Hurricane

What does an old Florida village look like after Hurricane Ian? You won’t recognize it

It is, or was, a slice of Old Florida. Where the condo towers weren’t. No thonged models, celebrities or South Beach vibe either.

Matlacha, Florida, is now struggling to stay on the map.

This was a place of colorful cottages, bait shops, salty-dog bars.

It’s now a wreck.

Like nearby Sanibel Island and its lost landmarks, Matlacha took a major hit from Hurricane Ian.

And now, its people are asking: Is everyone safe? And can we rebuild?

READ MORE: Ian leaves destruction, and death, in Matlacha. Colorful village flattened, isolated

Here is what it looks like:

A damaged property is seen near a broken section of Pine Island Road on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris.
A damaged property is seen near a broken section of Pine Island Road on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
Donna LaMountain, 51, surveys damage on Pine Island Road on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris.
Donna LaMountain, 51, surveys damage on Pine Island Road on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
An inside view of the Blue Dog Bar & Grill restaurant on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris.
An inside view of the Blue Dog Bar & Grill restaurant on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
A damaged property is seen near a broken section of Pine Island Road on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris.
A damaged property is seen near a broken section of Pine Island Road on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Matlacha, Fla. Hurricane Ian made landfall on the coast of South West Florida as a category 4 storm Tuesday afternoon leaving areas affected with flooded streets, downed trees and scattered debris. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com

READ MORE: ‘Please can someone send help.’ Pine Island residents fear Ian destroyed slice of old Florida

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Jeff Kleinman
Miami Herald
305-376-3561
Consumer Team Editor Jeff Kleinman oversees coverage for health, shopping, real estate, tourism and recalls/scams/fraud.
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