Businesses recover from Eta-caused flooding on Fort Myers Beach

A huge cleanup was underway on Fort Myers Beach Thursday after waves caused by Eta overtook the patios of businesses along the beach. Some business owners say flooding got into their buildings too.

“I personally thought up until last week that hurricane season was over and that Eta would go somewhere else not here,” said Daniel Clarkston, the owner of Sundeck Inn and Suites.

He told us the floodwaters made it into some of his guest rooms.

“We just renovated, put new paint, put new floors in most of our rooms, same as this one that we stand in,” Clarkston said. “And it sucks because you’re the hotel owner. You gotta refund them. You know? It’s not your fault.”

Over at The Cottage Bar, sand and water from the Gulf also got inside.

“Water was up all the way to here. This is the front entrance,” said Brian Nagle, the general manager of the The Cottage Bar. “And sand had come all the way up to this doorway here.”

Submit