Fort Myers Beach emergency berm protected town from Hurricane Idalia surge, official says

Chad Gillis, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·2 min read
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Town workers scrambled Wednesday to bulldoze sand off Times Square on Fort Myers Beach before the afternoon high tide, when the beach was expected to see flooding again.

The Gulf of Mexico washed up and onto the island overnight as Hurricane Idalia moved northward just offshore.

Many residents and business owners on the island are still in shock from Category 4 Hurricane Ian, which pounded the island and Southwest Florida coast on Sept. 28.

Town spokeswoman Jennifer Dexter said the emergency berm that was placed along the beach after Ian worked, that the pile of sand combated the rising seas and protected the town from even more flooding.

"The berm did well," Dexter said of the 6-foot structure. "It helped absorb the impacts of the surge."

Much of the berm was washed away by Idalia, and it seemed like the sea turtle nests that were left have been lost to the storm.

Sand at least 1 foot deep spread across parts of Times Square, the pedestrian shopping area near the north end of the island.

Employees for the Fort Myers Beach Town Public Works clean up Times Square after storm surge from Hurricane Idalia washed on shore on Wednesday, Aug. 30 2023. The island sustained minimal storm surge flooding.
Employees for the Fort Myers Beach Town Public Works clean up Times Square after storm surge from Hurricane Idalia washed on shore on Wednesday, Aug. 30 2023. The island sustained minimal storm surge flooding.

"There was a lot of wind and rain and a lot of storm surge, but the island fared extremely well," Dexter said. "The emergency berm held really well."

Dexter said she had not heard of any injuries related to the storm surge.

Flooding from a high tide can be seen underneath the Fort Myers Beach bridge con Wednesday. Hurricane Idalia passed by the area last night.
Flooding from a high tide can be seen underneath the Fort Myers Beach bridge con Wednesday. Hurricane Idalia passed by the area last night.

Jules Veerbeck, of San Carlos Park, sat on a bench near what's left of the beach's fishing pier.

"I just came from an AA meeting, and I thought I like to be here," said the retired postman and Vietnam veteran. "This is awful, what happened here. I like to come here and park my motorcycle and just sit here and breath."

Fort Myers Beach sustained minimal storm surge from Hurricane Idalia as it pass through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 30 2023.
Fort Myers Beach sustained minimal storm surge from Hurricane Idalia as it pass through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 30 2023.

More: Fort Myers Beach declares local emergency ahead of Hurricane Idalia; beach begins to flood

Veerbeck said he moved to Southwest Florida in 1970, shortly after returning from Vietnam.

He said the Fort Myers Beach pier was his favorite spot in the area and that he's been hanging out at that beach for more than 50 years.

Fort Myers Beach sustained minimal storm surge from Hurricane Idalia as it pass through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 30 2023.
Fort Myers Beach sustained minimal storm surge from Hurricane Idalia as it pass through the area on Wednesday, Aug. 30 2023.

Some of the emergency food pantries at churches such as First Baptist Church were left in tatters, with tarp-like walls ripped apart by heavy winds.

Flood waters that had piled up Tuesday and Tuesday night had receded by morning, but an afternoon high tide is expected to bring more ocean water onto the island.

Connect with this reporter: Chad Gillis on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Weathered and waning, hard-hit Fort Myers Beach weathers Idalia