Bernie Mont
•7/8/2026
Fort Myers Beach officials are working to secure funding for a lightning detection system. This comes after a lightning strike killed a man and injured three others last week.
Naples resident Al Kavanaugh said he was surprised to see people swimming during a thunderstorm on Tuesday.
“It’s a good idea to have some of these people get off the beach,” Kavanaugh said.
“I was an electrician. So, I know it’s going to kill you,” he added.
Longtime visitors Dave Jacobs and Joanne Trembley also expressed concern about the risks people take during storms.
“I looked out into the Gulf here and there was people swimming and people on the beach, and I said to Joanne, they’re crazy,” Jacobs said.
Lightning can strike miles away from a storm. Last Friday, lightning struck a family swimming at Fort Myers Beach, killing the father and injuring three others.
The town is now working to secure funding for a lightning detection system, a project first discussed more than a decade ago.
“In 2012 or 2014, there was also a death, and we uncovered recently that these conversations had begun then for creating some kind of detection system or investing in some kind of siren on the beach,” said Abigail Eberhart of Fort Myers Beach.
The proposed system would include one detection rod in Times Square and another on the south end of Estero Island.
“The dollar sign is pretty big to put this system in, but we think we can get three or four organizations, including the town [and] other governmental partners, to help fund this thing because we want people to be safe and happy,” Eberhart said.
The idea has received support from locals and visitors.
“It’s good to have to get the system in, and it gives a lot of people good enough time to get away,” Kavanaugh said.
Jacobs said, “I think it’s a great idea. From what we’ve seen yesterday, we think we need to be educated about how dangerous lightning is.”
“Anything to prevent that from happening again,” Trembley added.
Town officials said they do not yet have a timeline for the project.
