Pine Island

Many people on Pine Island still are re-building from the damage of Hurricane Ian. And they're also dealing with concerns that the island could lose its natural beauty and small community charm.

In the months after Hurricane Ian made landfall, residents in Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island, and Sanibel, Florida have struggled to navigate insurance claims, building permits, and government aid as they rebuild their lives.

Florida’s barrier islands have always been worth the risk to the hundreds of thousands of people living on them. After Hurricane Ian, will Southwest Florida’s islands ever be the same?

Living in a disaster zone. That remains the reality for some people in Matlacha and on the south end of Pine Island, nearly six months after Hurricane Ian caused massive damage. The stress is taking a toll on some people, while many on the island focus on rebuilding.

About 200 people attended a Lee County civic association meeting to talk about the issues they continue to face more than two months after Hurricane Ian. While state and federal officials were there to hear them out, county officials were noticeably missing.

Crews from 30 states have converged on Southwest Florida to restore power after Hurricane Ian devastated the area. The work is precise and dangerous.

Three days after Hurricane Ian ripped through the communities on Pine Island, the coast guard organized a water-borne operation to help evacuate residents because the bridge that used to connect the island to the mainland is buckled and broken. Many residents want to stay.

UPDATED: Friday, June 30, 2017 at 10:36 AM CORRECTION: WGCU originally wrote, "Acquaviva did not return WGCU’s calls for comment," but it should read ...