Hurricane Ian Targeted Florida’s Retirement Belt
Older people, who are particularly vulnerable to hurricanes, make up a large share of the population in southwest and central Florida.
Osceola County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue a 93-year-old resident from flooding following Hurricane Ian on Sept. 30.
Photographer: Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty
The promise of sandy beaches, mild winters and low living expenses has long attracted retirees to Florida’s southwest coast. But that high concentration of older people means more vulnerability for a region that’s increasingly at risk of natural disasters — a devastating trade-off that became all too clear when Hurricane Ian slammed into the Fort Myers metro region this week.
The Category 4 storm brought catastrophic winds, heavy rains and storm surges that flooded homes and roadways, and that left more than 2.5 million Floridians without electricity by Thursday morning — including 91% of households in Charlotte County. At least 21 people are confirmed dead in Florida as of Friday morning, though officials suggest numbers will continue to rise.