southwest florida

Sanibel Shell Museum features exhibit on island people and recovery from Hurricane Ian

Pam James

Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel reopened to the public on February 1, after Hurricane Ian shut the island down for months. Now, alongside their popular shell displays, is another unique and interactive exhibit.

Six months after Hurricane Ian stormed across Southwest Florida, people in many areas are still struggling to rebuild. Fort Myers Beach was particularly hit hard by the 15-foot storm surge.

Florida News

After Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers Beach struggles to become 'a functional paradise'

Greg Allen

Nearly every building on the barrier island in Southwest Florida was damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ian's 15-foot storm surge. It's left the town with almost a clean slate for redevelopment.

Environment

Nimble business owners grapple with financial impact of red tide

Sandra Viktorova

Business owners and tourism experts in Southwest Florida explain how red tide impacts the bottom line.

Government & Politics

New group aims to build back better on barrier islands devastated by Hurricane Ian

Pam James

As the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva continue to assess the damage to homes and businesses after Hurricane Ian, some community organizations and concerned citizens have joined to create the SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future.

A sign is posted for depositing dead marine life from the "red tide" bacteria into dumpsters is seen at Bay Vista Park on July 21, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida.

Environment

What to know about the 'red tide' hitting Florida beaches

Joe Hernandez

The toxic Karenia brevis algae has returned to the Gulf Coast for another year, killing fish and causing health problems in people.

Health

In Florida, 'health freedom' activists exert influence over a major hospital

Zach Hirsch

Earlier this year, three activists who are opposed to COVID vaccines and standard treatment protocols for the illness were elected to the board of Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Franklin’s gulls are most easily distinguished from similar looking laughing gulls (Leucophaeus atricilla) by their smaller overall size, smaller bill, and thick white eye ring, White said. These birds primarily nest in freshwater marshes across the central provinces of Canada and some parts of the north-central U.S

Environment

Shorebirds return to Sanibel, Captiva at record numbers post-Ian

Tom Bayles

Shorebird counts on Sanibel and Captiva islands in November were the highest they've been in five years, despite devastation to the region caused by Hurricane Ian in September.

Vlad Moise, 69, stands in his woodworking supply shop in Sarasota, Florida. In November, he applied for an SBA loan to help in recovery after Hurricane Ian.

Small business owners share obstacles to recovery as SBA disaster lending in Florida hits $1 billion

Gabriella Paul

Small business owners in the greater Tampa Bay region and nearby counties are approved to receive $900 million in lending — so far — to help in recovery from Hurricane Ian.

A shelter for those displaced by Hurricane Ian still operates in a mostly-empty shopping plaza in North Fort Myers. Some people there reflected on spending Thanksgiving in a shelter.

Hurricane Coverage

People displaced by Hurricane Ian reflect on Thanksgiving in a shelter

Mike Walcher

As many as 300 people will wake up Thanksgiving morning in a shelter in North Fort Myers. Many of those displaced by Hurricane Ian have been living in shelters for nearly eight weeks.

Jimmy Driggers and his wife Shirley pose for a portrait on Oct. 28, 2022 in Pine Island, Fla., where their home was severely flooded by a storm surge from Hurricane Ian in September.

Hurricane Coverage

Still reeling from Ian, Florida shrimpers are desperate to get back on the water

Danielle Kaye

Fishers in southwest Florida are desperate to save their shrimping fleet, and their lifestyle, decimated by Hurricane Ian more than a month ago.

A man tows a canoe through a flooded street of his neighborhood in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., last month. <em>Vibrio vulnificus </em>thrives in warm, brackish floodwaters.

Environment

A rare but dangerous flesh-eating bacteria is infecting Florida residents

Emily Olson

Hurricane Ian caused storm surges of up to 12 feet, leaving behind warm, brackish floodwaters where Vibrio vulnificus thrives.

Coalition of Immokalee Workers organizers bring food and other relief aid to migrant workers hit by Hurricane Ian in Naples, Florida, on Wednesday.

Hurricane Coverage

Migrant workers are likely vital to Florida's rebuild - but Hurricane Ian hit them too

Tim Padgett

Latin American migrant workers help fill Florida's construction worker shortage. But many feel overlooked by hurricane relief — and demonized by Florida’s governor.