Food must be removed from any appliance set at the curb. Looking down onto Hickory Boulevard, its hard to make out what used to stand there. By, Ian_8 bit hall of fame store_bonita springs.jpg, Ian_Nintendo remains_bonita springs.jpg, Ian_charter business_bonita springs.jpg, Florida medical boards approve rules related to gender-affirming care, Florida lawmakers react to the Supreme Court's decision to strike down Biden's student debt plan, Deputy's acquittal in the Parkland school massacre case shows holes in the law, attorneys say, New Florida laws on July 1, extreme heat and mosquito-borne illnesses, Fox pays $12 million to resolve suit alleging bias at Tucker Carlson's show, In a new video, Dylan Mulvaney says Bud Light never reached out to her amid backlash, Supreme Court to consider whether domestic abusers can own guns, A Brazil court has banned Bolsonaro from running for election until 2030, Here are 8 ways Tampa Bay residents can help the victims of Hurricane Ian, Florida officials warn of potential looting, say stealing 'cannot be tolerated', Hundreds of North Port residents trapped by flooded waters after Hurricane Ian, In the wake of Hurricane Ian's destruction, Floridians are picking up the pieces. But, they had an angel ornament in their game room that made it through the storm and was right by their door on the ground untouched. "Our beach access points were destroyed and beach parking lots are not safe," Ruby said. "Mound Key is closed, Estero Bay Preserve State Park is closed, Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Parkis closed and theres quite a few in Collier," Kutchta said. 8:02 PM EST, Fri January 06, 2023 A A LEE COUNTY, Fla. Lee County is working to make Bonita Beach level after Hurricane Ian tore through the coast. He doesnt think many of the older homes, that are mostly splintered shells, can be saved. A long road to recovery for a lot of Southwest Florida, and in particular Bonita Beach, four weeks after Hurricane Ian. On that street heading toward Barefoot Beach, stunned residents stuck their phones out of the windows of their slowly moving cars to record the various boats littering both sides of the street, strewn about like discarded soda cans. We are in the painting stage, so we are just about done.. The restaurant is still mostly gutted and needs all new plumbing and walls, but they wanted to try and serve the public while they wait for repairs. among the stores in the hurricane battered areas Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Venice and Sarasota, 14 are closed . Chandler M. Culotta This includes areas from south to north at public locations along the beach, such as Bonita Beach Park and County Access Points 1 through 10. ", Give, get help: Where to offer time, money, food and other supplies for Hurricane Ian victims, What you need to know: Helpful links to help you navigate Ian recovery, relief, And: Black leaders in South Florida delivering hurricane relief supplies to Fort Myers minority communities. Bonita Beach Accesses #1-10 Bowman's Beach Park Dog Beach Estero Island Beach Assesses Gasparilla Island State Park Little Hickory Island Park Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park on Fort. Keep public media strong anddonatenow. Is Bonita Beach Open After Hurricane? hide caption. Copyright 2023 Fort Myers Broadcasting. Neighbors Karen Anderson and Kathleen Hanrahan filled up sandbags for themselves and neighbors who were unable to get there. Please do not move the sand piles, as DOT will not remove any sand piles located outside of the right of way. Bonita Beach Road is surrounded by bay water on either side and only a few blocks from the Gulf of Mexico. When it comes slowly, that's when the damage is the worst, Botana said. The Florida immigration law goes into effect tomorrow, requiring all private employers with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify system. Check out our list below to see which beaches are open and which ones plan to reopen soon. 'Six of our employees lost their homes,' said a Docs employee as she drove down the island for the first time. The FLOW Mobile units will be stationed at Hertz Arena (11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero) starting Monday, October 3. Limited vehicular access to the Bonita Beach area will be open to Bonita Beach residents with passes starting on October 8th at 7:00am. Reporter Kate Cimini drove through Bonita Springs and Bonita Beach Thursday to document destruction from Hurricane Ian. We are almost back to normal, Julie Walton said. Bon Fires are not permitted per the Bonita Springs Fire Department. "So, we'd much rather have our systems in place and our neighbor systems in place than be last minute.. Lee County would not comment much on the work already done or the work that still needs to be completed. A Rolls Royce swept into the mangroves in Bonita Springs, south of Cape Coral, on Sept. 30, 2022. Fort Myers Beach drone video: Hurricane Ian damage still visible, Aerial view of Fort Myers Beach six months after Hurricane Ian, Two Fort Myers-area islands on list of nation's top 100 hidden beaches, Most local beaches need sand in the wake of Hurricane Ian. 7:47 PM EST, Mon January 02, 2023 COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. The last beach to remain closed in Collier County will not open until at least early 2024, according to the Collier County government.. There are residents that still can't live in their homes, the tattered shells of older. Van Linder says he hopes the restaurant will be open in August. BONITA SPRINGS. The venue fuses three concepts at one . If you have a larger county-provided container for automated garbage collection, you may use that as well. But, of course, everything they went through was nothing in comparison to Ian. Photos: Doc's Beach House before and after Hurricane Ian - Chicago Tribune Recovery efforts for Fort Myers Beach: Here's how Fort Myers Beach, Southwest Florida are recovering 6 months after Hurricane Ian. IF A STRUCTURE HAS BEEN RED-TAGGED, NO PERSON MAY ENTER THE STRUCTURE FOR ANY REASON. Jacquie Goguen, manager of Bonita Jet Skis, says her business has been open since Thanksgiving, but operations are even better now that the parking lot is open. For the last three months, crews have. Hurricane Ian is expected to impact Southwest Florida as early as Tuesday afternoon. Six months after Hurricane Ian barreled onto Bonita Beach, the area is creeping toward recovery. In the next couple of months, we will be in good shape with all the houses, he concluded. News Archive 20221003 Florida Response to Hurricane Ian Continues 10/3/2022 Florida Response to Hurricane Ian Continues 10/03 Today, Governor Ron DeSantis received a briefing at the State Emergency Operations Center and will continue to travel to areas impacted by Hurricane Ian. A long road to recovery for a lot of Southwest Florida, and in particular Bonita Beach, four weeks after Hurricane Ian. Publix begins reopening some stores along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Ian. In Lee County, all but one beach - Gasparilla Island State Park. I know its new for the county and the city to handle something like this. The initial sign up period is set for 21 days and will end on Oct. 23. Most Important Please set storm debris at the curb away from your normal household trash and recycling; it will be collected and documented separately. NAPLES, Fla. Christmas came a little early for some as Clam Pass Beach reopened to the public Friday. Look out this summer for massive sea turtles on a beach near you "The water is generally green in the summer, and it's black now," she says. 2023 www.naplesnews.com. BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. Jim Bianco decided to stay put in his seaside home in Bonita Springs rather than evacuate as Hurricane Ian smashed ashore on Wednesday. Tom Weschler, the Naples Police Chief, is retiring after more than 14 years with the department, and Friday was his last day. June 8, 2023 Collier County continues beach clean up efforts - Fox 4 News Click here to download the form, then email the form to public works. Lee County Reopens Four Beaches Saturday Nearly Six Months After Ian MOST POPULAR. The eye wall? Julie and Mike Walton were one of the first to have Potter fix their home. Luckily, they didn't. The house next to us had to be torn down, she said. That has kept him busy replacing the breakaway walls and the floors and removing the piles of sand that swept in. We are here to clean up to get things back to normal and get people back to the beach, Carlson said. The public can again use Lynn Hall Memorial Park, San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, Bonita Beach Park, and Bonita Beach Accesses 1 through 10 on March 4. Destruction of small shops along Bonita Beach Rd. Place storm debris at the curb in three separate piles: garbage, yard waste and building debris. Lee County DOT has been working to clear the roadway for vehicular access along Hickory Blvd, as well as residential driveways. Mark H. Bickel Fort Myers News-Press 0:00 1:07 The City of Bonita Springs is continuing to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. Koncikowski said she worries shell have to foot the bill if the county doesnt properly move in more sand. Docs Beach House used to be restless, with beach goers coming and going, as jet skis and other watercraft raced back and forth in the Gulf waters out front. Still, he is hopeful that restorations will be finished soon. Residents may call (239) 444-6150 to ask whether their property has been red tagged. We are open and we are ready for Spring Break and summer, Goguen said. This is a free service to homeowners. Nine months after Hurricane Ian, insurance villages are being held across Southwest Florida, giving you another chance to meet face-to-face with insurance agents. And their home has made it through several in the last 25 years. (Sean Rayford/Getty) Advertisement Staff members of Doc's Beach House. Relief supplies may take several days to arrive. A gator was spotted crossing the road at the intersection of Ben Hill Griffin and Corkscrew Road. Scott Neuman/NPR County officials said crews areusing recovered and processed sand (the sand that was on the road after the storm) to replace sand and supplement berms along Bonita Beach where it is needed. That is what saved the units, having the air conditioning so there is no mold, she said. For more information about Hurricane Ian and the . Hes like, hey, thats mine, Grant said. We are testing this out, said manager Curtis Van Linder. They told us they would clean it and bring it back, but we saw for months it has been going to the north end and they never dropped any off here at all, so it is a little depressing.. Our backyard is down five feet from what it was. Rosemary Dios Mons, 23, and her 11-month-old child Faith Rivera Dios. One Cape Coral homeowner said she got one in January, but when she went to put it in her bank account, it bounced. The City has been updating residents throughout the last. The sand is self-serve. I don't know what to expect as I get further. Jason Crosser's collection of classic video games and consoles were destroyed when Hurricane Ian's storm surge completely flooded his store in Bonita Springs called 8-Bit Hall of Fame. Nearly two months after Hurricane Ian ravaged Southwest Florida, some area beaches are reopening, but many remain closed. . What Naples Beaches are Open after Hurricane Ian? As the rebuilding progresses, there are worries that people with disabilities are getting forgotten. The latest news and how to stay informed. The station distributed more than 1,300 bags of sand to area residents by 3:30 p.m. on Monday, and by 4 p.m., the fire station was out of sand. While much debris has been removed from the beach and near-shore areas, debris continues to wash onshore. BY Gulfshore Life | September 30, 2022 (Photo Courtesy iStock/Rattankun Thongbun) Crosser sat in a chair just outside of his shell of a store looking defeated, among large shards of broken glass, video game cases and gray mud. Storm debris assessment is already underway throughout the county collections will begin in the next few days, giving residents time to get storm debris to the curb. Connect with this reporter: @ChadEugene on Twitter. Closed parks includes: Dreamland Park; Oil Well Park; Tony Rosbough Park; North Collier Regional Park (Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, Exhibit Hall, Rec-Plex) and Golden Gate Golf Course. Potter says the beach is slowly coming back. More information is available from the Army Corps of Engineers. Take precautions after the storm has passed. Note: Following Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022, Collier County Parks announced that Barefoot Beach is unlikely to reopen in 2023. WUSF is part of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, which provides up-to-the minute weather and news reports during severe weather events on radio, online and on social media for 13 Florida Public Media stations. With the Fourth of July approaching the Lee County Sheriffs Office shared some tips on keeping pets safe and calm for fireworks. All Lee County public parks, and many state and federal facilities are closed as well after devastating Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28. Beach Conditions (Last Updated: 06/22/2023) Most of our public beaches are open but some remain closed due to impacts from Hurricane Ian. The News-Press was unable to reach Sanibel officials at the time this article was written, but the beaches there are likely closed to the public as the bridge to the island is down. Bonita Beach Area Curfew: Until further notice the curfew is 12AM-6AM. The City of Bonita Springs currently has CrowderGulf Disaster Recovery and Debris Management working to cut and toss roadway debris to allow for Emergency Management and Florida Power and Light to be able to get through roadways. We will continue to share information about debris removal in the coming week as it becomes available. Lee County Parking Stickers are not accepted at this park. Click for details. Six months after Hurricane Ian barreled onto Bonita Beach, the area is creeping toward recovery. Here's how they are faring. Park in the Conner Park parking lot and walk over the bridge. Here's what you need to know before you hit the beach this season: These beaches have reopened since Hurricane Ian: * The entrance of San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve will be closed every Tuesday and Wednesday to allow for state contractors to remove hurricane debris. Photos: Bonita Beach, 6 months after Hurricane Ian - Naples Daily News Inedible food should be placed with the garbage. and last updated 12:25 PM, Oct 18, 2022. Lovers Key State Park remains closed due to heavy damage from Hurricane Ian As far as timing, there is a process that must be followed and we are in that process. Sports Challenge America opened off Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs, where General Manager Jeff Murphy hopes this prototype will take off nationally. Hurricane Ian: Publix to reopen some stores in Florida after storm Located at 15809 Clearlake Ave., within the gated, Just over 30 miles south of Fort Myers, the city of Naples is healing its own injuries in the wake of Hurricane, Hurricane Ian may have come and passed, but the effects it has left can still be felt in the community of Fort. MOREEstero considers new rules for raised homes, ANDSusanBridgesretires from Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs. / WUSF Public Media About 50 of 80 rental boats, owned by Omar Botana (white shirt), were scattered across Bonita Beach Road after storm surge from Hurricane Ian caused them to travel in random directions. But, just down the road, getting things back to what they used to be wont be so easy. Lee County is continuing its Point of Distribution (POD) for Food and Water at the Old Bonita Library- 26876 Pine Ave. BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. Jim Bianco decided to stay put in his seaside home in Bonita Springs rather than evacuate as Hurricane Ian smashed ashore on Wednesday. 4 Lee County beache to reopen nearly 6 months after Hurricane Ian Pictures Of Bonita Springs In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Ian Lee County beaches are open from dawn to dusk every day. on Mon, Oct 17, 2022 at 11:02 am. Lee County beaches top national list: Two Fort Myers-area islands on list of nation's top 100 hidden beaches, Sandy situation: Most local beaches need sand in the wake of Hurricane Ian. File photo Parking is free until further notice due to Hurricane Ian damages. "Delnor-Wiggins and Collier-Seminole(state parks) are closed as well.". We jokingly said theres a mailbox sitting over there and its our neighbor who lives on Hickory Blvd., and we called him up and told him, hey, you recognize this mailbox? The white-haired 86-year-old. The City of Bonita Springs is currently monitoring Hurricane Ian All rights reserved. So many boats from the neighbor three blocks away ended [up] over here, and some of mine ended [up] over there. Support WUSF now by giving monthly, or make a one-time donation online. Here is a list of local businesses that are now open following Hurricane Ian. Photos: After Hurricane Ian, once vibrant Bonita Beach is in a "What is it they call it? It ensures the best use of taxpayer dollars. Botana estimated that about 85% of his boats scattered in all directions would be salvageable due to the storm surges speed, which he said actually helped to keep them intact. There are more locations throughout the county. How is Vanderbilt Beach North Naples on Gulf Shore Drive after Angelina's Ristorante: 24041 S Tamiami Trail. About two miles east of the devastation at Barefoot Beach, a strip mall where El Acajutla restaurant is located has no electricity. At the corner of Bonita Beach Road and Hickory Boulevard, Steven Blumrosen was eyeing the damage to Barefoot Beach for the first time since he evacuated from his Bonita Springs condo in his R-V to a rest stop off I-75 with about 15 other people. Residents will be allowed vehicular access to Hickory Blvd in the coming days. "Everything I was making from it, I was kind of just putting back into the store over the years and just building and building it and the building was submerged underwater, and then nine-tenths of it floated away," he said. Kuchta said Lovers Key State Park toward Bonita Springs is closed as well. PHOTOS: Bonita Springs, Beach after Hurricane Ian - The News-Press But there are signs of recovery. Just a few blocks east on Bonita Beach Road is Jason Crosser's classic video game store called 8-Bit Hall of Fame, or whats left of it. The pool and garden and pickleball courts wont be ready until who knows when, she added, saying work has not even started on those amenities. "And some of the boat ramps were damaged.". Sun-N-Fun water park in North Naples opens for the summer: Here's what you need to know . Life-threatening storm surge is possible along much of the Florida west coast, with the highest risk from Fort Myers to the Tampa Bay region, according to the National Hurricane Center. The Florida counties that have been identified are Charlotte and Lee. Her home was without power for two weeks. This beach will recover, but it will look like a different beach once it does recover, Grant said. Lee County officials say they only took sand from the roads to replenish the north end of the beach, but residents insist they also took sand by their homes. Here is the latest timeline from LCEC on when power will be restored across Lee, Collier, SMS alerts:Sign up to a special texting group for updates on Hurricane Ian and its aftermath. Korson said work is progressing slowly because the parts needed for repairs are on backorder. Storm recovery status is updated on the city website. He said material shortages have slowed the pace of rebuilding. Advertisement Doc's Beach House on Sept. 29, 2022, after being pounded by Hurricane Ian in Bonita Springs, Florida. Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park is located at the end of Barefoot Beach Road off of Bonita Beach Road 15 minutes west of I-75. Some 28 miles north, in hardest-hit Fort Myers, reporter Eileen Kelley of member station WGCU views the destruction from a helicopter. The access is at 5901 Bonita Beach Road, twenty feet off Bonita Beach . This beautiful beach front park is on the southern tip of Bonita Beach. Residents are advised that vehicles are likely to get stuck in the sand if parked anywhere but on the driveway and the City cannot guarantee that a tow truck will be permitted immediate access under the circumstances. The sand from Barefoot Beach was moved by Hurricane Ian's storm surge onto the roads. We live in a community and some people can't get out and do what needs to be done," said Hanrahan. Some of Crosser's classic games were found a mile down the road, but they were ruined by salt water, or crushed by passing cars. It felt "like the house was being sucked into a vacuum cleaner for seven hours straight. It is a long process to get these doors and windows.. Things to know for Bonita Springs residents reentering the area Some parks in Collier are open, but others remain closed as repairs and clean-up works continues. Reopening Lee Countys beach parks and accesses safely has been and remains a priority for the Lee Board of County Commissioners, said Kathy Loomis, deputy director of Lee County Parks & Recreation. Storm surge caused many large vehicles, including this SUV, to float into random areas. All Lee County boat ramps as closed as well. Photos: Two weeks after Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers Beach still looks like a warzone Just over 30 miles south of Fort Myers, the city of Naples is healing its own injuries in the wake of Hurricane . "I felt like I had the kind of shock that people have in wartime when they have to go through things they are not used to.. Potter said they are still waiting on some solid wood stair components and are still working to find matching doors for some of the homes built more than five years ago. Well, you can't not lawfully anyway asmany beach public accesses,parks and recreation facilities in Lee andCollier counties are closed. A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from . Hours on Monday will be from 1:30 4:30 p.m. Right after the hurricane temporary wiring was installed so the air conditioners could run in the units to prevent mold. Across street, Eric Frederickson from nearby Cape Coral gazes at a Roll Royce driven by Ian into the mangroves. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. This is what's left of 8-Bit Hall of Fame, a classic video game store in Bonita Springs, after Hurricane Ian's storm surge burst through the building. It didn't make it.. Get your swimsuits and sunscreen ready; summer is a month away and the beaches are coming back! During that time, he's also ridden out, in similar fashion, the 1993 "Storm of the Century" and Hurricane Charley, which made landfall in 2004 at almost the same spot as Ian arrived earlier this week. Lee County beachfront resident compares Hurricane Ian experience to Crews aim to restore sand on Bonita Beach after Hurricane Ian Marine debris can be reported to the state. Tampa Bay Restaurant Week is back! We need the sand back on the beach because thats the first line of protection for not only the beach, not only the island, but inland also, said Koncikowski. "It looks like (Cayo Costa State Park) is still closed, and we donthave a timeframe for opening it right now," said Alexandra Kuchta, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Sept. 30, 2022. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Amenities, like boardwalks and restrooms, have not been repaired., There is not a date yet for when the restrooms and pavilions will open, added county spokesman Tim Engstrom. Parties affected by Hurricane Ian are encouraged to submit a Right-of-Entry application. ENJOY! The condos are all fine, but the storm destroyed the ground level and took out the plumbing, electricity, fire suppression system and the elevator. ", Mario Dominguez, who owns a Salvadoran restaurant, is one of the few eating establishments in Bonita Springs to reopen, thanks to a generator. Buffalo Chips Restaurant: 26620 Old 41 Road; 11am-9pm most nights . Officials announced back in February that a phased reopening of beach parks would take place with an overall goal of working alongside local, state, and federal partners to progress the reopenings as quickly as possible. 2023 www.news-press.com. Kevin Nobis owns Bonita Jetski and Parasail at Docs Beach Restaurant and said hes worried about the beachssouthside. All rights reserved. Lee County officials confirmed this on Friday. Parking may be limited and varies by location. These locations have food and water for victims of Hurricane Ian. "The beach is supposed to be out on the beach. "Mound Key is closed, Estero Bay Preserve. It is important to note that while some beaches are open, some amenities such as restroom facilities, piers, and walkovers have not been repaired or replaced at this time. "Loved it when we got here still love it, but we're just so sad to see the devastation and we're heartbroken for the people and the losses and the beauty that's right now in shambles," Simon said, adding that she's worried about how demand for contractors in the area will slow their recovery. Here is the latest timeline from LCEC on when power will be restored across Lee, Collier, Sign up to a special texting group for updates on Hurricane Ian and its aftermath, USGS Daily Data for Florida National Water Information System webpage, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Sand and bags are located at 27701 Bonita Grande Drive, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. For a list of Distribution sites please visit the Lee County website. What's Open: Restaurants Open after Hurricane Ian Residents will be required to show proof of residency before entering the island. Florida Beach Conditions After Hurricanes 2022 John's Charters buidling collapsed in on itself as a result of Hurricane Ian's wind and storm surge. Once after the disaster, your mind's blank and you're trying to say, what did I have? Traveling north along the islands main road, Hickory Boulevard, wide gaps of what were once homes could be seen along the road, now washed away by the receding storm surge that dragged any and all back into the Gulf.