CAPE CORAL, Fla -- On Tuesday, neighbors from areas like Island Park who were significantly impacted by flooding before and during Hurricane Irma, will find out how much progress the county has made since efforts to fix the problems first began.
Those who experienced the 2017 flooding events recall the entrance to the Island Park community looked more like a lake at that time. Only large trucks were able to get by. Neighbors could even be seen canoeing to get in and out of the community.
The flooding led to a number of rescue missions to pull both people and pets to safety.
People were also seen walking to work with their belongings in trash bags to stay dry.
The Island Park community dealt with two significant flooding events, one before and one caused by Irma.
Tuesday's meeting will allow those who lived through that nightmare to get an update on how much progress the county has made to fix the issues.
Island Park and the Ten Mile Canal, which runs along the neighborhood, are some of many areas included in this years-long project. It also includes the Imperial River and Whiskey Creek to name a few.
Back in 2018, the Lee Board of County Commissioners approved a contract for engineering firms to do a yearlong assessment and provide recommendations for the board for long-term flood-mitigation projects. Those firms will be on hand at Tuesday's meeting to talk about the findings from their study.
Before this, Phase 1 included clean up of waterways and clearing flow ways after Irma. Phase 2 involved a detailed post-storm flood assessment of several areas.
Following Tuesday's meeting, Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the study during a work session in November.
To attend Tuesday's meeting:
According to the county, the informational meeting will be formatted to accommodate Centers for Disease Control guidelines and will be held in half-hour time slots from 3 to 6 p.m. at Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908.
Participants are asked to make a reservation by calling or emailing in advance at kwelton@leegov.com or 239-533-2282. People who arrive without a reservation will be admitted as room capacity allows.
Attendees are asked to bring a face covering to wear inside the meeting room. The county said it also plans to create a video at the meeting for those who are unable to attend.
