Hurricane Ian: Americans urged to weigh risks of rebuilding in vulnerable areas - The Guardian US

Criswell’s comments came four days after Hurricane Ian devastated barrier islands and coastal communities around Fort Myers Beach, Florida, with estimates for rebuilding running into the tens of billions.

Of those dead, half were found in Lee county, which includes Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Cape Coral.

Meanwhile, the US Coast Guard said Sunday it had suspended the search for 16 people who went missing off the coast of Boca Chica, Florida, on 28 September because of Ian.

About 70% of the county is without power.

It has been widely reported that only about 18% of Fort Myers residents had purchased flood insurance.

“If you live near water or where it rains it can certainly flood, and we have seen that in multiple storms this year,” Criswell said.

“Just 72 hours before landfall, the Fort Myers and Lee county area were not even in the cone of the hurricane.”.

Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are set to visit the devastation in Florida on Wednesday, two days after the president is supposed to take a trip to Puerto Rico, where thousands of people are still without power two weeks on from Hurricane Fiona’s hitting the island.

This is not just a crisis in Florida.

Marco Rubio, the Florida Senator, told ABC that it was likely that Fort Myers will recover but would not be the same.

Additionally, Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, directed state transportation officials to restore bridge and road access to Pine Island in Lee county by 8 October