How is it November 7th and this year's hurricane season just won't end? Subtropical Storm Nicole has formed. From the National Hurricane Center:
"Nicole is forecast to be a large storm, and regardless of its exact path, widespread impacts from a prolonged period of coastal flooding, tropical-storm-force winds, heavy rainfall, rough surf and rip currents, and beach erosion are likely along much of the southeastern United States coast, the Florida east coast, and portions of the northwestern and central Bahamas during much of the upcoming week.
Nicole could be at or near hurricane strength when it moves near the northwestern Bahamas and the east coast of Florida Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the potential for a dangerous storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall to a portion of those areas. A Tropical Storm Watch is now in effect for the northwestern Bahamas, and additional watches could be required for portions of the Bahamas and the coast of Florida later today."
Nicole is not another Ian.
The initial impact of the storm will be on the other coast. But we're no where near full strength in Southwest Florida. Even tropical storm force winds are enough to rip off the blue tarps and create further damage. And all the debris. And how much rain? Not sure yet. The storm is still forming. By the looks of it, we'll have to deal with it Wednesday going into Thursday. Could see some additional watches added to the forecast later today.
Great. Can we be done, yet?
The Massive Cleanup Continues – October 31 Aerial Drone Footage Of Fort Myers Beach
If this is your first time seeing drone footage of the cleanup of Fort Myers Beach since Hurricane Ian barreled through over a month ago, you're shocked. But if you've been watching for progress. If you're seeing the cleanup. It's happening.
You can see where the roads and the driveways are. You can see areas where debris has been hauled away. It's nothing like the pictures taken on September 29th. But there's still so much to do. You can just catch a glimpse in the video of the big red sand sifter. Sand is being collected from the roads and other parts of the beach. The trucks load the sand into the machine. The machine sifts the sand and brings it up a conveyor. The sand is then piled up and used to restore the shoreline of Fort Myers Beach. That's how we'll get our beautiful white sand beaches back. One truckload at a time.
Fort Myers Beach cleanup is not going to end any time soon. But these crews are out here constantly. I applaud them. I've lived in Southwest Florida a long time and have seen many hurricanes. But I've never seen such a well coordinated effort to get our place back to normal. The damage done by that hurricane was unprecedented. The cleanup and restoration these crews are doing is like nothing I've ever seen. Thank you.
