Three years after Hurricane Ian, Fort Myers Beach is still in recovery mode. Locals and tourists alike continue to face the aftermath of the storm, with construction being a daily sight.

Mike "Popeye" Dearden, a longtime resident of Fort Myers Beach, shared his experience.

"My home was destroyed. I lost everything I owned, but I got to keep my life. Sadly, a lot of people did not," said Dearden.

Having lived on the beach for 25 years, Dearden has seen his share of storms, but Ian was different.

"Nothing like Ian. Nothing is devastating, as Ian," said Dearden. "You can't tell me it wasn't worse, the amount of devastation we saw, the way an entire town was wiped out."

His home was left in ruins.

"There's so much damage still here, but there's so much already rebuilt too, and still being rebuilt," said Dearden.

Fort Myers Beach officials describe this period as the "functional paradise phase." While some businesses and restaurants have reopened, large construction crews and sand piles remain a prominent sight.

Paul Pence, a tourist from Georgia, expressed his impression.

"We see all the first floors that are still completely damaged. It's like skeletons," said Pence.

Carsa Caron, visiting from Maine, also shared her surprise.

"It seems like, like every other house there's like, either missing or being rebuilt, a lot of places for sale," said Caron.

For first-time visitors, the ongoing reconstruction is unexpected.

"We were kind of surprised to see that it's still being rebuilt. We weren't expecting that," said Caron.

Construction crews are constantly at work.

"I was listening to a construction crew talk, and they were saying that they were just absolutely busy," said Pence.

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of understanding and patience.

"It takes time. I mean, material has to be made, and you have to have time to put it together. Everything can't happen at one time," said Pence.

For Dearden, the construction activity is a sign of resilience.

"This is the community came together. We got knocked down. My namesake, Popeye always did, but we bounced right back up, and we're fighting back. That's Fort Myers Beach," said Dearden.

Whether a long-term resident like Dearden or a first-time visitor, the ongoing construction is a step towards recovery, even three years later.