FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- With a little more than a week until the start of hurricane season, Florida Power and Light is starting a major project on Fort Myers Beach. FPL is replacing power poles to make them stronger and hopefully keep the lights on. The company is taking no chances when it comes to severe weather. FPL is working to strengthen its service on Fort Myers Beach for when bad weather hits the island. “Being at home in Florida in summer, without air conditioning or lights, would really be a problem,” said Bruce Butcher. Poles between Bay Beach Lane and Bay Mar Drive, along with Curlew Street will be switched out over the next few months. “If you could leave your home even if you had to evacuate, with the hope that if you have to evacuate, it would give you a good feeling, knowing you had a chance to come home to a house you can live in,” said Butcher. FPL says the new poles are not just going up for hurricane season. The company says they’ll help keep the lights on during Florida’s afternoon thunderstorms. “We know the benefits in the long run will be seen in terms of higher reliability of our service to customers on FMB,” said Bill Orlove with FPL. Over the last three years, FPL has upgraded power poles in about 35 counties it serves. The project costing more than $560 million. “More power to them to get more power to us.” Crews will be back out on Tuesday. There is a chance the work will back up some traffic along Estero Boulevard. The project is expected to be finished in August.