The Comeback: Southwest Florida’s Recovery From Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Southwest Florida’s coast on September 28th, 2022, bringing with it up to 14 feet of storm surge. The near-Category 5 Hurricane wiped out electrical grids, engulfed bridges underwater, flooded homes, and left all of us wondering: what’s next?

 

The storm’s force was unimaginable, and no one expected the destruction that came with it. Yet the post-hurricane response was even more powerful:

 

• State and federal government sent immediate aid
• Grassroots nonprofit organizations banned together to help
• Good samaritans saved lives and lended helping hands

After Hurricane Ian, we witnessed the area come together in a way that affirmed that Southwest Florida is still one of the best places to live on the planet.

 

While there is still much work to do, our community is recovering from the storm at record speed, and people are uniting in a humbling and empowering way.

 

In this blog, you will hear about the progress that’s been made. From important infrastructure to rebuilding even better than before, you will hear how far we’ve come since Hurricane Ian and what’s next for Southwest Florida following the storm.

 

Through beach cleanups and countless volunteer efforts, the community is uniting to rebuild Southwest Florida even better than before. SW Florida residents and visitors are donating their time to feed first responders, clear debris and provide trauma support for those in need. There is much work left to do, and you can still get involved in volunteer projects through U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Valerie’s House and each city’s chamber of commerce. Learn more at www.volunteerflorida.org. 

 

Soon after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida, the rebuild began at a rapid rate. The Sanibel Causeway reopened in less than a month, and the Pine Island Bridge was completed in less than three days. Roads were cleared and islands were made accessible so that residents could quickly access their properties and assess damages. In some areas, you would never even know a hurricane passed through.

 

As more visitors continue to travel to SWFL after Hurricane Ian, more and more beaches and businesses are reopening to the public. Fort Myers Beach is open, and Sanibel Island started allowing beachgoers back on some of its shores. Lee County’s oldest business, Bailey’s General Store, recently announced it will rebuild and continue to serve Sanibel Island. In addition to these positive developments, visitors are now welcome back at Tween Waters Island Resort on Captiva Island, which is a big step for island tourism.

 

As Southwest Florida continues to grow and evolve after the storm, high-profile community members are pivoting and starting up new businesses. After Shucker’s at the Gulfshore and The Cottage Bar, long-standing and much-loved Fort Myers Beach staples, were destroyed by Hurricane Ian, their former general manager started a handyman company. Over on Fort Myers mainland, new developments are arising. The Bruno family, owners of Bruno’s of Brooklyn, recently announced plans to open a food truck park on historic McGregor Boulevard.

 

While some areas of Southwest Florida do not look like they used to before Hurricane Ian, they are still selling for top dollar – and lots of new construction is already underway. Fort Myers Beach is getting a brand new Margaritaville resort, which promises to support the economy through more jobs and increased tourism. What’s more, the Margaritaville developer just acquired another nearby beach property: the former Silver Sands Resort, which sold for $7.1 million. Although these developments mean change for our beloved beach town, the mayor of Fort Myers Beach, Dan Allers, said he is excited by the progress.

 

On top of the bustle on Fort Myers Beach, our SWFL real estate team has experienced a lot of forward motion on Sanibel Island. After the storm, McMurray & Members of Royal Shell Real Estate listed a historic property on Woodring Point and closed the largest recorded home sale Sanibel has ever seen.

 

Similar to Sanibel, the rest of Southwest Florida has also recovered into a stable and healthy real estate market. Prices are leveling, and you can still get a great deal – whether you’re buying or selling.

 

As we look ahead to more growth and expansion, many are still wondering what the future Southwest Florida will look like. While we can’t paint an exact picture, we can sell you this with confidence:

 

• Southwest Florida is rebuilding stronger and better than ever before
• Residents of SWFL still love living here, and people still want to visit
• SW Florida real estate is bouncing back quickly

Do you want to keep a close eye on the ever-changing SWFL real estate market? Do you have questions about buying or selling in our resilient slice of paradise?

 

Create a free account on our website to get insights from our real estate team on what you can expect from Southwest Florida real estate as we move forward from Hurricane Ian and be the first to know about new & exclusive property listings.

 

Simply click the “register” button on our homepage to sign up now.

 

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McMurray & Members is a top producing real estate team for Sanibel, Captiva Island, Fort Myers & the greater Southwest Florida area. With hundreds of millions sold every year, we are your premier choice for all of your SWFL real estate needs.