Key facts: Fort Myers
- Hurricane Ian brought devastating storm surge to Lee County in September 2022, and the Caloosahatchee carried water deep into Fort Myers.[1]
- Surge doesn't stop at the beach.
- Low neighborhoods along the river and its creeks took water, so know your zone and elevation.
River surge reaches inland
Surge doesn't stop at the beach. Low neighborhoods along the river and its creeks took water, so know your zone and elevation.
Rebuilt homes
Quick post-storm repairs can hide damp framing. If a rebuilt room smells musty, ask for moisture readings.
Flood claims recorded in Lee County
Fort Myers sits in Lee County. FEMA publishes every National Flood Insurance Program claim with personal details removed, which gives a plain record of where water has reached insured buildings here.
| Measure | Count |
|---|---|
| Flood insurance claims on record | 48,496 |
| Year with the most claims | 2022 (28,889) |
| Largest named event | Hurricane Ian (28,621) |
| Claims outside high-risk A and V zones | 4% |
| Claims on buildings built before 1975 | 32% |
County-wide counts of insured claims only. Uninsured losses, burst pipes and appliance leaks are not in this data.
What the Fort Myers claim record shows
For Fort Myers homes, the local precedents are the events behind the most Lee County claims: Hurricane Ian (28,621 claims), Hurricane Milton (4,334 claims) and Hurricane Charley (4,103 claims).
Around Fort Myers, about 96% of county claims with a recorded zone came from the high-risk A and V zones, so checking your address on the FEMA flood map tells you a lot here.
A newer Fort Myers home is not exempt: 68% of claims with a known build date involved homes built in 1975 or later.
Federal disaster history for Lee County
FEMA lists 45 federal declarations covering Lee County. The most common types are hurricane (21), fire (6) and tropical storm (5). The latest are Hurricane Milton in 2024, Hurricane Helene in 2024 and Tropical Storm Helene in 2024. Federal aid can open after a declaration, so Fort Myers owners should look it up before discarding damaged items.
Fort Myers weather and your home
Weather records for Fort Myers from 2015 through 2024 average 56 inches of precipitation a year, and September and June are the wettest months. The area averages 8.2 days a year with an inch or more.
Freezing nights almost never happen in Fort Myers, so the bigger concerns are storms, plumbing failures and humidity.
With about 60 days a year at 90°F or hotter, Fort Myers air conditioners run hard, and a clogged condensate line can soak a ceiling without warning.
When rain falls in Fort Myers
Seasonal averages for Fort Myers, 2015 through 2024. Plan roof, gutter and sump pump checks before the wettest stretch.
| Season | Average | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| January to March | 6.6 in | 12% |
| April to June | 15.6 in | 28% |
| July to September | 25.4 in | 46% |
| October to December | 7.9 in | 14% |
Modeled from Open-Meteo historical weather data. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow.
Fort Myers home checklist from these records
- Treat flood risk as current. 81% of Lee County claims date from 2015 or later.
- Check roof flashing and drains before September, the wettest month in Fort Myers.
- Clear the air conditioner drain line before the 60 days of 90°F heat begin.
- Keep dated photos of each room. After Hurricane Ian, 28,621 insured Lee County owners filed claims at about the same time.
What to tell the Fort Myers contractor
- Your evacuation zone
- Whether the home flooded in Ian
- Whether salt water entered
Services Fort Myers callers ask about
Questions
Fort Myers water damage questions
Do you cover Lehigh Acres?
Call and we can tell you on the line.
How do I reduce future damage?
Ask about flood-resistant materials and elevating equipment.