Four years after Ian, barrier islands rebuild differently

Driving down Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach or cruising across Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island show barrier island communities that are simultaneously sprinting toward recovery and running in place.

Four years have passed since Hurricane Ian devastated the barrier islands. On Sept. 28, 2022, storm surge exceeded 15 feet in some places and destroyed about 900 of the 2,100 structures on Fort Myers Beach. Ian slashed the year-round living population in half, from about 7,000 to 3,500 residents. On Sanibel, hundreds more buildings flooded and were destroyed. The two islands, which have separate municipal governments, suffered in different ways, and they are rebuilding in different ways.

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