Normally, I would say the area would be rebuilt in a few years, but with this economy, things weren’t all that great even before the hurricane, so it may be decades before it comes back to anything resembling what it was.
If the few months of covid shutdowns was enough to put bars and restaurants out of business, this certainly will. As you said, this isn't a months or year thing. Even in a prosperous area like this.
“...so it may be decades before it comes back to anything resembling what it was.”
Congress just approved another spending bill sending BILLIONS again to Ukraine.
Our America is gone. We may as well just admit it and get used to it. We had a good run. :(
And then there is the cost of insurance. The owner cannot cover the cost of building in that spot.
Four years after Cat 5 Hurricane Michael, you have to look hard to find evidence of the destruction in Mexico Beach.
However, the Florida insurance situation is far worse than in 2018.
I suspect ever more insurers will bail from FL and redevelopment from Ian could be very slow.