Join Travel Weekly, TravelAge West and leaders from top river cruise companies to get the latest updates on your clients Cruise North America with More Value Than Ever. With the help of a developer, he hopes his rebuilt church complex will include workforce housing. Theres nothing we couldve done for Michael. As with two competitive siblings close in age, just about everything that happens on one side demands comparison with the other. When he returned to the island, Preece didnt know if his restaurant would even be standing. Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria left a trail of destruction when they swept over the Caribbean last September. Drivers who encounter them have gotten stuck. WebUpdate July 2021: Grand Case has been hit very hard by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 and is only slowly recovering from the damages. Structural analysis of the building showed it was safe, but a lot of work needed to be done., Fort Myers Beach, FL Publix Structural Analysis by Gage Goulding NBC2 on Scribd, Weve seen it gutted, new interior, new roof, obviously new parking lot, which they just started today, Mulrooney said., Now, there are big banners outside saying the Publix is reopening soon.. After a wet and active week, Monday begins a much more calm and dry stretch for this work week. Just getting dropped off and walking up and down Periwinkle. They are attacking people without their pocket full.. At a recent news conference he said, "Anyone should be held accountable who's not meeting obligations to their folks. Beach Thanks for your reply. There are so many forum posts about COVID, that I am not sure where to look. Can you point me the way? Inor An apartment complex in Saint-Martin that was ripped apart by the storm sits empty two years later. What I saw was an island destination that has come a long, long way since Sept. 6, 2017. The beaches are open, although a red tide algae bloom has led to big fish kills. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent. A lot of Mom and Pop type businesses." Part of HuffPost World News. Thats the strength and weakness of France, Ms. Feucher said. Shawna Wood and her father, Tom Wood, say their hotel has been rebuilt to be able to withstand 140 mph winds. The elevated demand for qualified workers in a small labor pool jacks up wages. After buying Seabourn Odyssey, Japanese cruise line to put focus on U.S. River lines put more sports-related cruise options in play, Returning to St. Maarten/Martin, 20 months after Hurricane Irma, IGLTA conference is returning to an LGBTQ-friendly Puerto Rico, Challenges ahead for Caribbean tourism, CHTA survey says, Caribbean tourism outlook: Very good and getting better, Celebrity chef's visit inspires a dining series at Pineapple Beach Club Antigua, Anguilla is out to improve first impressions, Rays of 'Sunshine' brighten Puerto Rico's tourism outlook for 2023, Leaders gathering in Jamaica to take on tourism's challenges. The News-Press visual journalist Ricardo Rolon recently piloted a drone between 50- to 200-feet above southern Sanibel with views of the damaged lighthouse, Lighthouse Beach and the Gulf and river sides of the island. Several of the flood-prone coastal neighborhoods of greatest concern to Ms. Feucher have large low-income populations, and many residents suspect the French government is waging a veiled campaign to drive poor, black residents off their land through condemnation so it can be sold to developers. Although the new code requires buildings to be more resilient, the town retained its height and density limits. "For 20 months we have worked together to rebuild, retrain and reunite, and we're gaining momentum day by day.". The town is just beginning discussions about how it can develop more workforce housing. The new Driftwood Inn sits 6 feet higher than the previous one and is built to withstand a Category 4 hurricane. The oldest church on the island, Chapel by the Sea, also now is just ruins. This church was destroyed by Hurricane Ian's 150 mph winds and a wall of water that pummeled the island in September 2022. Its about wealth., Protests against the plan could turn violent, Mr. Bash warned. There was about 5,500 cars coming on the island. However, some are scheduled to open soon including the. Ron DeSantis is supporting legislation aimed at propping up the state's troubled insurance industry. After Hurricane Ian, many people wondered how Sanibel and its Causeway would come back and how long would it take? Officials here say slow and inadequate insurance payouts are hurting recovery and forcing many long-time residents to sell and leave the island. "Thanks for coming," he said. I knew I needed to get to the off the island for medical attention, Tillo said. The boutique Read more Maho Village Close to the International Airport, the Maho area's most famous attraction is the beach at the end of the runway. Six months later, the wall remains broken. Saturday night shooting in downtown Fort Myers under investigation. Sandy Ground bracketed by a bay on one side and a lagoon on the other was first settled by squatters decades ago, many of them black immigrants from other Caribbean islands. WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPBF) West Palm Beach native John McKendrick says he missed all the warning signs. for more business re-openings. Some people read the letter. It would be an understatement to say they went on a mission. To see kids whizzing down the water slides, guests dining and wining at several food and beverage outlets and chaise lounges occupied by guests testifies to the comeback of the two largest resorts on the island. I knew I'd be seeing a lot of change on the island, but I was heartened that the landing pattern was still the same. Recovery has been slow in places like Puerto In the room, the Mayor of Sanibel at the time, Holly Smith, and Governor Ron DeSantis. But he says complaints about how insurance companies handle claims are being investigated. And that will create a different flavor here because you won't see so many of the old ground level cottages." Mother nature has a way of purifying things and, as painful as In the storm, Pink Shell lost two cottages it used for workforce housing. The rights-of-way along the roads are covered with construction debris and stuff and its just not the same experience. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hurricane Ian: A birds eye view of SWFLs recovery one month later. Has St Martin French side rebuilt from the hurricane? In this series, The Times investigates to see if those promises were kept. When is the reconstruction expected to begin? PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Hurricane Ian: A birds eye view of SWFLs recovery one month later. Orient Beach Update - Nearly Two Years After Irma: Kontiki Beach Rios says state resources have been deployed, including boats that are being used for rescues. WINK News asked the City of Sanibel what the estimated population on the island is, but because of the number of people that live there part-time, its difficult to gauge an accurate number. ", Three-and-a-half years after Hurricane Michael, real estate prices in Mexico Beach are as high as they've ever been. hide caption. When hotels are wrecked by a storm, business dries up, unemployment soars and government coffers suffer. Two died on the Dutch side, according to the prime ministers office. This service extension, which had been provided by the State of Floridas Division of Emergency Management, was approved at Monday's Town Council meeting. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. Six months after Hurricane Ian stormed across Southwest Florida, people in many areas are still struggling to rebuild. Hotels and restaurants have reopened, and tourists are again lounging on its beaches. Mexico Beach That was construction workers, residence employees, and things like that. We are grateful for our customers and look forward to reopening the Fort Myers location. On nearby Sanibel Island, a non-profit corporation supported by the city provides nearly 90 workforce homes, some of which were destroyed in the storm. Concessions are open, and although the gate area is cramped and often overcrowded if a flight is delayed, everyone I saw kept their tempers in check and their humor intact. Jim Atterholt, vice mayor of Fort Myers Beach, stands in front of Chapel By the Sea. We were told that it was going to go to Tampa for every day, Tillo said. "That's no longer the case. Sadly, this hidden paradise now look like a ghost paradise. This week, major flooding is threatening that recovery. The right of way removal service for hurricane-related debris in Fort Myers Beach has been extended until further notice. Its up to about 8,000 a day, Marcus Preece, general manager of Cielo, said. But in May 2018 neither destination was yet ready for prime time. After a Caribbean Hurricane, the Battle Is Where, or Even Whether, to Rebuild, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/07/world/americas/hurricane-irma-saint-martin.html. Boffman told WPMI-TV he has no insurance and his mobile home may not be habitable due to damage. We eat lunch every day at Publix, said Mike Mulrooney, who works at Snook Bight Marina on the island.. Beach I need to hear the needs of my population at least the majority of my population, Mr. Gibbs added. I have called every corporate communications number I could find on the website. Sally made landfall at Gulf Shores on Sept. 16, pummeling the coast with fierce winds and as much as 30 inches (76 centimeters) of rain. Im hungering for Publix. Join TravelAge West and severalAlaskapartners for a three-part series exploring all the incredible possibilities https://www.travelweekly.com/Caribbean-Travel/Insights/A-return-to-St-Martin. This week, major flooding is threatening that recovery. Along the South Texas Coastal Bend, heavy rains this week have brought major flooding, and concerns about drinking water supplies to cities including Corpus Christi, Port Aransas and Rockport. He says, "We're the exact opposite of South Beach. Grenada is a small island that packs a big punch, in part thanks to knock-out places to stay such as the Spice Island Beach Resort. The man behind Mattress Mack: salesman, gambler introvert? Cruise arrivals jumped 84.4% in Q1 over the same period last year; two new hotels will come on line later this year; and stayover arrivals are up 144% over 2018 year to date. Stuart Johnson, minister of tourism for St. Maarten, said it well: "We are two nations but one destination. I have been doing that almost since the hurricaneand you cant get any information. Two days later, they started digging that dirt, and four days later, they were able to get the power trucks over, Councilmember Smith said. Its been two years since the Florida Panhandle town of Mexico Beach was leveled by Category 5 Hurricane Michael. Published April 24, 2023 at 11:01 AM EDT. May-Ling Chun, director of tourism for St. Maarten, referred to the Sonesta re-openings earlier this year as "just one of many stories of inspiring recovery on this island. What will the new Club Orient look like? It was a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States. Pinel Island in St. Martin is a popular day trip for visitors. But to qualify for $100 million in federal grants, he says Mexico Beach had to take steps to harden the city and require new construction to be able to withstand hurricane-force winds. A 15-foot storm surge knocked this house off its foundation on Fort Myers Beach. The half-sunken hulls of storm-scuttled ships. During Hurricane Harvey, wind did the most significant damage in Rockport. But many working-class residents fear they could be forced to abandon property that has been in their family for generations. This sailing boat ended up beached in the cemetery of Marigot near the Bay of Nettle on Sept. 9. We are right back there at the top of the market, and it's still climbing.". I saw boarded-up homes and businesses and rusted hulls of yachts along shore lines. Beach Rios says, so far, Rockport hasnt lost access to safe drinking water, and sewer systems arent severely affected. On the French side, some believe their patience will pay off with a more resilient island, better able to withstand the effects of the Atlantics warming waters. Condo with new seawall in Daytona Beach Shores, Tiger dams on Daytona Beach Shores help build up sand, Flagler Beach walkway lost steps from hurricanes, Currently, there are very few hotels available on the beach. Three-and-a-half years after Hurricane Michael, real estate prices in Mexico Beach are as high as they've ever been. According to Miami-Dade Urban Search and Rescue records, 5,126 structures on Sanibel were considered damaged., Red tide, blue-green algae, and other water bacteria issues are monitored by, The State of Florida. We give a lot of attention to the population, and it can prevent people from developing a sense of responsibility in terms of taking care of themselves.. Mostly sunny skies and lower humidity for Monday, Tornado touchdown confirmed in Charlotte County, Law stopping hate acts signed by DeSantis, Fort Myers Beach recovery efforts seven months after Hurricane Ian, Downtown Jewelry & Watch Co. in Fort Myers continues Hurricane Ian recovery, Lee County community standing strong after Hurricane Ians devastation. Top $76,000-a-year New Jersey boarding school admits 'more should have been done' to stop bullying of boy, 17, who took his own life after being falsely Cdrick Andr, a community activist in Sandy Ground, one of the high-risk neighborhoods, views the matter as nothing less than an existential struggle for Saint-Martins working-class population. It was crazy.. We have shown resilience, and we share the same goal: to rebuild and restrengthen our tourism product. NWS confirms tornado hit Charlotte County. This scene of utter destruction in the aftermath of a Category 5 hurricane was not in the Abaco Islands or on Grand Bahama, devastated by Dorian last month. There was about 5,500 cars coming on the island. Grant Brown, a spokesman for the city of Gulf Shores, said damage was a lot worse than our initial thoughts, and theres still a lot of work to be done. A 15-foot storm surge knocked this house off its foundation on Fort Myers Beach. With the help of a developer, he hopes his rebuilt church complex will include workforce housing. Ian could make it worse, See aerial pictures that show Hurricane Ian's toll. Information on applications submitted prior to the March 29 deadline is available at 850-961-2002, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Waterways debris removal contractors vetted by the Florida Division of Emergency Management have been cleaning Hurricane Ian debris from public waterways for several months. According to Crowder Gulf Regional Manager Barton Holmes at todays meeting, more than 1.1 million cubic yards of debris has been collected from the right of way since Hurricane Ian. Greg Allen/NPR ", Doster's home was flooded and he's doing the repairs himself. Fort Myers Beach was particularly hit hard by the 15-foot storm surge. Well have divers in the water next week, just to check the integrity of that bridge.. Smith, now the former Mayor of Sanibel, loved the governors idea but didnt know how he could get it done. April 28, This wasteland was on St. Martin, an island that took a direct hit from Hurricane Irma on Sept. 6, 2017, and where, two years later, recovery is still far from complete. GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) Alabamas beaches have reopened, but the states coast has hardly recovered fully from the effects of Hurricane Sally last month. A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin | Contact us, A service of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin, Sensing Blood In The Water, Multiple Opponents Are Circling Ken Paxton, Afghans Who Helped U.S. He may be 80 but the U.S. Navy veteran has a masters and is quite tech-savvy. There are few places to stay on Fort Myers Beach now, but visitors, especially those with long ties to the island, have already begun to return. The challenge of the government for reconstruction becomes even longer and more difficult.. I'm not a slow learner when it comes to storms anymore.". We have norms and rules and regulations on the French side, said Angle Dormoy, the president of Saint-Martins Chamber of Commerce. For me, its a conspiracy to take over the island, said Mr. Bash, whose family has lived in Sandy Ground for five generations. Returning to St. Maarten/Martin, 20 months after Hurricane Irma On Oct. 19, 2022, three weeks after Ian washed away two major parts of the Causeway, Desantis announced it would reopen to the public. Re: Has St Martin French side rebuilt from the The funding Puerto Rico did use was largely spent on emergency work projects, such as debris removal. Recovery is also hamstrung by the fact that few are left untouched by a severe disaster: The officials responsible for leading the recovery are themselves sometimes fighting to get on their feet. An outside view of Mercure hotel in Marigot on the Bay of Nettle on St. Martin on Sept. 6, after Hurricane Irma, and again on Feb. 28. Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, in particular, since those communities became almost unrecognizable after overwhelming flooding, damage, and devastation. U.S. Virgin Islands. Two years after Hurricane Irma, many damaged buildings can still be seen on Saint Martin, the French side of the island.CreditMeghan Dhaliwal for The New York Times. On the eve of Hurricane Ian, Shanna Matyas and her family removed every watch and piece of jewelry from her Downtown Jewelry & Watch Co. store in Fort Myers. hide caption. The hurricane caused billions of dollars in damage across the 34-square-mile island, which is split between the French territory of Saint-Martin, with a population of about 32,000, and Sint Maarten, a mostly autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with a population of about 41,000. And she is trying to convince the population of this, too. ", Pastor Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church operates a forklift moving supplies into his damaged church. Our opinions only. Right now. Lufthansa gives it a try, I found the rest I needed across from a strip mall, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, What's hot on the Las Vegas pool scene this season, Hyatt is acquiring the Mr and Mrs Smith hotel collection, Western mountain resorts are facing a demand erosion this summer, With more ships and new homeports, MSC Cruises is attracting Americans, Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort is getting new cabins, Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady will have a branded poker room. "I don't think you'll see the skyrises. Hurricane Irma made clear that natural disasters not only obliterate structures and lives; they can also expose deep socioeconomic fault lines. Rockport, Texas continues to recover from Hurricane Harvey. The resort's owner, Bob Boykin says as terrible and destructive as the hurricane was, it now provides the island with an opportunity to build for the future. Six months after Hurricane Ian walloped Southwest Florida, the recovery is slow and uneven. Everything was brown, the dirt, the mud everywhere. The Google search saying the store will reopen on May 25 is giving some people hope. As with many places in the Caribbean, the economy is over-reliant on a single industry tourism for jobs and tax revenue. Some residents, and the city itself, are still repairing damage caused by the hurricane. The French governments promise to deliver substantial help was not an empty one. We love our Publix. Fort Myers Beach was one of the hardest hit areas. They want to change who we are., They are not attacking the people who have their pocket full and can defend themselves, he added. While Irma battered the island for just a matter of hours, Ms. Feucher predicted that it could take up to three more years for the territory to fully recover. "In a way," he says, "the hurricane has forced us tostay in your lane, worry about what you got, take care of your stuff. Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt says the height limit will be raised and new hotels and condo buildings will be taller. New HBO Max series Love & Death anchors a Texas true crime story in the human condition. But Ms. Feucher conceded that persuading people to accept new regulations is no easy task. They cast it aside. There is still lots of construction going on. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.What are forum guidelines? Businesses still shuttered. Thank you. Beach ", "Twenty months ago, the room we're standing in had been ripped apart by the high winds and rain," Chun said. All rights reserved. But there would be a lot of damage.". ", At Beach Baptist Church on a recent morning, a line of cars snaked down the street for a giveaway of something nearly every homeowner here needs, drywall. Eighty-five percent of the buildings in Mexico Beach were destroyed, including Wood's beachside hotel, The Driftwood Inn. If anything happen, we leave the home. She was one of 11 people who died on the French side of the island, according to the local authorities. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a photo from Martinique. On this place, we had water up to the doorknobs on the second floor.". April 28, 2023 FORT MYERS The pre-Irma accommodations inventory was 1,096 rooms in hotels and guesthouses. They post testing results online at, . A husband's dread during an abortion ordeal in Oklahoma. Valerie Damaseau, St. Martin's minister of tourism, youth, sports and district culture, told me that "the recovery is a slow process. A week before the official start of hurricane season, meteorologists began tracking a tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico. We didnt know it could take months, it could take a year we didnt have a timeline, really, Councilmember Smith said. Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin of Sint Maarten said her government had insufficient fiscal, legal and environmental staff to help manage those aspects of recovery after Irma. After all, at least seven generations of her family had survived numerous hurricanes on this same patch of land, and she figured this time would be no different. People on Florida's Panhandle used to think they were unlikely to experience a direct hit from a major hurricane. Hurricane recovery has been no different, revealing that distinctions in culture and governance have had a significant bearing on progress during the past two years. Cranes, bulldozers and construction gear still line the periphery, but the welcome I got upon arrival from the immigration officer was genuine, warm and appreciative. WebThough much smaller than Simpson Bay Lagoon, Oyster Pond is at the center of one of the island's most desirable neighborhoods. The current rains are primarily causing flooding. Its part of new legislation from Gov. A framed photo of President Emmanuel Macron of France in a government office in Saint-Martin. Changing mentalities is always difficult, she said. Weve already got mold growing in my house. A huge new resort, Margaritaville, was under construction when Ian hit. The Mercure hotel in Marigot was surrounded by water and debris on Sept. 6, after Hurricane Irma. Hurricane Officials said the damage was worse in places that from Hurricane Ivan, which landed a direct hit on the same area in 2004. One case in point: Mexico Beach, a town on the Florida Panhandle almost totally destroyed by a hurricane three years ago, is coming back. But those newer homes that were built more structurally sound they fared amazingly well. Beach ADVISORIES. What groups have received Hurricane Ian donations from Florida Disaster Fund? "Individual houses (are) coming back tenfold," Wood says. When Hurricane Irma crushed St. Martin two years ago, the French state vowed swift assistance. But that state largess may have undermined private initiative during this reconstruction period. Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria left a trail of destruction when they swept over the Caribbean last September. These images, like the ones of Grand Case we shared earlier, were captured by our good friend and SXM resident, Malaika Maxwell, just a few weeks after Hurricane That's especially a concern for people who live in the Southeast and along the Gulf coast. "And we upped [the building code] to 140 mile-an-hour wind," Cathey says. Because most of the damage on Fort Myers Beach came from storm surge, only those with flood insurance received significant insurance payouts. Beach Pastor Shawn Critser of Beach Baptist Church operates a forklift moving supplies into his damaged church. Since last September, the store has been shuttered after Hurricane Ians winds tore the building apart and storm surge flooded the place.