Photo by: Mickenzie Hannon
Fort Myers Beach is beginning to recover from Tropical Storm Debby’s impact, with businesses assessing damage and preparing for a challenging hurricane season ahead.
Fort Myers Beach faced severe flooding and storm surge Sunday as Tropical Storm Debby moved north through the Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rain, high tides and rough surf from the storm’s outer bands caused widespread damage, leading the Town Council to declare a local state of emergency Monday.
On Wednesday, the town started conducting substantial damage estimations across the island. This assessment of the storm’s damage is not only essential for maintaining Fort Myers Beach’s participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, but it also determines the amount of federal aid and insurance payouts businesses may receive.
The tropical storm strengthened into a hurricane before slamming into Florida’s Big Bend area.
With the storm out of reach, business owners on the island focused on recovery.
Nervous Nellie’s, located off Old San Carlos Boulevard, experienced flooding. The restaurant’s hostess area and front sidewalks were submerged, leaving people stranded inside Sunday.
Danny Timothy, general manager of Nervous Nellie’s, compared the flooding to the impact of Hurricane Idalia last year.
Old San Carlos Boulevard outside Nervous Nellie’s was submerged under up to three feet of water, prompting utility crews to clear flooded roads this week. They used equipment to suck the sand from storm drains.
As emergency management teams assessed the damage and began cleanup efforts, businesses that had closed in preparation for the storm started the process of reopening.
Fort Myers Beach business owners like Peter Ennis, who operates Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant and Wahoo Willies, said his businesses survived largely intact.
Their restaurant, which is being managed by Bill Ignatti, placed sandbags around the buildings in preparation for the tropical storm. Water did not get inside the buildings, he said, though, he said water nearly broke into the dining room at Snug Harbor but never did.
Ennis said 40 volunteers from Florida Gulf Coast University helped in recovery efforts on the beach, at Bayside Park and on the waterfront.
The storm’s impact was stronger than expected, said Sterling Kolar, the general manager of Yucatan Beach Stand along Old San Carlos Boulevard.
He noted the boulevard flooded and was underwater.
“It didn’t get to the restaurant, but it got up to the rocks of my tiki guy, so higher than expected,” he said of the water level, pointing to a large tiki statue that marks the entrance to the restaurant.
“We’re kind of a high point on the island, so we didn’t have to worry,” he said. “It was a little shocking because I didn’t expect it to be that high. I expected the lower side of the boulevard to be flooded, but not us.”
Beachside pizza restaurant Bella Mozzarella also didn’t suffer damage following the storm.
Looking at the upcoming storm season, however, owner Carlos Chavez said he’s concerned about how the restaurant will fare.
“In front of my building, we don’t have any other buildings. We are basically in front of the ocean,” he said. “Any little storm that we have, we see significant flooding in the area.”
The restaurant is three feet above sea level, he said.
“Even though the street was flooded significantly, our building is kind of a little bit higher, so we don’t have a concern if we have a surge that is three feet and below.”
Higher than that, though, he said, there’s not much he can do to mitigate potential damage.
He suggested transitioning to mobile businesses, as he‘s seen to be common in Europe, to allow for portability during storms.
He also expressed gratitude for the town’s quick response in cleaning up and checking on local businesses.
“The Fort Myers Beach community is very unified,” Chavez said. “They always post videos online, and they are in constant communication, so we basically know what’s going on on the beach.”
While many businesses were left unscathed, Sandy Bottoms Bar and Grill won’t reopen until October.
Dawn Miller said she and her husband Mike Miller operated their restaurant under a tent off Estero Boulevard while waiting to build a more permanent tiki hut structure.
An unexpected storm rolled through Thursday, before Tropical Storm Debby hit, that sent the restaurant’s tent flying, she said.
Customers were inside when the winds picked up, and everyone had to run for safety, she recounted.
“After knowing that somebody could have gotten injured in there hit us a little differently,” she said.
The Millers had the tent taken down the following morning. With the hurricane season expected to be heightened, she said they decided not to put the tent back up and wait until the season ends or their new tiki hut gets installed.
Miller said the restaurant will reopen in October with the new tiki hut.
“We were already a tight community before Ian, but Ian just changed everybody,” Miller said of Fort Myers Beach’s resilience, “because nobody had no damage. We all had something.”
Storm damage can wreak havoc on your property, leaving you with costly repairs and a lengthy recovery process. At Ovadia Law Group, we understand the challenges that come with storm damage claims and are here to help you navigate the complex insurance landscape. Our experienced attorneys are well-versed in handling storm damage cases, from negotiating with insurance companies to ensuring you receive the full compensation you deserve. We work diligently to assess the damage, gather evidence, and advocate on your behalf, so you don’t have to face this overwhelming situation alone. Whether you’re dealing with wind, hail, or flood damage, our team is committed to protecting your rights and easing your burden. Call Ovadia Law Group at 1-800-674-9396 for a free consultation and let us help you get the compensation you need to rebuild.
Source: msn
