Keys beaches went ‘completely underwater’ from Hurricane Ian. Which ones are open?

The Florida Keys was spared much of the damage that Hurricane Ian inflicted on Fort Myers and other areas of the state’s Gulf Coast, but the powerful storm brought significant surge to the island chain, forcing well-known beaches to close.

Most have reopened after repairs.

Here is a rundown on the status of some of the major beaches in the Keys:

Higgs Beach in Key West

Located in Key West, Monroe County’s Clarence H. Higgs Memorial Beach was “completely underwater” during Ian, according to the parks department.

The county says that most of the 16.5-acre beach, fronting the Atlantic Ocean, is expected to reopen on Tuesday, with some areas remaining closed for continued repairs.

Smathers and Southernmost in Key West

Key West’s other frequently visited beaches, including Smathers Beach on South Roosevelt Boulevard and Southernmost Beach at the south end of Duval Street, are open, said city spokeswoman Alyson Crean.

Marathon beaches

Of the more than a dozen other Monroe County-maintained beaches and waterfront parks, Veterans Memorial Park, on the western base of the Seven Mile Bridge on Little Duck Key, remains closed due to extensive flood damage, said county spokeswoman Kristen Livengood.

Islamorada beaches

In the Upper Keys, Anne’s Beach, a quarter-mile sandy stretch on Lower Matecumbe Key, maintained by the Village of Islamorada, had minor damage to the north parking lot due to the storm.

“Everything was repaired quickly and the park is open,” said Andrew Engelmeyer, Islamorada’s public works director.

Dry Tortugas

The National Park Service announced that ferry service to the Dry Tortugas National Park — about 70 miles west of Key West — resumed Monday.

Fort Zachery Taylor

Fort Zachary Taylor remains closed for continued cleanup, the Park Service said in a statement on Twitter. The park’s beaches and surrounding waters are open for swimming and snorkeling, but the state park remains closed to private vessels and camping.