?The water has been tested regularly for bacteria and the beaches that are open have water that is safe but it's recommended to use caution, especially with wounds and cuts.
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At least 13 beaches in the Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva area are already open, and two more parts of Fort Myers Beach are expected to open this month, Bowditch Point Park and Crescent Beach Family Park. We're getting there, Visit Florida CEO Dana Young said about the area's recovery.
Most Fort Myers and the city of Fort Myers businesses have re-opened! View a list of open Sanibel and Captiva businesses here. Lee County began a phased reopening of its beach parks beginning in March 2023. Visitors are urged to use caution as debris continues to wash onshore and may be obscured by sand.
Although there has been a tremendous amount of clean-up done, most public beaches throughout Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva Island are still currently closed. Beach access currently is limited to Gasparilla Island State Park, Blind Pass Beach Park, and Tarpon Bay Road Beach access area.
Another potential threat beachgoers should be aware of in Florida is Vibrio vulnificus — rare species of so-called flesh-eating bacteria found in raw shellfish or seawater. The dangerous strain of vibrio bacteria has been linked to five deaths in Florida this year, state health officials said.
Fort Myers Beach is open and inviting travelers to support our community after the devastation of Hurricane Ian. Many of our restaurants, attractions, activities, and accommodations have reopened and are ready to welcome guests back to our beach town.
An aerial picture taken on September 30, 2022 shows the only access to the Matlacha neighborhood destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida.
Visitors of Fort Myers Beach can see the town is in the process of recovery, as onlookers can still see destroyed structures, debris and abandoned areas. The resilient residents of Fort Myers Beach are still in the process of rebuilding following Ian.
Petersburg and Clearwater. West of Tampa, the shores of St. Petersburg and Clearwater were minimally impacted from the hurricane, according to Visit St. Pete/Clearwater.
Note that Sanibel Island sustained significant damage in September 2022 as a result of Hurricane Ian. Though the island is open to the public as of January 2023, local officials are warning visitors that much of the island's attractions and businesses remain closed.
The City of Sanibel is excited to announce that all public access beach park locations in Sanibel are now open to the public. The city announced on Thursday that the following areas are set to open Friday, June 30: Bayside parking lot at 110 – 153 Periwinkle Way for Lighthouse Beach Park.
By consensus, the Sanibel City Council supported the decision to end the requirement for reentry passes on January 2, 2023. The City of Sanibel asks that non-residents respect and understand the fact that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian.