The city of Fort Myers Beach will begin delivering sand to the beach as part of the beach restoration plan.

FORT MYERS BEACH, Florida. The city of Fort Myers Beach announces a plan to create an emergency embankment to help restore and preserve a crumbling coastline.

Much of the beach must be new due to Hurricane Jan. Including sand.

A plan to reduce hurricane damage in the future.

Four months after Hurricane Jan and Fort Myers Beach is a sight to behold.

“Of course it’s a different point of view,” said Grace Hartman, who traveled from Ohio.

Another perspective is for people like Grace Hartman, who year after year are drawn to the natural beauty of the beach.

“They lost their homes, they lost their jobs, but the spirit of Fort Myers Beach is still here.”

The spirit is still there as the wave of recovery is still changing and plans to add new sand to the beach are underway.

The plan for next year includes placing about 1.1 million cubic yards of sand on the beach. Along with emergency berms that will begin as soon as FEMA funding is confirmed.

“Everything is being restored and trying to make it the way it was – to make it better than it was before,” Hartman said.

These emergency berms along the beach are expected to provide storm surge protection. Hoping to reduce the likelihood of homes and buildings being destroyed in the event of a new storm.

“I mean, they can do whatever they can to keep it because it’s a special place,” says Hartman. “Everyone from their small area contributes to where they can help restore it. It’s amazing to see this – the American spirit is alive and well here.”

The city says these berms will take 3 to 4 months as the city wants waterfront property owners to complete temporary beach management and access to easements. In this way, the entire beach can return to its former glory.

“They’re still trying, no one is giving up, so it’s cool.”