Before dawn on Monday, October 24, 2005, Hurricane Wilma made landfall a few miles northwest of Everglades City at Cape Romano. After leaving Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula as a Category I storm, it moved into Southwest Florida as a Category III hurricane, bringing devastation to the community before moving northeast across the state. Its high winds and water surge nearly destroyed historic Everglades City Hall, which had served as Collier County's first courthouse and government building. Through the resources and commitment of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Collier County Commission and Manager, the community was able to rebuild this piece of history.