Hurricane Milton devastation has left a haunting mark on Fort Myers Beach. Almost a week has passed since the powerful storm swept through, yet the community remains trapped in a cycle of recovery. The echoes of Hurricane Helene are still fresh in their minds, a stark reminder of the persistent threats that loom over this idyllic paradise.
WATCH AS FORT MYERS BEACH COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT, ANVAR RUZIEV, RETURNS TO SHOW THE AFTERMATH OF ANOTHER POWERFUL STORM:
BEFORE AND AFTER: Hurricane Milton aftermath on Fort Myers Beach
As recovery efforts continued in the wake of Helene, the arrival of Hurricane Milton intensified the sense of urgency. The local businesses, already fatigued, are now grappling with even more extensive damage. Don’s Seafood, a beloved spot for residents, faces challenges as floodwaters have left their premises submerged.
Severe flooding diminished the beauty of the island, as several feet of storm surge ravaged homes and businesses. Carole Newsam, a longtime resident, expressed the emotional toll as she surveyed the high water marks on her home.
“Look at our waterline after Milton,” she said, gesturing tragically at the marks on her walls. Living off Sterling Avenue, notorious for its flooding woes, she lamented that nearly every house on her block bore the burden of water damage. Each home tells a story of loss.
“With each hurricane, we adapt,” she reflected, identifying the bittersweet reality of resilience. Despite her painstaking efforts—days spent sealing windows and doors—water still invaded her sanctuary. The irony of living in paradise, with its white sands and azure waters, juxtaposed against such harsh realities, weighs heavy on the heart.
Days spent lifting furniture, corralling possessions, and sealing off every possible entry point only to return to the heartbreaking aftermath—that’s a familiar narrative for those in this coastal town. “The muck, it smells,” she described, her voice trembling. It’s a reminder that beauty can be fleeting, overshadowed by nature’s undeniable force.
Residents and local authorities toil together, pushing sand back onto the shore, grasping at every fragment of normalcy they can restore. Still, the weight of this repeated cycle feels unbearable for many, including Newsam. She wonders silently, how many more storms can they shoulder?
“It’s like paying a toll for this paradise,” she reflected, her outlook a mixture of resilience and uncertainty. Will she continue to pay this price? “I hope this is the last one,” was her silent prayer—a glimmer of hope in the midst of turmoil.
