The free event aims to raise awareness of tropical cyclone impacts and the danger of getting caught without a preparedness plan, which is why this year's tour will kick off in Houston just in time for Hurricane Season.
this used to be a home. now stairs that lead to nowhere. the army is saying they re going to take us over the bridge. reporter: these two women who rode out the storm grateful for being transported. our eoc has made a decision with fort myers beach to close the beach to residents. reporter: officials deciding to close the island to search and rescue operations only. lee county officials have been criticized for issuing the first mandatory evacuations for only a day before landfall. i don t think it would have made a difference because we start pushing hurricane awareness in june. until people learn to follow the advisory, to plain not wait until it s too late, that s what will save lives. reporter: for fort myers resident connie miller, she said she realized she needed to get out when it was too late. hotels were already booked as she feared getting stuck on the
killed. we re up to 54 people in your county, lee county. do you know where and how most of those people died? no. where most of the devastation is about 15 miles south of sport myers. fort myers beach in the barrier island. in the city itself, we were fortunate, we have no reported deaths related to the hurricane. oh, that s good news. as you know, there are some residents who are wondering whether it would have helped to get an evacuation order earlier. do you think that lives could have been saved if an evacuation for lee county had been given on monday, instead of a day later on tuesday? i don t think it would have made a difference because we start pushing hurricane awareness in june. we push people to plan. to have a plan for evacuation if need be. you know, if you plan, you don t panic. the most predictable thing about
our eoc has made a decision to close the beach to residents. reporter: officials today deciding to close the island to search and rescue teams only so their operation can continue safely. lee county officials have been criticized for issuing the first mandatory evacuation orders only a day before ian s landfall, despite emergency plans that called for it sooner. i don t think it would ve made a difference because we start pushing hurricane awareness in june. until people learn to follow the advisory, to plan, not wait until it s too late, that s what will save lives. reporter: for this fort myers resident, she said she realized she needed to get out when it was too late. hotels were already booked and she feared getting stuck on the roads driving off the island. god kept us together and gave us safety. reporter: and officials are standing by their decision. i am confident in our county manager, our leaders, our