Recreational vehicles’ communities in Fort Myers feels pain after Hurricane Ian
A red Coast Guard helicopter responded to a flooded area Thursday in Fort Myers. Gov. Ron DeSantis reported there were about 700 Hurricane Ian-related rescues on Thursday morning.
Ian’s havoc on Thursday in Fort Myers included an empty white refrigerator on the grass over a median. It was just between the moving cars that were traveling on the Tamiami Trail. Without working traffic lights, police officers asked drivers to treat intersections as four-way stop signs.
Drivers and pedestrians were near unstable electric poles and overhead power lines. Ian also flooded several communities with recreational vehicles and mobile homes. Some were RVs overturned.
Right before Hurricane Ian made landfall in Cayo Costa, the Category 4 storm had 155 mph winds. The wind, which uprooted large trees, weakened as the storm moved inland.
Near Cayo Costa, the hurricane’s 20-foot waves caused Sanibel Island’s only causeway to the mainland to collapse in several places. It was closed southbound at Punta Rassa Road and northbound at Sextant Drive.
The Caloosahatchee River flooded the city of Fort Myers and the water flooded hotels and restaurants in the Main Street and Broadway area, near the Old Lee County courthouse.
The storm surge from the Gulf of Mexico flooded Fort Myers Beach and scattered debris. The historic T-shaped pier was gone. Nearby, the San Carlos RV Park & Islands was full of debris. From SKY 10, it appeared that some of the brick foundations were pulverized.
State officials reported at least seven hurricane-related deaths and expected more. DeSantis said he traveled to the area to get assessment reports on the damage to roads, bridges, and infrastructure.
Cape Coral city officials reported that a damaged water system distribution pipeline prompted the shutdown of the potable water system.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno and the Fort Myers Police Department asked anyone who is concerned about their family’s safety in the area to call 239-321-7700.
LEE COUNTY NOTICES
Curfew begins at 6 p.m.Solid waste garbage collection will resume on Monday.There is a boil-water notice in effect.
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More reports from Fort Myers
Hurricane Ian made landfall on Cayo Costa and destroyed mobile homes in North Fort Myers. Footage of Times Square in Fort Myers Beach shows the level of destruction from Hurricane Ian. Times Square is in the downtown area of Fort Myers Beach
Torres contributed to this report from Miami.
