FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — The Tampa Bay region narrowly avoided catastrophic damage when Hurricane Milton moved south of its projected landfall late on Oct. 9.
The hurricane's transition 70 miles south of Tampa, however, meant the community of Siesta Key in Sarasota County would face the hurricane's eye wall.
Even further south, in the Fort Myers area, Southwest Florida was caught in the hurricane's dirty side, which is the area of the storm that usually experiences the most severe storm surge, extreme wind, and heavier rain bands that can cause flooding and tornadoes.
New helicopter video from the Lee County Sheriff's Office showcased the devastation officials are still working to clean up nearly a week after Milton's landfall.
Fort Myers Beach officially reopened to the public Saturday morning, but advised visitors against entering the water due to safety concerns that remain throughout the area, according to local CBS affiliate WINK.
Water samples are reportedly being tested by the Lee County Department of Health. The department plans to announce when it is safe for swimming once the quality meets state guidelines. Concerns remain about bacteria and potential hazards like debris still in the water.
Businesses throughout Fort Myers Beach are also working to reopen their doors after the storm, with many comparing the devastation to the previous Hurricane Ian.
“Ian is nothing compared to this,” a Sunset Point Marina and Resort employee told WINK.
“We had 14 boats at this marina, none of them are really salvageable at this point. Some of them ended up here tore down. The whole entire first floor is fully damaged. We had a full boat rental business over here that is fully broken. It’s going to take us a while to build back, and we’ll definitely be closed for a little bit.”