Skip to main content

Hurricane Helene and Milton Recovery

Recovery Efforts 
Flooded backyard with submerged trees and debris, a covered hot tub in the foreground, and a damaged wooden structure.
A beach with a construction vehicle and debris, overcast sky, and palm trees in the background.
A green industrial machine on a sandy beach with uprooted trees and white buildings in the background.
A beachside scene with sandy mounds, tire tracks, palm trees, and houses under a clear sky.
A bulldozer on a sandy beach with tire tracks and scattered trees, under a cloudy sky.
Mounds of light-colored sand in an open area with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A construction site with a tractor, trucks, sand piles, and trees under a clear blue sky.
Construction site with heavy machinery, sand piles, and tire tracks under a clear sky.
A tractor on a sandy beach with clear blue sky and ocean in the background.
Piles of sand on a beach with trees and houses in the background under a cloudy sky.
Beach debris near a house, including wood and trash, with a green garbage bin and a tractor attachment.
Beach with driftwood, palm trees, and clear skies.
Piles of sand and debris along a beach with nearby houses and cloudy skies.
Debris pile on a beach with palm trees and buildings in the background.
Sandy path with tall mounds, houses on the right, barren trees, and a clear blue sky.
Trees with exposed roots, sandy ground, a house, and construction machinery in the background.
Debris and driftwood piled on a sandy beach with the ocean in the background.
A cloudy seaside scene with calm waves, sandy beach, and palm trees in the background.
Driftwood and debris on a sandy beach with the ocean in the background.
An excavator moves debris on a sandy beach near buildings and a tree under a cloudy sky.
Beach access closed sign, palm trees, cloudy sky, and vehicles on the road.
May contain: soil, person, ground, and wood
Beachfront homes, palm trees, and vehicle tire tracks on sandy terrain with mounds of sand under a blue sky.
Road with signs: "Parking Lot Closed," "Active Construction Site," "Beach Access Closed to the Public." Orange cones block the path.
Flooded backyard with submerged trees and debris, a covered hot tub in the foreground, and a damaged wooden structure.
A beach with a construction vehicle and debris, overcast sky, and palm trees in the background.
A green industrial machine on a sandy beach with uprooted trees and white buildings in the background.
A beachside scene with sandy mounds, tire tracks, palm trees, and houses under a clear sky.
A bulldozer on a sandy beach with tire tracks and scattered trees, under a cloudy sky.
Mounds of light-colored sand in an open area with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.
A construction site with a tractor, trucks, sand piles, and trees under a clear blue sky.
Construction site with heavy machinery, sand piles, and tire tracks under a clear sky.
A tractor on a sandy beach with clear blue sky and ocean in the background.
Piles of sand on a beach with trees and houses in the background under a cloudy sky.
Beach debris near a house, including wood and trash, with a green garbage bin and a tractor attachment.
Beach with driftwood, palm trees, and clear skies.
Piles of sand and debris along a beach with nearby houses and cloudy skies.
Debris pile on a beach with palm trees and buildings in the background.
Sandy path with tall mounds, houses on the right, barren trees, and a clear blue sky.
Trees with exposed roots, sandy ground, a house, and construction machinery in the background.
Debris and driftwood piled on a sandy beach with the ocean in the background.
A cloudy seaside scene with calm waves, sandy beach, and palm trees in the background.
Driftwood and debris on a sandy beach with the ocean in the background.
An excavator moves debris on a sandy beach near buildings and a tree under a cloudy sky.
Beach access closed sign, palm trees, cloudy sky, and vehicles on the road.
May contain: soil, person, ground, and wood
Beachfront homes, palm trees, and vehicle tire tracks on sandy terrain with mounds of sand under a blue sky.
Road with signs: "Parking Lot Closed," "Active Construction Site," "Beach Access Closed to the Public." Orange cones block the path.
Hurricane Milton Post-Storm First Look 
Damaged coastal road with traffic cones and sand piles along the sea.
A sandy beach with fallen trees and a cloudy sky.
Coastal road construction, traffic cones, temporary lighting, rocks, and ocean view.
Roadside with orange traffic cones, erosion damage, coastline in the background, and a worker near a damaged area.
A road with traffic cones, debris, and damaged trees along the sides. Blue skies and a coastline in the background.
A person stands on a debris-covered beach with fallen trees and overcast skies.
Coastal road with traffic cones, rocky shoreline, power lines, and blue sky in the background.
A sandy beach with scattered debris, a washed-up log, and a cloudy sky over calm ocean waves.
A desolate beach scene with scattered debris, broken branches, and cloudy skies.
A sandy beach with driftwood and sparse vegetation under a cloudy sky.
A damaged beach house on stilts, surrounded by fallen trees and debris, under a cloudy sky.
Debris and fallen trees on a sandy beach with a small, damaged house in the background.
A yellow house on a beach, surrounded by fallen trees and debris under a cloudy sky.
A small boat by a rocky shoreline with greenery and cloudy skies.
A damaged beach house surrounded by debris and fallen trees under a cloudy sky.
A beach scene with overturned trees and cloudy skies, suggesting storm damage.
A house on stilts by a sandy area with scattered debris and overcast sky.
A cloudy coastal scene with an American flag, palm trees, a small building, and a rocky shoreline.
Road lined with palm trees, several parked vehicles, and a cloudy sky.
Beachfront houses with fallen trees and debris on the sand under a cloudy sky.
Fallen trees and rocks on a sandy beach under a cloudy sky.
A blue kayak on a rocky shoreline beneath a tree, next to a white wooden pier and a cloudy sky.
Windblown landscape with uprooted trees and debris on sandy ground under a cloudy sky.
A cracked, uneven road surface at night, with scattered rocks and debris.
A damaged beachfront building with debris and fallen palm trees, under a cloudy sky.
A sandy beach with debris, fallen trees, and a boarded-up building under a partly cloudy sky.
Damaged coastal road with traffic cones and sand piles along the sea.
A sandy beach with fallen trees and a cloudy sky.
Coastal road construction, traffic cones, temporary lighting, rocks, and ocean view.
Roadside with orange traffic cones, erosion damage, coastline in the background, and a worker near a damaged area.
A road with traffic cones, debris, and damaged trees along the sides. Blue skies and a coastline in the background.
A person stands on a debris-covered beach with fallen trees and overcast skies.
Coastal road with traffic cones, rocky shoreline, power lines, and blue sky in the background.
A sandy beach with scattered debris, a washed-up log, and a cloudy sky over calm ocean waves.
A desolate beach scene with scattered debris, broken branches, and cloudy skies.
A sandy beach with driftwood and sparse vegetation under a cloudy sky.
A damaged beach house on stilts, surrounded by fallen trees and debris, under a cloudy sky.
Debris and fallen trees on a sandy beach with a small, damaged house in the background.
A yellow house on a beach, surrounded by fallen trees and debris under a cloudy sky.
A small boat by a rocky shoreline with greenery and cloudy skies.
A damaged beach house surrounded by debris and fallen trees under a cloudy sky.
A beach scene with overturned trees and cloudy skies, suggesting storm damage.
A house on stilts by a sandy area with scattered debris and overcast sky.
A cloudy coastal scene with an American flag, palm trees, a small building, and a rocky shoreline.
Road lined with palm trees, several parked vehicles, and a cloudy sky.
Beachfront houses with fallen trees and debris on the sand under a cloudy sky.
Fallen trees and rocks on a sandy beach under a cloudy sky.
A blue kayak on a rocky shoreline beneath a tree, next to a white wooden pier and a cloudy sky.
Windblown landscape with uprooted trees and debris on sandy ground under a cloudy sky.
A cracked, uneven road surface at night, with scattered rocks and debris.
A damaged beachfront building with debris and fallen palm trees, under a cloudy sky.
A sandy beach with debris, fallen trees, and a boarded-up building under a partly cloudy sky.
Attempt to Fortify Captiva Drive S-Turn 
A beach with uprooted trees, cracked sand, under a cloudy sky. Signs of storm damage visible.
A sandy beach with palm trees, a cloudy sky, and houses in the background.
A person walks on a sand-covered beach path with construction equipment nearby, under a cloudy sky.
A sandy beach with palm trees, tire tracks, and waves under a cloudy sky.
Sand dunes leading to a beach with ocean waves and overcast skies in the background.
Beach with tire tracks, cloudy sky, ocean waves, and palm trees in the distance.
A sandy beach with a line of seaweed stretching across, and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A wet road runs along a beach with palm trees beside it under a cloudy sky.
Beach with two construction vehicles smoothing sand; overcast sky.
A sandy beach with tire tracks, a leaning palm tree, and cloudy skies above the ocean.
A beach with uprooted trees, cracked sand, under a cloudy sky. Signs of storm damage visible.
A sandy beach with palm trees, a cloudy sky, and houses in the background.
A person walks on a sand-covered beach path with construction equipment nearby, under a cloudy sky.
A sandy beach with palm trees, tire tracks, and waves under a cloudy sky.
Sand dunes leading to a beach with ocean waves and overcast skies in the background.
Beach with tire tracks, cloudy sky, ocean waves, and palm trees in the distance.
A sandy beach with a line of seaweed stretching across, and trees in the background under a cloudy sky.
A wet road runs along a beach with palm trees beside it under a cloudy sky.
Beach with two construction vehicles smoothing sand; overcast sky.
A sandy beach with tire tracks, a leaning palm tree, and cloudy skies above the ocean.
Hurricane Helene Post-Storm First Look 
May contain: gravel, road, field, grassland, nature, outdoors, and ground
A beach with uprooted trees, cracked sand, under a cloudy sky. Signs of storm damage visible.
A sandy path with piled sand, trees, a wooden fence, and a glimpse of water in the background.
An empty gravel lot with debris, fallen branches, and lush greenery in the background.
May contain: wood, ground, and driftwood
A sideways view of a rocky surface with a plaque, palm trees, and a fence in the background.
A plaque on a rock surface commemorating Peter D. Scott (1977-1994).
Beach with trees, some erosion, and houses in the background. Clear sky with light clouds.
A utility vehicle on a beach with large rocks, footprints, and waves in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A beach with footprints, a colorful house, palm trees, and people walking.
A beach with uprooted trees, a house in the background, and two people in the distance.
Beach view with sand, trees, debris, and beachfront houses under a clear sky.
Beach scene with an overturned boat, palm trees, and houses in the background.
A beach with piles of sand, palm trees, a bench, and a rock barrier near the ocean.
Casuarina trees on a beachfront with visible debris, reflecting possible post-storm conditions.
A sandy beach with palm trees, foliage, a building, and a clear sky.
Beach with debris, damaged infrastructure, and a sand dune under cloudy skies.
Beach parking area with sand, wooden posts, shadows, and buildings with palm trees in the background.
Flooded street with submerged sign, trees, and view from inside a vehicle.
Flooded area with trees, submerged trash bins, and a building in the background.
A serene beach with white sand, scattered seaweed, a few people, trees lining the shore and a clear sky.
A flooded garden with a sign "Captiva Vacation Homes" and a house in the background.
Flooded backyard with submerged trees and debris, a covered hot tub in the foreground, and a damaged wooden structure.
A sandy, dirty car stuck on a beach with construction equipment in the background.
A pile of wooden debris and leaves scattered on the ground outside a building.
Flooded yard with an overturned shed, a palm tree, a submerged object, and a house in the background.
A car stuck in sand near a bulldozer on a sunny beach.
Overturned picnic tables and debris on sandy ground near a building.
A car buried in sand near construction equipment and a beach.
A flooded area with a Royal Shell real estate sign partially submerged in brownish water, near palm trees.
Sand-covered road with tire tracks, palm trees, a no parking sign, and a white building.
A sandy area with tire tracks, mounds of sand, palm trees, and no parking signs.
A sign reading "Captiva Vacation" partially submerged in water with vegetation in the background.
Sandy beach with uprooted trees, ocean waves, scattered debris, and overcast skies.
A two-story white house with a garage, surrounded by palm trees and shrubs, and a pathway leading up to it.
A flooded residential area with water around a house and up the stairs.
Traffic cone next to eroded pavement and debris.
Flooded area with submerged trash bins and vegetation around a building.
Flooded residential area with an overturned shed, debris, and a house in the background.
Secluded beach with trees, seagrass, blue sky, clouds, and a few people in the distance.
A flooded yard with a house surrounded by water and tropical vegetation.
A house with a front area flooded, with stairs leading up to a second-story entrance.
May contain: gravel, road, field, grassland, nature, outdoors, and ground
A beach with uprooted trees, cracked sand, under a cloudy sky. Signs of storm damage visible.
A sandy path with piled sand, trees, a wooden fence, and a glimpse of water in the background.
An empty gravel lot with debris, fallen branches, and lush greenery in the background.
May contain: wood, ground, and driftwood
A sideways view of a rocky surface with a plaque, palm trees, and a fence in the background.
A plaque on a rock surface commemorating Peter D. Scott (1977-1994).
Beach with trees, some erosion, and houses in the background. Clear sky with light clouds.
A utility vehicle on a beach with large rocks, footprints, and waves in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
A beach with footprints, a colorful house, palm trees, and people walking.
A beach with uprooted trees, a house in the background, and two people in the distance.
Beach view with sand, trees, debris, and beachfront houses under a clear sky.
Beach scene with an overturned boat, palm trees, and houses in the background.
A beach with piles of sand, palm trees, a bench, and a rock barrier near the ocean.
Casuarina trees on a beachfront with visible debris, reflecting possible post-storm conditions.
A sandy beach with palm trees, foliage, a building, and a clear sky.
Beach with debris, damaged infrastructure, and a sand dune under cloudy skies.
Beach parking area with sand, wooden posts, shadows, and buildings with palm trees in the background.
Flooded street with submerged sign, trees, and view from inside a vehicle.
Flooded area with trees, submerged trash bins, and a building in the background.
A serene beach with white sand, scattered seaweed, a few people, trees lining the shore and a clear sky.
A flooded garden with a sign "Captiva Vacation Homes" and a house in the background.
Flooded backyard with submerged trees and debris, a covered hot tub in the foreground, and a damaged wooden structure.
A sandy, dirty car stuck on a beach with construction equipment in the background.
A pile of wooden debris and leaves scattered on the ground outside a building.
Flooded yard with an overturned shed, a palm tree, a submerged object, and a house in the background.
A car stuck in sand near a bulldozer on a sunny beach.
Overturned picnic tables and debris on sandy ground near a building.
A car buried in sand near construction equipment and a beach.
A flooded area with a Royal Shell real estate sign partially submerged in brownish water, near palm trees.
Sand-covered road with tire tracks, palm trees, a no parking sign, and a white building.
A sandy area with tire tracks, mounds of sand, palm trees, and no parking signs.
A sign reading "Captiva Vacation" partially submerged in water with vegetation in the background.
Sandy beach with uprooted trees, ocean waves, scattered debris, and overcast skies.
A two-story white house with a garage, surrounded by palm trees and shrubs, and a pathway leading up to it.
A flooded residential area with water around a house and up the stairs.
Traffic cone next to eroded pavement and debris.
Flooded area with submerged trash bins and vegetation around a building.
Flooded residential area with an overturned shed, debris, and a house in the background.
Secluded beach with trees, seagrass, blue sky, clouds, and a few people in the distance.
A flooded yard with a house surrounded by water and tropical vegetation.
A house with a front area flooded, with stairs leading up to a second-story entrance.
Emergency Response Plan 
  • Conduct a visual survey of the beach and provide an estimate of losses to FEMA, the Corps of Engineers, FDEP, FDEM and the County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The decision to declare a Federal disaster is based on the cumulative impact of all reporting communities.
  • If a disaster is likely to be declared or the threshold is exceeded, perform poststorm topographic and bathymetric surveys and analysis to determine the fill volumes and placement locations. These surveys can take place as soon as the area is accessible and be completed within weeks. The information from the surveys and analysis will be used to finalize the permits, plans and specifications for a dredging contract and make definitive loss reports to the State FEMA and the Corps of Engineers.
  • Based on the District Engineer’s recommendation and information provided by emergency agencies, the CEPD board should decide on one of the following courses of action:
    • Take no action and wait for natural recovery or routine nourishment to restore the beach.
    • Decide on immediate nourishment to begin within 90 days.
    • Plan for a deliberate emergency nourishment, subject to eligibility and funding approval to restore storm losses. - In Progress
    • Approve a hot spot nourishment project using an upland sand source.
  • Finalize plans and specifications (P&S) with the information from the post storm surveys. These will provide instructions to the dredging contractor on the specific project needs. Plans and specifications can be completed within a month following the storm event and are needed to secure a notice to proceed from FDEP. The P&S will be based on updating the latest used for construction or those prepared for the next project.
  • Activate permits with the final information from the post-storm surveys. Activation will consist of the notice to proceed from the State and Federal agencies, and should be completed within a month following the storm event.
  • Activate the bid procedure by issuing a bid announcement that establishes a bid date and availability of plans and specifications. This activity can be completed within two months from the storm event. This is a multi-step process: including providing a project description to contractors, bid announcement, provide P&S, provide proof of permit, and bid opening after a shortened bid period.
  • Activate financing plan with the final project costs. This will include a short term loan, based on the established line of credit, or the sale of bonds. The bond validation process and sale can be completed within three months. Reserve funds may be needed to start the process prior to loan or bond activation.
  • Implement restoration operations. Based on notice to proceed, the dredging contractor could be on site within three months of the storm event, if bidding is initiated early and contractors (dredgers) are not superseded by Federal emergency directives.
  • Request reimbursement of funds from appropriate sources. Sources may include the Federal government, the State of Florida, Lee County, and the City of Sanibel.
  • For a deliberate planning and construction process, the steps are the same but
    timing may extent for up to a couple of years.