Beachfront communities grapple with post-hurricane rebuilding issues

Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities starts with a comparison of two cities facing the best of times and the worst of times. Southwest Florida has its own tale of two cities happening as we speak, but in this story, for now at least, the best of times of seem a long way off.

The cities are the town of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Both were devastated when Hurricane Ian hit the barrier islands in late September and blew across the state, causing billions in damage and killing hundreds. Yet, as close as these two places are — separated by 14 miles — and as similar as many of their issues are, the pair faces different obstacles when deciding what they are going to look like in the next 10 to 15 years.