WEEK OF OCTOBER 26, 2022
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 44
Water service restored to more than 60 streets By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The Town of Fort Myers Beach announced that 60 streets had access to water restored Monday, following a three-week lull in service caused by Hurricane Ian. Town of Fort Myers Beach Utilities Director Christy Cory said 51% of the town's streets have had water restored.
Fort Myers Beach remains on a boil water notice and residents are strongly advised to avoid entering any waterways, canals or channels due to the threats posed by Hurricane Ian.
The department is working from 5:45 a.m. to sundown to ensure streets are safe to receive water. Cory said that
Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt has approved allowing homes to receive water without an elec-
trician's inspection or structural engineering survey. Those surveys are still required for power to be restored. Cory said the town has been working with Lee County Utilities on restoring water service and checking the water mains on each street to ensure service is safe to be restored to residents. Fort Myers Beach remains on a boil See WATER SERVICE, page 17
Community resource centers open Public restrooms, showers available at Santini Plaza, Beach Baptist Church By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
NATHAN MAYBERG
Rick and Amy Loughrey, who own a home on Estero Boulevard that has been condemned, are seeking an acceleration of the permit-approval process so they can rebuild.
Many questions raised, answered at first town council meeting since Ian By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Three weeks after Hurricane Ian left at least 14 dead and a wave of destruction on Fort Myers Beach never before experienced by those with memories on the island, the first town council meeting attracted more than 100 residents and property owners whose homes were badly damaged, or had been wiped out. Many lost almost everything in their
See MEETING, page 8
“We’re not some big deity up in the sky or anything like that. We are your neighbors and we are your friends. I am a 40-year resident of Fort Myers Beach — 40 years. If I wanted to leave, I would have left a long time ago. I have no intention of leaving Fort Myers Beach. They will carry me out by my feet when I leave here so that’s my commitment to you. My commitment is that I am staying and regardless of where I am in my political time I am going to be here for the redevelopment of Fort Myers Beach.” - Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy
The Town of Fort Myers Beach announced that a new community resource center has opened at Santini Plaza with water, food, showers, laundry and restrooms and is open 24 hours a day. A second location is open at Beach Baptist Church The town is also at 130 looking to potentially C o n n e c t i c u t add community Street with ice, food, water, resources sites showers, laun- at CVS, Publix or dry and rest- one of the town’s rooms 24 hours parking lots on a day. State and the north end. f e d e r a l resources are available at the site. This location will be open 24 hours a day, with representatives from the various agencies available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Both sites have hot meals available 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and information boards. The town is also looking to potentially add community resources sites at CVS, Publix or one of the town’s parking lots on the north end. The town has been working with the New York City Fire Department on logistics and setting up the sites. Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt discussed the plan with the town council Thursday and said the plan is being worked on with the New York City Fire Department and Alison Giesen, director of the town’s culture, parks and recreation department. Giesen said Friday details are still being worked out as the town works to engage the various property owners on providing the amenities there.