Hurricane Ian might have come and gone, but it has done long-term damage to the small businesses of a region heavily dependent on tourists and seasonal residents
. Fisherman's Wharf, a heavily touristed area, turned into a dusty and surreal scene, with boats capsized far from their usual moorings. Dust and the rancid smell of hardening muck still fill the air.
Even before the storm, there were mixed economic signs for Fort Myers and the rest of Lee County, where U.S. Census Bureau figures show that more than 60% of the businesses have less than five employees. With a family to support, including two young children, fisherman Jake Luke can't afford not to be with a job.
Lee County's population is almost 788,000 people. It's difficult to say exactly how much the population increases from snowbirds, but a substitute measurement — gross retail sales — historically jumps by almost a third during the height of the season in January compared to the dog days of late summer.
Across the area, crews have been demolishing buildings teetering on their foundations. Homeowners tried to salvage what they could from their soaked homes — racing against time, mold and mildew.
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