In September 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida as one of the most destructive storms in state history, devastating coastal communities, especially the Fort Myers area near Florida Gulf Coast University. Entire neighborhoods were flooded, infrastructure was severely damaged, and massive amounts of debris were pushed into mangroves, waterways, and beaches, creating both environmental and public safety hazards across the region.

​

In the aftermath, Love Blue Inc.’s FGCU Chapter, led by Chapter President Rory Filinuk, mobilized to support local recovery efforts by partnering with organizations such as Rebuild SWFL and other community groups. Due to the severity of the damage, students were unable to access many shore towns until the following spring semester. Once conditions allowed, the chapter stepped in to assist with hands-on debris removal and resource support, working in coordination with local municipalities that deployed heavy machinery to properly extract and dispose of storm debris.

​

Through these efforts, the FGCU Chapter helped remove approximately 15,000 pounds of debris from mangroves and beaches, an incredible achievement for a chapter in its very first semester of hosting cleanups as a recognized campus club. We are incredibly proud of this team for stepping up during a time of crisis. Their work not only supported immediate recovery, but also established lasting partnerships that now strengthen Love Blue’s ability to assist with disaster preparedness and post-storm environmental response in Southwest Florida and beyond.