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Liz Bello-Matthews, spokesperson for the city of Fort Myers, Florida, said on CNN Friday that they are constantly responding to people affected by Hurricane Ian.
“In the city of Fort Myers, we are just responding constantly, we have been since the evening before yesterday, and it has been literally nonstop,” she said.
She doesn’t have a number of people who still need help or casualties at this time, Bello-Matthews said.
“We’re still just moving forward and trying to make sure that we’re there when they need us,” she said. “The calls are still coming in, although we don’t believe that there’s anyone remaining in the city of Fort Myers stranded anymore, we do have a lot of residents that are struggling.”
Connectivity is down right now, she said, with no internet and electricity, things that are going to have to be rebuilt. There’s also many sections of the city that do not have water.
“We’re in recovery mode right now,” she said. “We’re setting up our resources so that people can come and get them and yes, you know, it’s what’s expected after a major hurricane like this.”
Bello-Matthews said that the city is gathering resources for people who don’t have safe spaces to stay, something that was prepared in advance. Multiple shelters opened within the city, including a large one which she said was “highly underutilized,” and there are multiple throughout Lee County.
“The resources are there. They’re still open. We still have resources at those shelters and that’s where we’re guiding people to go at this time to make sure that they're safe if their home is just not inhabitable,” she said.