a pilot. He knew everyone in town, at least it seemed that way. So sad to see this. Always wanted to take my kids back there

[@LarryWarden]

Hope you can get back to see the recovery on process

[@wez492]

It is glad to see all the seasonal cave dwellers , Knuckle dragging their way back to their villages. They treat our recovery as an inconvenience to them.

[@dougschmidt5132]

not sure what you're getting at ? People coming back is a good thing for rebuild and supporting business.

[@LarryWarden]

hopefully progress will continue but will take time

[@lostvlog6857]

Is the Hooters gone?

[@LarryWarden]

Yes , sadly Hooters is gone. They had great chicken wings