SATELLITE IMAGE OF TROPICAL STORM DEBBY BY NOAA

The Town of Fort Myers Beach declared a state of emergency this morning due to the effects of Tropical Storm Debby, which dropped about six inches of rain on the island between Saturday and Sunday.

Lee County announced the closure of Lynn Hall Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach as well as Bonita Beach Park and Bunch Preserve due to the effects of storm which officially became a Category 1 hurricane when it made landfall about 7 a.m. today near Steinhatchee, Fla.

According to the National Weather Service, the hurricane was about 100 miles off the coast of Fort Myers Beach though its effects were still strongly felt on the island with flooded out streets and homes.

Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt said the town experienced more than three feet of storm surge Sunday from the storm. “We’ve got some fencing down, we’ve got some debris,” he said.

Hyatt said the county is working on cleaning up from the storm and Florida Power and Light Company had one pole down.

During an emergency meeting Monday, Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt asked town operations director Frank Kropacek about the town’s ongoing stormwater project to address the town’s stormwater draining infrastructure that was damaged by Hurricane Ian and which has had issues since before Hurricane Ian.

“We had a big storm surge on the back bay. The way the wind was flowing, it really pushed the water back to the mangroves,” Kropacek said.

“We had a lot of flooding over the seawalls,” he said.

Kropacek said the town doesn’t have holding facilities for stormwater, “so everything that we catch stormwater-wise gets pushed back out onto the bay,” he said.

Kropacek said the town’s stormwater system is such that on a handful of streets that are at sea level or below sea level, a simple use of a garden hose can flood a street under certain situations.

Hyatt said the town’s contractor will be cleaning out storm drains.

Town employees have been busy since Sunday cleaning out sand that washed up on Times Square and into storm drains along Old San Carlos Boulevard. The town also just started a new beach renourishment project.

Residents on Fort Myers Beach reported flooded out streets, garages and in some cases 6 inches of water or more in their homes.

The town and county have had stormwater issues on Fort Myers Beach that predated Hurricane Ian. A six-year project to rebuild Estero Boulevard along with a stormwater project in the town was damaged by Hurricane Ian. Lee County, which owns Estero Boulevard – the main road through the town, has said that drainage on the road is not working properly due to damage from Hurricane Ian. The county is working with the Federal Highway Administration to implement repairs.

Lynn Hall Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach has been temporarily closed by Lee County due to the effects of Hurricane Debby and work being done to clear sand out that washed up on the parking lot and throughout Times Square Sunday. The County is assessing damage to its parks. The county has also closed an access to Bonita Beach park and Bunche Beach Preserve.

According to the National Weather Service, a rip current risk remains through the evening.

The Beach’s Town Council rescheduled its meeting that had been scheduled for Monday to Wednesday at 9 a.m. at town hall.