USPS addresses Fort Myers Beach post office...

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

To B.J. Erlewein and her husband, the post office on Fort Myers Beach means everything to them.

They know what it feels like to have it taken away. Hurricane Ian destroyed the post office on Carolina Avenue back in 2022.

"All the residents, whether they were seasonal residents or full time residents, had to drive to different post offices anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes away," Erlewein said.

The post office is standing tall, after it was repaired and reopened over the summer, over the weekend a rumor started spreading on social media saying that this post office could be moved off the island.

"I can't even imagine not having it here; I mean, after Ian, you had a good taste of not having a post office," said Dane Erlewein.

"That would not be a good thing," said JoAnne Brown.

Brown visits the post office regularly. She knows how convenient it is

This is very essential for everybody on the island, it's the only post office within distance.

Gulf Coast News asked USPS about the relocation rumor Monday afternoon. They quickly responded that they have no plans to move the post office. People like B.J. don't want the island's recovery process to go backward.

"I think this community needs to move forward and is moving forward, but to do that, they really need a post office nearby," she said.