Future uncertain for Fort Myers Beach

Times Square in Fort Myers Beach, a popular beachfront shopping and dining district, had businesses that were there for generations. They were shattered after Hurricane Ian.
Times Square in Fort Myers Beach, a popular beachfront shopping and dining district, had businesses that were there for generations. They were shattered after Hurricane Ian.
A day after Hurricane Ian made landfall as a category 4 storm, the road to Fort Myers Beach is littered with debris, buildings blown apart, and boats stacked on cars.
In one spot, a rope from the back of a boat was still attached to a piece of the dock. You can still hear alarms going off inside one of them.
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[@SonicBoom00]

I went through this after Hurricane Katrina here in New Orleans. It’s going to take work and patience but you guys will get through this if you stay strong. Rely on each other and come together as a community. Be wary of contractors, make sure that they are licensed and check them out. Especially the out of state storm chasers. Get on Fema and don’t let up; don’t take the first no from your insurance company. The red cross will also help, contact them. Good luck, you got this! 👍🏻🙏🏻

[@spymaine89]

stop being ignorant read how to buld for storms, monitor builders make them follow plans thats pretty simple. monitor town building inspectors dont let them take bribes.

[@brooksanderson2599]

Leave Florida and coastal zones from Florida to Texas to New England. Climate change is here and is IRREVERSABLE, according to the International Panel on Climate Change - a VERY "conservative" environmental organization.

[@chodkowski01]

Get inland away from the ocean. Rising sea levels is happening. There’s no future for this town unless they build gigantic sea walls.

[@chodkowski01]

@@spymaine89 Fort Meyers is at 4’ sea level. The seas are rising so what happens when the sea level is above the town?

[@RoyalFlush7096]

@@spymaine89 most of Ft Meyers is built under old guidelines.

[@rogerdiogo6893]

Worst possible case scenario, fema predicted over a decade ago, a cat 5 will enter there and would create 100 billion dollars in damage.

[@rh8152]

Unfortunately this area will not be the same for a very long time. Took 5 years to recover from hurricane Andrew. My prayers are with everyone. Just a heartbreaking mess to see that once beautiful area like this.

[@katoby6980]

The problem is that hurricane are coming every year and they are coming stronger. I really hope people recover from this asap and none loose their lives in these types of events.

[@LordZontar]

Like Biloxi after Hurricane Camille. Everything in that storm's landfall just got swept away. Erased. There is still a tugboat inland from the beach where it was deposited, concrete steps leading to nothing. Yes Biloxi was rebuilt but the signs of that catastrophe are still marking the area 53 years later. Everybody remembers the beach hotel where a bunch of people decided to throw a hurricane party, that wasn't there anymore after the storm. The whole building was just gone, nothing left but the foundation slab to mark that it was ever there. I don't know if they ever found all the bodies.

[@Battleneter]

The smart thing to do is NOT re-build here as these extreme weather events will only become more frequent, and that's ignoring the immanent sea level rise over the coming decades.

[@wib6044]

They will rebuild. That’s what we do. The storms aren’t more frequent or stronger. The population has grown. The number and housing density has increased. Also the news coverage has become more in depth and easier to access.

[@gameadd1ct213]

Looks better now than it did before people decided to ruin it with generic condos all along the shore.

[@sallykushmaul1393]

Everyone never knows the day it all goes fast in any state all over the USA. Always be ready for everything. No one is safe today. Blessing to you all and healing, RIP who died.

[@moonbellybaby6238]

Exactly, now we may have Putin to contend with and that nuclear ☢️ warhead will give us less time to say goodbye to our loved ones 😞😢Let’s start focusing 🧘‍♀️ on each other & less on possessions‼️🙏

[@ROZENHART]

This was my childhood home, I visited every year, even moved back after I got married and raised my children here. I’m crying over this

[@RumblesBettr]

Men dont cry davey

[@thinkforyourselfjohn3167]

I understand it's heartwrenching.

[@carollp5207]

Love Fort Myers. been there twice. Friends I treasure in that community, I hope are OK. My prayers are w/u all .

[@davekilar9260]

I was flooded in sandy ten years ago. I fixed my house and then lifted it The town changed. Rich builders bought up property from older people who could not keep up. Property value was low Work was slow. I couldn’t keep up with the cost of repair and lifting. Had to sell at a loss after years of struggling. That’s what is going to happen to these people in florida

[@cassidysmith3743]

Rich folks don't care about anyone but themselves. They are even buying out apartments and raising rents on tenants that are already struggling.

[@willisapril]

Highly unlikely. A major recession is coming stock market is going to crash big time. Our government has already given over 200 billion to Ukraine. With climate change there are going to much worse storms as worse hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and deadly viruses as well.

[@elizabethlacky6068]

Hurricane Sandy was a nightmare ..

[@clive373]

Disaster capitalism.

[@myworkouts3029]

Same

[@nicholaspaul2410]

Fort Myers is my second home. My people are strong. We will rebuild and be better than ever before. A piece of me is broken, but healing happens with time.

[@jpmerrick8886]

My second home too sad was there one month ago

[@cv7357]

Great attitude. Sending prayers and well wishes to all!

[@markd6634]

Move to a higher altitude. Why rebuild in a low area again? You are ust asking for it .

[@rosemaryfarell5264]

God bless. Im English and have been obsessed with Fort Myers for years as a Massive Day of the Dead fan. Absolutely gutted for the people. Much love from England.

[@marktevault57]

Absolutely!

[@evegreiner7564]

You haven’t lost everything. You are ALIVE! Already a good reason to be grateful!

[@Freshy_Jones]

Idk how people can live on little islands, I’ll stay in north central Florida 160 feet above sea level. Prayers

[@1wayDrell]

Honestly nobody that lives in Florida is safe from hurricanes. Hurricane micheal hit the panhandle and almost destroyed those cities. Even this recent hurricane still flooded a lot of central florida

[@MYT1FL]

Lucky you! I wish I was as smart as you but I’m not as lucky, unfortunately

[@sherriroach6]

Prayers from Southeast Louisiana as this was us just last year! Long hard road to recovery!

[@Ihatemyjob1]

My heart breaks for everyone affected humans and animals..

[@dwaynedonald2939]

Hello Yvette

[@thinkforyourselfjohn3167]

Me too my heart breaks for the animals also.

[@avraamkalaitzogloy285]

LETS BLAME MR BIDEN

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

@@avraamkalaitzogloy285 what the hell did he have to do with it how about blame the people that didn't leave

[@billkarmetsky4003]

@@wildlifewarrior2670 It goes way beyond that. Do you know anything about the realities of Florida real estate? The Marx Bros. did a movie about it in the 20's. Pure hokum. Why didn't mortgage lenders ensure buyers got flood insurance? Does anyone realize most didn't have any? Yet HAD to go eyeballs into hock to have a pool home near the beach, most being transplants, of course, having never been through a Florida hurricane. It's those people who've turned Florida into a shyt hole because they're ALL gonna go crying for bailouts and the rest of us are forced to pay for them. Sorry. Don't even come knockin' on my door for a thing. You people did this to yourselves.

[@hennared8364]

A friend of me lost her home and her car floated who knows where. Her insurance company told her she has to find the car before they can process a claim. I get it, but there needs to be special consideration for these people who have lost everything.

[@marlu6373]

yep they want to sell the car to the people up north.

[@troyboy4645]

Shouldn’t be living there!!

[@hennared8364]

@troyboy…seriously? I guess people in the north shouldn’t live in blizzards, people in the west shouldn’t live in earthquake country, and people in the Midwest shouldn’t live in flood zones. I hope Mother Nature never bites you in the butt!

[@moonbellybaby6238]

Just ANOTHER reason NOT to pay 💰 out on your claim ‼️GREED OF CORPORATE AMERICA 🇺🇸

[@martyjoseph9507]

Car must've been stolen, I thought it was floating away but pretty sure somebody was driving it away. Where's the police report that needs to get filled out?.....

[@johnellg9399]

We Americans seem to be VERY helpful to other countries when they go through similar like this, but here's how much we will most likely received from other countries: $00,000,000,000

[@davideinstein7887]

I don't think you understand how rich America is..... America has 20 trillion gdp. Russia for example is at 1.5 trillion. Germany is at 3.8 trillion.

[@jakejackson6730]

That 23tri GDP is that high because of these storms. The government is broke. A lot of insurance companies went under back in the 1980's because that is the decade when natural disasters were more numerous than ever before in history. Hurricane Andrew put a lot of insurance companies in Florida out of businness .

[@susang.8549]

They have lost their homes...all in a day... very sad

[@gscryinlikeabitch]

Germany is less than 15% of the size of the us

[@user-dw3zl2dl3l]

How much from our brethren from that most favored and exalted nation Israel or that money laundering operation known as the Ukraine

[@jewelmathewson2997]

From Tampa Bay, our prayers are with you. We are working to send supplies and help as quickly as possible. Stay strong Ft Myers!

[@marquitamarina1486]

was there any flooding or damage in Tampa?

[@jamescampbell750]

One day this will be Tampa!

[@leximarie3808]

Supplies headed over from Vero Beach as well!

[@keishacosby7815]

Thank you!!!

[@dwaynedonald2939]

Hello Jewel i hope my comments didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comments tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comments section but i feel you deserve this compliment. If you don't mind can we be friends? God bless and thank you.

[@leximarie3808]

So profoundly sad that most didn't take Ian seriously, as the man in the glasses admits. Heartbreaking.

[@legendz3277]

As a Floridian we are insanely prideful. We hear a strong storm is coming and most just say bring it. Just sucks when you get one like this. Probably the most devastating of all time in Florida.

[@ninjazx6rk]

You telling God bring it. How did that worked out for you?

[@aks008]

@@legendz3277 7

[@tomscott3]

it's not that people didn't take it seriously, it's that the forecasters botched this one. they had it going all over the place, then just hours before, predicted a hit near ft. myers.

[@karladriver9590]

@@tomscott3 hurricanes rarely follow a predicted path just like tornadoes I am sure the entire west coast was advised to evacuate

[@darlenemassey6161]

People need to start making what I call Executive Decisions. I looked to move to Ft Meyers and saw how prone to hurricane damage it was. I went elsewhere. We need to stop building on the coastal areas.

[@markd6634]

Stop building on coastal areas? Why, that would make sense, something many humans don't posess.

[@blackworldtraveler3711]

I made an executive decision in 2008. Bought a condo south of Naples on raised land in a raised structure made of concrete and steel with push button activated shutters for impact resistant windows and balconies on 4th floor. Close enough to walk,bike,or sale the canal to beach but far enough to not worry. No issues.

[@kathyrobertson4493]

God I pray you touch these people and scoop them up into your loving arms. Give them strength, hope and renew their faith in you. For those still missing, please sustain them in the comfort of your love and heal their wounds as well as their hearts. Bless the rescuers and give them the strength to carry on in the search until there are no more missing. Lord, we know you can heal all wounds and broken hearts and I’m asking you to do so. Thank you for all the lives that have been saved. All the things destroyed can be replaced & the hearts will mend but please renew the survivors and let your Spirit abide in them always. Bless each and every survivor, casualty, rescuer and give them a sense of peace knowing you are a loving God and that you will see them through. I’m humbly asking you these things in Jesus name. Amen😇❣️

[@ryan918lauren]

Amen 🙌🏼

[@whitelinenmusic]

Amen.

[@moseymay1772]

Amen

[@petrakonadu3875]

Its heartbreaking to see what Ian did to this beautiful place. I spent my last vacation day in Florida at Fort Myers beach enjoying the sundowner at the pier...my heart is bleeding, i felt in love with this area. My prayers are with all Floridians 😭❤️...i am from Germany and my heart was deeply touched by the friendly people over there

[@thinkforyourselfjohn3167]

God Bless you thank you 🙏♥️.

[@BFSmile-vr9gz]

@@thinkforyourselfjohn3167 You are so sweet. How are you doing??.

[@scoremxcom]

Were you prayers with the Martha's Vineyard trips?

[@elenabenitez6397]

@@scoremxcom what are you trying to say? Sounds like an inappropriate comment here

[@scoremxcom]

@@elenabenitez6397 Were you prayers with the Martha's Vineyard trips?

[@ryan918lauren]

I’m so sorry this happened I was watching everything unfold on the tv in shock. I love Florida so much it’s my favorite place wonderful people my heart breaks for you Lauren-NJ

[@umerdurrani9405]

One thing to learn is evacuate even if you are not sure about if it will be cat 3 to higher. I feel like people underestimated the fact that it could strengthen fast the way it did from cat 3 to almost cat 5 which came as a surprise to most. Sending prayers to people in florida and everyone affected in this 🙏❤.

[@bing083]

I live in ft.myers and the destruction is beyond words. It felt and sounded just like when your getting your car washed and the dryer kicks in. Roaring and shaking violently. My house and myself are ok. Scary night.

[@shirley9209]

Trying to be better than okay next time move somewhere else.

[@bing083]

@@shirley9209 what do you mean? Please explain

[@shirley9209]

@@bing083 To be better than okay just move somewhere else and you won't have to worry about this happening, this disaster happens every year, I personally couldn't just keep rebuilding like that, one time will be the last time for me. Good morning.

[@jillybeanfortnite]

So glad you are ok...I'm so sorry for everyone

[@bing083]

@@shirley9209 what you're missing is empathy. Then you'll understand. This is my home. I understand we get a major hurricane every 5 years or so, but this community will rebound. This is Ft.myers FL. The place you'll end up retiring too. Materials really don't matter, also.

[@Nightrain76]

As someone who lost my house in a tornado, I emplore everyone to check your homeowners policy and make sure you have guaranteed replacement.

[@southtownsjoe32]

little late for that....

[@vicgodsucks1157]

Homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods!!

[@Nightrain76]

@@vicgodsucks1157 True but in a tornado or hurricane or fire it will.

[@vicgodsucks1157]

@@Nightrain76 But if you have flood damage from a hurricane, *IT WON'T BE COVERED UNDER HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE! It'll cover rain damage but not flood! I know, been there done that.*

[@grayrabbit2211]

This is bad, but we will rebuild. I'm a Fort Myers native and have lived on the beach for the past 30+ years. I'll miss the places where my childhood memories were made, such as the Dairy Queen there at the Pier. Or late-night runs to 7-11 just down the street. But we will rebuild. We have to. This place is just magical for the 10,000+ days I've gotten to live here. My condo building is trashed. My unit has some damage, but minor in the overall scheme of things. I'm hoping we'll have the place put together enough to celebrate Christmas there. Still completely surreal to me, like I'm stuck in a bad dream. Fortunately my dreams are still of normal times. When I wake up everything still feels normal... Until I look outside the window and realize things have been permanently changed.

[@markd6634]

With the water levels rising across the globe and you are still going to rebuild there, makes me wonder what you are on?

[@grayrabbit2211]

@@markd6634Orlando, which is 100 miles away from the coast has flood rescues going on right now from massive amounts of rain. Flooding is an issue no matter where you live. what rising water levels? Seriously, I've lived on the water all my life and it hasn't gone up one inch here. Obama bought a $12M house on the water and many other politicians live on the coast. They obviously are not concerned.

[@moseymay1772]

I am rooting for you, love and prayers in your time of trauma. So sorry for your loss.

[@eddiesaninocencio7486]

Such utter destruction, I feel for those people who lost all, I hope they get the proper assistance from the government and their insurance agency, FT. Myers looks like a war zone, god bless those people.

[@danielmckenzie6858]

terrible i feel for Ft Myers and all of Florida, praying and sending love to Florida, Michigan behind you as the whole nation, were Americans and nothing stops us, Florida will be stronger and better, Love from Detroit, Michigan

[@RoyalFlush7096]

How very kind and loving of you! 😘😘

[@chodkowski01]

Does Detroit suffer from storm surge?

[@tanyaoleary2262]

Everybody has to pitch in 🙏

[@sweetpea9347]

My heart breaks for those without insurance that covers your full extend of loss who will always be behind. As someone who could not recover from a setback, I lost all my life’s savings and now live very humbly in a community 4 hours away from where I grew up just to have a roof over my head. It’s life altering. God bless you all. May you survive and trive.

[@hummingbirdredhand6729]

You are wealthy beyond belief ! You're alive and healthy, everything else is just stuff , you will grive it's loss. However, as long as you are surrounded by family and friends, you have lived well. God bless you and your family with peace and Abundance.

[@sweetpea9347]

@@hummingbirdredhand6729 keep well my friend ♥️

[@dametucartera]

why they didn't move the boats up north? tampa is not far from there.

[@scotthanford9619]

Wondered the exact same thing

[@chocolatechipslime]

Future isn’t uncertain, they’ll rebuild and be back to normal in a couple years

[@mobydick3895]

anywhere that gets hit by a hurricane gets this kind of headline grabbing mistreatment. It's the future of news coverage that is uncertain.

[@lordhumungus7911]

Credit cards!

[@huemann7637]

They wouldn’t have a job if they just told everyone how normal everything is all the time.

[@willisapril]

Highly unlikely. A major recession is coming stock market is going to crash big time. Our government has already given over 200 billion to Ukraine. With climate change there are going to much worse storms as worse hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and deadly viruses as wel

[@chocolatechipslime]

@@huemann7637 yeah but this is a dumb headline, I mean come on, do they really think Fort Myers is just gonna be abandoned due to 1 storm and people won’t chose to live there or rebuild anymore. The future will be the same for Fort Myers as it was for every other city that got hit with hurricanes, pick up the pieces and move on. Tourists will be back next year

[@Wheelztotheworld]

Sending my prayers to the whole of florida

[@sidneymonteiro3670]

Try sending money because prayer is worthless.

[@billrobbins5874]

Relation there who are truly good people. All safe but some of their relatives homes completely gone. Thoughts and prayers to all Floridians who are suffering from this tragedy. No loss of life on their side, what really matters. ♥️😢♥️

[@northeastslingshot1664]

Useless. Send money

[@bobcatbigpaws5597]

This is where my friends go for vacation. So sad for a whole town destroyed. So horrible people lost everything they own. When the man said he had no money to go anywhere is just making me cry. I pray for everyone effected by this raging weather and pray they can rebuild but please not near the oceans. Be safe and don't chance losing your home again because of the weather changing so much.

[@moonjumolnar9092]

Me,too. I couldn't stop crying. But now I'll pray for them 🙏

[@joycewatersboisvert400]

Bobcat big paws they are broke and insurance doesn’t pay good either they take more than give some take forever to get a collection

[@joycewatersboisvert400]

Florida doesn’t give to the needy they throw them in jail instead leave Florida it not a holy state they are evil in the dust

[@themotorcycleguy5980]

Its their own fault for deciding to live there and stay even when told to leave

[@grecherbaile290]

@@themotorcycleguy5980 just because they leave when told for the hurricane does take away the fact that they would’ve still lost everything and be left with incredible financial struggles. As far as deciding to live there, that is true but you can’t make decisions fear based, you can always loose your house one way or another. Plus people near the beach weren’t the only ones loosing their homes due to the hurricane. They already have trauma from what happened to them and saying things like that only adds on to it

[@lax1194]

I am sad for people who lost their lives and those who lost everything near and dear to them.

[@Neida225]

A piece of paradise turn into a horror site

[@brendasmith9995]

My prayers for affected victims and Rescue Workers. Trust God, He will comfort and strengthen you. Help will come! Shalom. 🙌😇💙🙏 💪

[@RoyalFlush7096]

Prayers for all! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@Straingelove]

My heart goes out to everyone there. Sending love and strength from Canada. At least your governor cares about you and that will help a lot. Wish we could say the same about our leaders. Hang in there. Praying for all of you! Remember what matters the most ❤

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

Building on barrier islands or in a storm surge susceptible area never was and never will be a good idea. They should ban rebuilding.

[@jamesjoslin7586]

EXACTLY ! Thankyou for saying that.

[@johnjones-yt8rt]

Let those than can afford to build there be self-insured.

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

@@johnjones-yt8rt Tax payers already get stuck with the bill for the infrastructure just so they can live on the barrier islands. These islands are sacrificial to protect the coast. No construction should be done at all except maybe state parks.

[@270eman]

Thats why they put cheap trailers up. Slap some one new ones down for cheap.

[@troyboy4645]

Move to higher ground!

[@ericaspeare2175]

I lived in Florida for 4 years evacuated 3 times, While others stayed. The problem is the media blows these storms out of proportion to generate fear. So when a bad one comes people won't leave cause they are being lied to 98% of the time.

[@ericaspeare2175]

Ps. It's quite a task looking at all your stuff and deciding what you can't live without. We picked our Bible. Visa papers. Cash. Photo albums and laptop

[@realfrankiegrande]

should’ve been here for this one, it is that bad

[@Andrew-om1pw]

exactly, well said. I live in Iona. in between Sanibel and fort Myers beach. and our kids were 3 and 8 at the time of Irma and last minute we decided to flee because I called like 6 shelters every one full and turned us away. we live in a flood zone A and could not find a place. my wife sister had drowned from under tow in the years prior and she was scared so we fled by the mandatory evac. as we were driving then another announcement on the radio said whoever evacuates will not be guaranteed to have a job when they return. seriously??? you threaten people to leave then threaten to fire them for leaving. this is probably why slot of us stay. we have mortgages. yeah if I had a guaranteed pension I'd leave for every tropical storm.

[@dorinaleslie2586]

So heartbreaking watching this feed. Prayers gif all those who have lost so much and prayers for strength during the long recovery.

[@bandingo652]

I rode the storm out in my car, in the Publix drop off spot . In corkscrew village @ corkscrew road & 41.. I'm no stranger to hurricanes but lemme tell you whhat ! The only way to describe the sound of the storm was roaring, Like a savage beast & I was bumping shoulders with it. Hearing the transformers blow, losing complete cell reception. Even though I was tucked away in a good spot, The wind was shaking the car as if a freight train was passing by at full speed.Truly a sobering & terrifying moment. I got great footage of it cuz I had nothing else to do at the time. I'm fortunate to have survived where some of my other fellow Floridians didnt. My heart aches for the folks on ft Myers/bonita beach, Captiva, Sanibel, Bokeelia.. Peace & Love

[@moseymay1772]

Glad you made it thru

[@wendybarnett7670]

I really feel for everyone there please stay strong in keep your hopes up it's not going to be the same area but you got people in you all can pull back in get it where it was my prayers are with you all

[@troyboy4645]

You build on sandy island next to the water in a hurricane zone…..natural process of nature to take out the stupid!!!

[@phoonsiri]

Its cliche but my heart dies ache. I spent my 50th bday there in February. So beautiful. I truly pray for everyone.

[@ivanjones8144]

I keep hearing people say "I didnt think it would be that bad i figured I'd ride it out A catagory 4 Hurricane ...iwill never understand the mind set behind this behavior.

[@carolirene49]

Good Lord what y'all are going through. Heart felt compassion and prayers from all of us!

[@dwaynedonald2939]

Hello Carol

[@bretthibbs6083]

As someone that used to live in Florida and have family down there I am heartbroken over this fortunately my family is safe and well. I've traveled all over Florida and been down the Naples Fort myers a couple of times and it was beautiful down there. I'm also saddened by some of the comments on here. You can have natural disasters no matter where you live in the U.S. or even the world so saying to these people that they shouldn't have moved there is hypocrisy at it's finest.

[@James-gx9gn]

There's always a thing about risk management. Yes you can't avoid risk but you can mitigate it. The Mayans for instance learned very quickly to build their cities inland

[@mistystafford8113]

@@James-gx9gn except inland is already at max capacity. No matter where you go they are either experiencing volcanos or earthquakes, droughts, flooding, tsunamis, wildfires, etc. Think about how many resources there are in your area and then at least double the population. To tell Texas, Mississippi, California, Louisiana, and the countless other seaside states in addition to volcanic states like Nevada and eartquake states like California to all move inland is unrealistic. No matter how much you prepare, nature will always overpower you

[@adambussert3383]

@@James-gx9gnTulum is a Mayan city is built on the seashore . It’s in Mexico

[@1college100]

Well, I didn't migrate there, but I was born and raised there.

[@270eman]

@@mistystafford8113 What? Florida is overpopulated af. Way less people in the middle of the country.

[@bill-qv3er]

Reminds me of Homestead where we went through Hurricane Andrew. Most of the south end of the county was not recognizable. It takes a long time to recover from something like that. Living or working on a beach area is a calculated risk. The odds are stacked against you. Best of luck to everyone, stay safe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@taniaperez147]

Andrew was way worse!

[@lonnycook5122]

This absolutely shatters my heart! This was my home away from home and fell in love with FMB. I was there last June and last December and it was hard to look at this place. May God bless that land! 💔💔💔

[@lonnarheaj]

It's hard to accept this now, but as long as you have survived, and your family and those you care for survived, you have NOT lost everything!!! Our possessions, our "stuff" is always a temporary arrangement. People and places recover from hurricanes.. Life will likely never be exactly the same for anyone directly affected by an event like this, but life is always in flux. Hurricanes are not the only cataclysm that can take our stuff away, but humans are incredibly resilient, and people will come through this disaster just like people have done countless times before.

[@BFSmile-vr9gz]

Oh, thanks for your comment 👍. How is everyone there?.

[@amym1460]

This is dismissive to people's feelings who just lost everything. The trauma of surviving the storm, ear piercing winds, hearing and watching your home be ripped to shreds while you try to survive, then seeing your entire community in shambles, then having to continue to fight to survive with little to no food and water after the storm until help arrives stays with you for many years after the fact.

[@TanyaQueen182]

Love and positive vibes going out to Ft. Myers with love from Jacksonville.

[@sidneymonteiro3670]

How, exactly, does that work?

[@ifixboats5066]

That's what they need... snowflake love and vibes.. thank you. I'm sure it will make everything better....

[@americanhoney880]

Staying positive a f won't change a thing. Insurance companies most likely will not cover damages if you had flood insurance since hurricanees are not a flood or they will call it an act of GOD which is also not covered if any at all survived or if you could afford that additional binder of insurance on your policy.

[@ifixboats5066]

@@sidneymonteiro3670 it doesn't. You need to be a snowflake liberal to understand

[@puudavis2007]

Anytime you live by the ocean this is how it goes when conditions are right fir this to happen best be on the weather stations at all times especially during Hurricane season.

[@Somebodysomewheresometime]

I was renting on Pensacola beach last year- it’s a 2 bridges to land- one is 3 miles! I was there for Ida which was 300 miles away and my street (oceanfront) was under a foot of sand! I could t wait till my lease was up- it was scary! To think of all the thousands of people anxiously leaving for evacuations getting over that bridge (which got hit with sally and was out for a year!)- gave me ptsd! I’m happy to be over the bridges now and thanking my creator for sparing us this one

[@puudavis2007]

@@Somebodysomewheresometime happy for you somebody I hope you got over the pdst ?

[@markfcoble]

Stay strong. Keep working, we're thinking and praying for you!

[@ChristineJSmith16]

Can I recommend rebuilding somewhere else(once you get the insurance, donations, and government payouts)? I lived in Florida for over a decade. Living near the beach during calm waters is lovely (and even addicting) but not worth the risk. When I relocated at first went through withdrawal pains missing the ocean and the intercostal. But, like any addiction you eventually adjust and carry on.

[@dwaynedonald2939]

Hello Christine

[@thevoiceofkhan5830]

I feel sorry for all the loss. It's really sad From Pakistan

[@troyboy4645]

Mohammed is a false prophet! Pakistan…hell hole?

[@leonhue722]

Devastating .... Some areas should not be developed to a dense extent given the low topography.

[@Blujonny11]

Don't know how they can build these kinds of communities in Hurricane Alley like that.

[@nwatson2773]

I’m glad I didn’t move there in 2019 like I was planning! My prayers are with you! ❤from Fort Lauderdale, FL❤

[@hectorlopez1069]

Rest in peace to the people who died from this hurricane. This is horrifying. This life is getting worse.

[@rickyrichards7596]

BAD is only getting started. All will be destroyed by `2033. Then we will have 1,000 years of peace on this newly made-over earth! (I do not know the hour or the day!) Have a blessed Sabbath!

[@Ellie80681]

When was life ever okay in America ?

[@rickyrichards7596]

@@Ellie80681 LIFE IN AMERICA has always been better than any other place on earth!

[@xanzibar]

@@Ellie80681 Are we gonna pretend like people don't live good life's in America. My family moved to Florida from Brazil, if you wanna a bad life move to a country like that and find out. I went there and learned very quickly how good I had it in the U.S. The middle class there lives worse the than most of the lower class here. Why do you think people are illegally immigrating here so much? You have to have a very small world view and a low I.Q to think life in the U.S sucks when migrants are piling into here. Even after this hurricane made landfall in my town my neighborhood still looks better than my grandma's neighborhood in Brazil.

[@SlightlyInactive]

@@rickyrichards7596 what is “BAD”? Judgement day? Also hurricanes arent part of judgement day lmao. If anything, it would be an earthquake

[@susanasalinas8797]

Material things can be replaced, but a human life cannot be replaced, They are Blessed to be alive!!! Don't give up hope!!

[@Automedon2]

"Material things can be replaced" Stop saying that. Many people do not have money to replace what they had. Some people are past their earning years and will not be able to start over. I know you were trying to say something cheery (if very cliche), but life without a roof over your head isn't that awesome.

[@wsandifer05]

Human life is replaced all the time. That's what parenting a child is. Reality though, is that we're all going to die, period!

[@Automedon2]

@@wsandifer05 I know. This endless 'human life' worship is beyond ridiculous

[@cherylbalmas4901]

It’s going to take some time but I pray they rebuild Times Square or some thing similar. Fort Myers is such a vacation destination and since they don’t really have a downtown per se, Times Square was where everyone met and hung out With great Restaurants on the beach and the tiki bar across the street at the lighthouse inn. It will never be the same but maybe it will be an even better version of what it was. The squares in the villages near Orlando are full of beautiful shops wonderful restaurants music and dancing in the streets. This would be my wish for that corner of Fort Myers someday. But it’s too soon. These people need to grieve and breathe. I don’t even own property down there but I have vacation down there a few times and it holds very special memories for me. I’ve been crying every day but I can’t even imagine that the images I’m seeing on TV tell the whole story or even come close to the devastation that is there. To say I’m sorry for everyone’s loss sounds so empty and shallow but the sentiment is truly heartfelt. I am rooting for the people of Fortmeyer and all surrounding areas that were impacted by the hurricane

[@robertl7239]

They will recover, but it will take years. For many, the psychological and emotional damage will break them - for others, they'll be scarred for life and suffer from various forms of PTSD. We had Hurricane Harvey hit here in Rockport, TX., 5 years ago. For the most part, it took three years for life to get back to "normal" AND everyone is still on edge during Hurricane Season (I'm one of those people, checking the National Hurricane Center website 3-4 times every day). Because businesses were lost or destroyed, so were the jobs they provided to people in each community. Housing becomes an immediate issue because you need places to put the people who are going to stay but have no place to live for the next 12-24 months. The tax base is gone too. Without people and businesses, how do you generate Tax Revenue? And, because of the massive damage, property values/assessments immediately plunge. It's a bad situation but people are strong and they will overcome the hardships, it just takes time.

[@J.Zealuis]

All i Wana say is ...this is gonna happen if you live so close to the beach...the risk is so much bigger. Beautiful town but bigger risk.

[@chosenroses3198]

Very sad,praying for you all

[@ripadipaflipa4672]

Brings back memories of seeing so many people walking around looking like zombies after Andrew 30 years ago. I was one of the lucky/ stupid ones that never left the Keys. Once the bridge open south I cared for so many after the hurricane in our ER truly zombies their eyes glassed over not having the first clue what to do because they were still in shock and despair needing a hand, hug free water and a direction to start their road to a mental recovery because most had lost everything many without insurance and those that did have insurance were made to wait months just to get any $ for a place to stay.

[@mgworld6653]

Fort myers is my home for last 16 years and devastated by the lives lost and destruction.. but let me tell you “ Ian you can scare us not defeat us .. we will overcome “…

[@idahojoe8232]

Thanks for posting, not fun… remember those too who were affected by flooding two months ago and the tornados over the summer… A lot going on. Great though that we good resources here in America; and great to see neighbors helping each other…Thankful to live here. 🇺🇸

[@Yarmox]

Incredibly sad, but at this point can take it as an opportunity to rebuild the west coast of florida to be a modern, strong, futuristic place

[@ellenbedford3888]

There was something special about Ft Myers Beach. I worked at resort on the far right side of beach for 13 years. You could see Sanibel. The view from the roof was amazing. Being in Times Square, the shops, little unique restaurants. It was the atmosphere and feeling about it. It’s why people came. Making it futuristic just wouldn’t be right.

[@RoyalFlush7096]

@@ellenbedford3888 I totally agree with you, it had that “old Florida” feel, that true Floridians love.

[@Blaze6432]

@@RoyalFlush7096 Yah. I feel like Fort Meyers isn't really a prime place for contemporary feel. If this had happened in the Tampa area I would argue that would be a better contender for futuristic.

[@dianam.agudelo3066]

And then more hurricanes coming up over the years , Washing and blowing everything away... that's is the future

[@jamielissau8541]

They need George Jetson style Hurricane Proof homes homes above the ground…

[@gillianmorris4520]

So sad to see people have lost everything i pray that the families that lost everything they remain strong in the Lord

[@diana-mariegavin4970]

Our prayers our with you Florida State. God bless you ❤️ From Newfoundland Canada 🙄

[@ianrodden1124]

We lost our home in Indiana to a fire and it doesn't matter how your home was lost, it's traumatizing to see your home gone and the worst feeling to feel is to just stand there looking at it and wondering what do I do? What's next? And the aftermath just feels never ending. The things you planned for the money you saved up for certain important things all of it completely changed and thrown off course. I don't wish those feelings on my worst enemy.

[@ryanbyrd4797]

As any good evolutionary atheist would say- So what? Who cares? It’s all meaningless

[@hiyathere599]

Yeah so do you live in a fire path? That’s totally different. These ppl crying but keep rebuilding to loose it all over again. Doesn’t make sense whatsoever

[@ryanbyrd4797]

@@hiyathere599 I fully agree with you. I always used to tell people America is a big place

[@ianrodden1124]

It doesn't matter. Regardless of what a person's address is it's still the worst feeling to see everything destroyed.

[@ryanbyrd4797]

@@ianrodden1124 It does matter and it’s not regardless. All of this redundant rebuilding just cripples the insurance and taxpayers money. Worst feeling for who? Some people love destruction

[@hawkeye5829]

Looks like Mexico Beach after Michael in 18 when I was there.

[@lizardomariana7514]

Never underestimate mother nature 😬

[@tonyjohnson7163]

Prayers to all those affected

[@andy99ish]

I am sorry for these people. But hurricanes are a reoccurring feature of South Florida. There was Irma (Cat 5) in 2017, Charley (Cat 4) in 2004. One has to be aware that having property there means to have it hit every 10-20 years or so. Especially of you live close to the sea. And with the warming of the the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean and the Gulf the frequency and the power of hurricanes will probably increase.

[@reallybadaim118]

How do you charge your EV during this?

[@Memow-pk1ng]

Yeah, BRANDON?? Good question !!

[@oh.paga.gangmanstyle7221]

by relocating to California ?

[@ryan918lauren]

Good point!

[@oh.paga.gangmanstyle7221]

@@ryan918lauren EXCELLENT Point i'd say..Because this answer satisfies both Libtards and Maghats :P ( they think it goes their yet opposite ways :P)....it is an answer made so they both throw kitchen sinks at each other, while thinking THEY are correct :P

[@soflbchboi]

"Imagine being inside your dishwashing machine for 8 hours!" That's not even half as bad as being in a hurricane for the same 8 hours!

[@easternsaxon7820]

Prayers for people affected by Ian.❤❤

[@jamesm568]

There is a future if you want to pay $8,000 a year for insurance and another 8,000 for flood insurance.

[@davidcraig7771]

They can afford it

[@nyunixguru]

Who can afford

[@vipahman]

Don't worry. You're alive. The property can be replaced. Insurance will pay for it. Of course, they will increase your premiums by 10-25%. And you can go right back to building whatever you lost in the same place. 🤔

[@robertmeyer5438]

My parents bought time share in Ft. Myers 2 years ago and made a lot of friends they are fully devastated and still hopeful that their friends and neighbors are alright.

[@thistime4you]

We loved our life in Naples just south for Fort Myers. That was until Hurricane Wilma in 05 when we could not take the fear of hurricanes any longer. We pray for those affected

[@pauldavis7334]

Well when you build next to the ocean expect it someday nothing to do with climate change just normal hurricane every year

[@winstonsuz]

I'd like to know about the man that was interviewed who said his boat was his home and it was all he had and he was NOT going to leave the boat for the hurricane he was staying on his boat to ride it out...

[@Jooba1776]

Bob?

[@coinmagnetjr]

If you have a boat, why not leave ?

[@wsandifer05]

@@coinmagnetjr Have you bought fuel lately? Boats are very expensive to operate.

[@270eman]

Yeah hes probably with davy now.

[@paulsholar9356]

Boat owners had plenty of warning He rolled the dice on a very large bet and lost.

[@brianfuller757]

We've dealt with the aftermath In Louisiana multiple times and it always sucks.

[@sharlenerodriguez2520]

So sad. Not easy. Praying for all of you. Reminds me of Hurricane Dorian.

[@minhtrinh2524]

🙏🙏🙏GOD'S PEACE, COMFORTS, CARES AND RESTORATIONS FOR ALL THE FOLKS HAVE BEEN THROUGT DEVASTATIONS WITH THE STORM IAN. IT'S A HEART BROKEN.💔💔💔.

[@patricksullivan7140]

Godspeed Florida 🙏❤

[@raymacmillan2277]

Commentator says "This is downtown Ft Myers" while showing Ft Myers Beach. Ft Myers Beach is a separate town that is mostly on a barrier island. Ft Myers proper is mostly inland a few miles along the Caloosahatchee river. My wife and I sold our home on Ft Myers Beach 2 years ago, our hearts go out to all our friends and neighbors on the beach. We hope the best for you all.

[@thinkforyourselfjohn3167]

It's beyond heartwrenching prayers for everyone. I have cried watching these videos of the aftermath. Starting over is not easy.

[@itsmyopinion8462]

America had billions to send to Ukraine, she jus better have billions to help her own

[@TheVuduYuDu]

Take that shite up with your elected representatives if they voted for that BS.

[@moonjumolnar9092]

Pray for you guys. Can't imagine losing all the memories and everything you had.

[@reneeblair7593]

Gosh it just breaks your heart to this devastation that came to Ft Myers, just horrible. Just hard to fathom really. It's just so sad and tragic. Really Ft Myers area had a big population growth in the last couple of decades. Just feel for people to come home and see what has happened to them. Times are tough alot of people did not have money to evacuate...

[@andrewvillanueva3722]

Prayers for all those people 🙏

[@maxinebaker4489]

My heart goes out to all the people affected by Hurricane Ian ... thoughts and prayers from Australia xo

[@BFSmile-vr9gz]

Oh, hummus. Your comment is very nice. How are you doing??.

[@masonmainpage4105]

Stop sending the money to Ukraine! Send it to the people in Florida

[@lauraswihart4816]

Oh boy, my sister lived there, she loved it. She died 8 yrs ago, but that city is in shambles! 😵

[@RobertJones-ux6nc]

My Heart and Prayers go out the the Hurricane Victims on the East Coast. May you all get things together soon. MY Best Wishes to you all. 🙏💔✌🌷⚘🌻

[@lindamurphy9724]

If anyone rebuilds on coast, build a 2 story dome concrete home..

[@wrathofgrothendieck]

Never!

[@thomash4447]

Its not fair to say "well, they should have taken this more serious"..........No preparation could have saved them from 15ft deep storm surge. Ian blew through all the standard hurricane prevention built into homes and businesses. I was just there a few weeks ago and I loved it. 😢😢

[@lindabradford9591]

Exactly. Hopefully the negative people are prepared when a tornado goes blasting through their home. I get so tired of peoples ignorant comments instead of sympathy. Praying for all affected by Ian.

[@theclimbingchef]

It was supposed to hit Tampa and shifted. A bunch of my sisters friends in tampa went to ft. Myers to ride it out and a bunch of her friends from ft. Myers area thankfully made it out alive

[@waynehankinson8210]

Flood zone maps made by the federal government lets you know exactly how high the flooding can and will be. When you buy property down here you know the flood zone and you have to get flood insurance accordingly. This isn’t a situation that people don’t know that can happen. It’s a question of when it will happen. Those houses that were built at ground level were very old and are not even close to meeting current building codes. Homes in that flood zone the first floor has to be 14 feet above ground and meet a slew of other restrictions.

[@ArunMadisetti]

I really feel for you guys, best wishes from Dominica

[@thefreakyboutiki]

First images in video are NOT “Downtown Fort Myers”, but Fort Myers Beach.