Florida’s barrier islands are battered by Hurricane Milton [Video]

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Christal Shola was one of dozens of people in a long stream of cars waiting to re-enter Fort Myers Beach on Thursday a few hours after Hurricane Milton slammed into the town.

She intended to retire in the home on Estero Island, a barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, but it was still under construction after Hurricane Ian ravaged it.

On Thursday, Shola returned to find shingles ripped from the roof, but most of the construction supplies stored on the first floor were spared despite some flooding and sand damage.

“It’s heart-wrenching to have to keep going through this,” she said. “We have terrific neighbors, we all help each other, and the fact that we all love it here so much — we just keep doing it.”

Milton is the fifth …