Q: My husband and extended family and I would like to take a long-weekend trip somewhere in state. We’re wondering what the condition is of tourist destinations on the west coast of Florida, whether they are welcoming overnight visitors and what the situation is at the beaches and other tourist sites. Should we research this part of the state or give them more time to recover and look elsewhere? — Suzanne, Boca Raton, Florida
A: Much of southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast is still in recovery mode after Hurricane Ian, which decimated Fort Myers Beach and surrounding areas on Sept. 28 with 150 mph winds and record flooding. More than 100 people died.
The area got slammed but is making determined efforts to get back to normal. Debris is still being cleared; some parks and other facilities remain closed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency maintains a large presence.
