ALVA Woodpeckers build home in woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Though it’s been almost two years since Hurricane Ian, the scars it left across Southwest Florida serve as lasting reminders of a hurricane’s destructive and deadly potential. Given that, regardless of its strength or projected track, it’s important that you treat every hurricane—and the dangers associated with it—very seriously. Simply put, you should know your risks. Underestimating the risks of any hurricane can be a potentially life-threatening mistake. Those who might take a storm lightly and are fortunate enough to emerge unscathed should be considered extremely lucky. However, if they do manage to avoid the wrath of a strong hurricane, afterward they’ll still likely encounter long lines for essentials such as ice, water, and food. They may have friends and family who did have the foresight to prepare in advance and are able to help provide shelter and supplies after the storm, but that would represent another stroke of luck. Fortunately, most people don’t want to take that kind of risk and potentially put themselves in either position. A hurricane isn’t a fun experience. Going into a hurricane unprepared shouldn’t be considered an act of bravery or an opportunity to go viral. Always make sure you understand what you’re facing. How bad could a hurricane’s landfall be? Consider that a Category 3 hurricane can destroy smaller homes, take down power lines, topple large trees, and send tree limbs through windows and roofs. In 2022, Hurricane Ian showed that a Category 4 hurricane is strong enough to generate a devastating storm surge and complete structural failure. A Category 5 storm can cause even greater destruction across a wider area. And, regardless of the size or strength of the storm, any hurricane can cause catastrophic flooding almost anywhere. To put the destructive potential of a hurricane in Southwest Florida into numbers, consider these examples. Hurricane Irma, which made landfall on Marco Island as a Category 3 storm in 2017, led to the deaths of 129 people. In addition, according to the National Hurricane Center, the cost of the overall damage was estimated at $50 billion. Of the approximately 6.5 million Floridians who were ordered to evacuate, 77,000 had to find refuge in 450 shelters. Five years later, in 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Cayo Costa Island as a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds. The 14-foot storm surge generated by Ian along Fort Myers Beach was the highest ever recorded in Southwest Florida. The 149 deaths attributed to Hurricane Ian made it the deadliest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935. Plus, Ian’s $112 billion damage toll made it the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history and the third-costliest in U.S. history. Be prepared. Stay informed. Above all, keep safe. If you don’t absolutely have to, don’t try to ride out a hurricane. If evacuations are ordered, do what’s necessary to ensure you and your loved ones are out of harm’s way as soon as possible. Remember that any and every hurricane carries the potential for a variety of real dangers. Understanding those dangers, and the risks they pose to people and property, is a vital first step to surviving hurricane season safely.