Hurricane Ian Recovery

Going Beyond Excellence to Support Our Neighbors

As recovery continues, Royal Shell will be there to help. We will continue to update this page with helpful links to be a resource to our communities, neighbors, and friends, including information about access, utilities, infrastructure, permitting, and business openings throughout Southwest Florida, like What’s Open on Sanibel, and What’s Open on Captiva.

MOST RECENT UPDATE:

June 22, 2023

SBA Disaster Loan Deadline: June 29, 2023

The deadline to apply for a loan through the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program is June 29, 2023. EIDLs help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.

To learn more, or to apply for assistance, visit the SBA’s Hurricane Ian Disaster Assistance Page.

June 8, 2023

Sanibel / Captiva

Lighthouse Beach Park to Reopen June 16 – Lighthouse Beach Park, 110 Periwinkle Way, will reopen Friday, June 16. The popular and historic park is home to the famous Sanibel Lighthouse and the city pier.

Friday, May 12

Sanibel / Captiva

Toll Plaza Lane Shifts Begin Monday — As part of the restoration work on the Sanibel Causeway, beginning Monday, May 15, there will be daily lane shifts through the Causeway toll plaza from 8 am to 3:30 pm. The lane shifts will last approximately one month and exclude holidays.

Fort Myers Beach

The Goodz Now Open — The Goodz “everything” store is open Monday through Saturday, 8 am – 5 pm, for ice cream, hardware, and everything in between. It’s operating out of a temporary trailer across the street at 1698 Estero Blvd (the former location of the Sea Gypsy Inn). Visit our What’s Open in Southwest Florida page for the latest reopenings.

Petey’s Upper Deck Now Open — Petey’s Upper Deck restaurant and bar, 416 Crescent Street, has reopened. Petey’s is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm, serving a limited menu, including appetizers, salads, and Dave’s Dockside Pizza.

Tuesday, April 18

Sanibel / Captiva

Turner Beach Access Now Open — Access to Turner Beach on Captiva Island, 17200 Captiva Drive, has reopened. Parking is $5/hour or free for patrons with a Lee County Regional Parking Permit or a Sanibel Beach Parking Permit. Restroom facilities remained closed, but portable toilets are available.

Fort Myers Beach

Curbside Debris Removal Extended — Right-of-way removal service for hurricane-related debris will continue until further notice. Property owners who live on the Town’s side streets (not Estero Boulevard) can continue to place heavy storm-related debris curbside in the right of way for free pickup. This service is provided by the State of Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (FDEM).

Turner Beach Captiva

Tuesday, April 4

Sanibel / Captiva

Sanibel Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) — In anticipation of several funding opportunities that may become available over the next 12 months, the City of Sanibel, in partnership with Lee County, is issuing a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Priority projects under this funding opportunity include:

Acquire/rehab multi-family affordable rental housing.
Acquire/rehab single-family homes for sale or rent to income-eligible households.
Acquisition/construction/rehabilitation of facilities for persons with special needs, such as homeless or domestic violence shelters, transitional living, nursing homes, and group homes for the disabled or children in foster care.

See the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for details and the application packet. The application deadline is 5 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 21, 2023.

Fort Myers Beach

Permitting Desk Hours Revised — The Town’s Permitting Department has returned to regular hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. The Permitting Department operates from the temporary Town Hall complex at 2545 Estero Boulevard.

Tuesday, March 28

Sanibel / Captiva

Sanibel Home Mail Delivery Has Resumed — Great news! The USPS is now delivering mail to the homes of Sanibel residents (who have a mailbox).

Wednesday, March 22

Sanibel / Captiva

Horticultural Waste Pickup Has Resumed — Waste Management has resumed the regular horticulture/vegetation waste collection it provided before Hurricane Ian. See the Collection Zone Map for waste pickup schedules.

Tuesday, February 28

Sanibel / Captiva

Sanibel Lighthouse Shines Again — At 6 am this morning, on the 5-month anniversary of Hurricane Ian’s landfall, the Sanibel Lighthouse was relit! The relighting of the iconic structure is a testament to the strength and perseverance of our community. Click here to see a video of the relighting from Sanibel Carts.

Fort Myers Beach

Shoreline Restoration Easement Revised — The Town of Fort Myers Beach has revised the easement form beachfront property owners must sign to participate in Town’s sand recovery project. Owners who signed the previous easement are not required to sign the revised easement but may do so if the new language is preferred. See the Town’s Press Release for details on the revision.

Sanibel Lighthouse Relighting

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

DEP Beach Erosion Reimbursement Program Begins

The Florida Hurricane Restoration Reimbursement Grant Program has opened for applications. The program assists private property owners in addressing coastal beach erosion incurred due to preparation for or damage sustained during Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole. It provides reimbursement grants up to $150,000 per parcel (with a 50/50 homeowner match requirement) to cover construction costs associated with sand placement (renourishment). For information or to apply, visit the DEP Hurricane Information webpage. Contact the DEP at (850) 245-8558 or HRRGP@FloridaDEP.gov with questions regarding the program or application process.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Sanibel / Captiva

Sanibel Beach Parking Permits Available Now — The City of Sanibel is now offering 2023 Beach Parking Permits for Sanibel residents & property owners. At this time, the beaches are not open, but limited beach access is expected to begin in February (see Anticipated Beach Openings section below). Permits for residents & property owners will be available for purchase starting Tuesday, January 31. See the City of Sanibel’s Press Release for details and requirements.

SANIBEL WELCOME CENTER RIBBON CUTTING

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce and Royal Shell celebrated the grand reopening of our Sanibel Welcome Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. The Sanibel Welcome Center and Captiva office are now open Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing real estate sales, free Wi-Fi, hot coffee, cold water, and friendly faces. Our Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Naples–Parkshore offices remain open to assist with real estate sales and vacation rentals.

CAPTIVA OFFICE GRAND REOPENING RIBBON CUTTING

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce and Royal Shell celebrated the grand reopening of our Captiva Island office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. The office is open Monday – Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing real estate sales, free Wi-Fi, hot coffee, cold water, and friendly faces. Our Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and Naples–Parkshore offices remain open to assist with real estate sales and vacation rentals.

Hurricane Ian Recovery Resources

Help is available to those recovering from the destruction and loss caused by Hurricane Ian. The links below provide information about many of the resources available.

General Assistance and Information

- - DisasterAssistance.gov: This anonymous questionnaire can help victims of Hurricane Ian connect with local and federal assistance programs based on personalized needs.
  - FEMA Resource Links: FEMA has compiled a list of resources available to victims of Hurricane Ian.
  - Free Wi-Fi on Sanibel & Captiva: The Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Lee Health have deployed five Starlink Wi-Fi modules for the public on Islands. The Wi-Fi is accessible in the parking lots of the Chamber of Commerce, Jerry’s Foods, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank near Bailey’s, Island Inn, and Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa. The Wi-Fi names start with “Leeco” and the password is IANLEECO2022.
  - Free Wifi Access: Those in need of WiFi access may get online at no cost at Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots.
  - Sanibel Island Recovery: View an interactive map to see damage and recovery on Sanibel Island.

Financial Assistance

- - Small Business Administration: Homeowners, renters, business owners, and non-profit organizations impacted by Hurricane Ian may apply for SBA disaster loans.
  - Disaster Assistance for Businesses: Enterprise Florida has compiled a list of disaster assistance for small businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Housing and Home Repair Assistance

- - Shelters: Shelters are available to those in need of a safe place to stay.

Food Assistance

- - Feeding Florida: Food, water, and other resources are available to those impacted by Hurricane Ian through Florida’s Food Bank Network.