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With an even stronger hurricane the state’s Panhandle had its own encounter, four years before Category 4 Ian wiped out parts of southwest Florida, Michael. The Category 5 storm all but destroyed one town, fractured thousands of homes and businesses and in damage did some $25 billion.

As south Florida residents wonder what their area will look like in a few years the two areas are collaborating on a way forward, at several times with damage from Ian estimated that and the Fort Myers area beginning a clean-up that will be even larger than after Michael.

This week at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis to help officials plan a way forward Mayor Greg Brudnicki and other leaders from a rebuilt Panama City travelled to the southwestern coast. 

To remove mountains of debris is job No. 1 keeping crews and trucks in the area because of that all other progress hinges, Brudnicki said, and that can mean obtaining loans as a bridge until federal reimbursement money shows up. “Until you get it cleaned up you can’t fix anything”, Brudnicki said.

By Michael in 2018 Tiny Mexico Beach, which was nearly levelled, still has fewer structures and people than it did before the storm. One of the biggest challenges recovering from a natural disaster is fundamental: looking ahead, not back, the town’s mayor, Al Cathey, said.

To map out the way forward after the hurricane Cathey said, with little left in town after Michael, residents gathered daily at a portable kitchen, and there was an unwritten rule.

“At the food truck when we had our afternoon meetings, all we talked about was, ‘What are we going to do tomorrow?’ not what didn’t get done four days ago”, Cathey said.

For more than 30 deaths Michael was blamed. Ian was the third-deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland this century behind Hurricane Katrina, with more than 100 fatalities, which left about 1,400 people dead, and Hurricane Sandy, despite weakening to a tropical storm which killed 233 just before landfall.

It was in the Panhandle because of population Cathey said recovery will be more complicated in southwest Florida. Bay County, which includes Panama City and Mexico Beach, has only 180,000 residents, while Lee County, where the Fort Myers area is located, many of whom are retirees, is home to almost 790,000 people.

Around Lee County could take months simply removing the boats that were thrown onto land, and by 155 mph (250 kph) winds or flooded by seawater that surged miles inland along creeks and canals there are the remains of homes and businesses scattered.

For a prolonged recovery that could change the character of the area one of the damaged vessels and waterlogged homes belongs to Mike Ford, who is braced.

He said that one of hundreds of such communities in the region, the flooded-out mobile home park where Ford lives, would be better off as an RV park where people can come and go than as a permanent neighbourhood. 

Ian residents might be ripe for a buyout or conversion, particularly after Hurricane Irma in 2017 since he and others had to repair damage.

Ford, who lost a valuable collection of guitars and Beatles records to Ian said “I’ve got enough money to rebuild, but I can’t see it because what I’ve (already) done is rebuild, and now this happened”. “The wind out of you it kind of takes.”

A neighbour of Ford’s, Chuck Wagner, said some people already are getting frustrated after Ian. Many southwest Florida residents are retirees who only live in the area half the year, spending the hot summers in the north, and they’re hearing that aid might not be available to part-time residents.

He said “Everything is up in the air”. “Who knows, it might take years?”

Progress is measured in incremental steps. Power had been restored to the first few homes on Fort Myers Beach, one of the hardest hit places, over the weekend, officials announced. 

FEMA had approved $420 million statewide for lodging and home repair assistance for residents unable to live in their homes following Ian, as of Sunday. In Mexico Beach, Tom Wood, 82, is proof that progress will happen slowly and painfully.

When Michael made landfall with sustained winds of 160 mph (258 kph) on Oct. 10, 2018 his beachfront business, the Driftwood Inn, was blown apart and filled with ocean water. The only logical step seemed to be giving up, initially, he said.

Wood said, but the storm passed and the Gulf still beckoned, so he decided to rebuild. After a $13 million outlay and a lot of headaches from insurance, government regulations and contractors the new Driftwood Inn reopened in June with 24 rooms at its original location. 

He said desperately that Mexico Beach still needs a grocery store to avoid the more than 10-mile (16-kilometer) drive to the nearest one, and a pharmacy and more restaurants would be good. He believes he made the right decision to rebuild and hopes people in Fort Myers Beach do the same, but looking back, Wood said.  

He said “I am so glad that we did it, not only for us but for the town”. “I think, It just makes the town better”.

Source:- https://sharenewzlive.com/from-hurricane-michael-lessons-being-applied-to-ian-recovery/

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