Even though the November election is just weeks away, it could be years for some in the Fort. Myers Beach.
Voting is not in your head right now – it’s survival.
William Waters trudges through what’s left of his Ft. A Myers Beach home after Ian’s storm surge destroyed it.
“That’s how high the water was — about six feet,” Waters said.
Here, almost everything is wet, broken or missing.
“It was tough coming back, man,” Waters said.
Now he is one of many victims seeking help from state and federal authorities.
“It’s going to take a lot of work to clean this place up,” Waters said.
Who until recently butted heads over immigration policy, race and gender education, and inflation.
But President Joe Biden and Gov. Ron DeSantis appeared to put their political rivalry aside Wednesday — shaking hands during Biden’s visit to Lee County.
The president also toured damaged coastal homes and businesses by air and later met with affected Floridians before a brief press conference.
“I’m sure it’s worse on the ground, but you can see the damage from the air,” Biden said.
Biden has pledged to work with DeSantis — a potential 2024 challenger — and other state Republicans to keep federal aid flowing, saying recovery comes first.
“We’re not leaving — we’re not leaving until it’s done,” Biden said.
The comments followed an expansion of Florida’s disaster declaration issued by the president earlier in the day.
Florida residents to receive 30 more days of federal trash removal funds; doubling the total to 60 days.
Dollars that Mr. Waters can use.
Because for him it is not important who is in power, but who can help.
“We’re in survival mode here — we’re not really political or anything like that,” Waters said.
Florida’s secretary of state is in talks with county leaders affected by the election to determine how best to help those who want to vote.
Options may include extended deadlines and expedited filing.