Fort Myers Beach was ready for a remembrance ceremony on Saturday to mark the travel destination’s recovery two years after Hurricane Ian walloped Southwest Florida, including Sanibel and Captiva.
That celebration is off. Blame it on Hurricane Helene, which gouged its way up the Gulf west coast before smashing into Florida’s Big Bend in Taylor County Friday night.
Nicole Berzin, spokeswoman for Fort Myers Beach, said in a statement that the ceremony was canceled due to the effects of Helene and ongoing cleanup efforts.
People from around Florida who flock to Lee County’s beaches, resorts and restaurants will understand what Benjamin Abes, Lee County’s public service director, was referencing on a Facebook live video Friday when he said that Helene “presented some challenges for our community.”
But there is some good news: Florida’s Department of Transportation told Abes all of the island’s bridges were safe after Helene.
Sanibel Causeway closed for Helene Thursday into Friday morning but reopened at noon, Abes said. That’s the causeway that was severely damaged two years ago by Hurricane Ian.