(Updated 9-30-24) Hurricane Helene floods many of the same areas of Pine Island for the second time in two years. Many islanders were in the process of finishing repairs from the damage caused by hurricane Ian. Many weren't nearly finished.

Helene, for Lee County, wasn't the wind event that was Ian, however, it was nearly the equal tidal surge and rain event. The camera feeds positioned east and west on the Matlacha bridge were broadcast on nearly every TV station across the United States. They showed the waves crashing over the sides of the bridge. This, of course, again affected residents and businesses similarly. Furthermore, these effects were duplicated all around Pine Island and the west coast of Florida, for that matter.

If hurricane Ian didn't change the make-up and character of Pine Island, Helene most probably will.

We at PIN understand the pain and heartache of losing or nearly losing ones home and/or business. It happened to us after hurricane Charlie in 2004. It took us five years to get back to something resembling normal. Since the 1950's, we've seen many storms. In 1960, hurricane Donna blew all the water AWAY from the coastline, but picked up mobile homes on one side of the Caloosahatchee River and deposited them on the other side. Time will tell which businesses return.

The storms aren't any bigger or stronger or more proliferate, but it will probably separate "the wheat from the chaff," however, not necessarily with a good result.

The Department of Community Development asks that any unincorporated Lee County Residents with water intrusion in their homes, or those residing in the Special Flood Hazard Area with wind damage, send an email to FIRMinfo@leegov.com for assistance with permit requirements and resources. Residents also can visit www.leegov.com/dcd/BldPermitServ/disaster-recovery for information.

See Hurricane Assistance
See Storm Debris Removal