STORM RECOVERY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Saturday, October 22, 2022
UPDATES: For continued updates, visit www.fmbgov.com or follow the Town of Fort Myers Beach on social media. To sign up for text or email alerts, visit http://fmbgov.com/list.aspx, enter your email and cell phone number, then select News Flash/Advisories.
*NEW* MANDATORY BOIL WATER NOTICE
If you have potable water in your home, you are under a MANDATORY boil water notice.
All water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, washing dishes or brushing teeth must be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Bottled water may be used as an alternative.
The mandatory boil water notice will remain in effect until water samples show the water has returned to safe drinking levels. Please see the final page of this update for additional information on boil water safety.
*NEW* WATER RESTORATION
The Town continues to restore water service to a limited number of homes. To have water service restored to your home:
- Secure structural and electrical inspections.
- Submit the inspections by email to buildingpermits@fmbgov.com.
- Upon acceptance of the reports, wait for notice from the Town’s Utility Department that your street is ready for water restoration and that your home is scheduled to receive it.
- Be at your home when water is restored so that you can be present if any issues arise.
The Town’s Utility Department will contact you when water is able to be restored. Please be patient as staff are all involved in this effort and working as diligently as possible. Currently, the following streets have the ability to receive water:
- Sterling
- Lanark
- Seminole
- Falkirk
- Sable
- Launder
- Indian Bayou
- Shell Mound
- Washington
- Madison
- Voorhis
- Mid Island
- Donora
- Driftwood
- Estero (just a few addresses)
Click on the Utilities tab on the Town’s website for updates as additional information becomes available.
COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTERS
Community Resource Centers are now open in two locations.
- NEW: Santini Plaza, 7205 Estero Boulevard. The site has access to water, food, showers, laundry and restrooms and is open 24 hours a day.
- Beach Baptist Church, 130 Connecticut Street, on the corner of Estero Boulevard. This location provides access to ice, food, water, showers, laundry and restrooms as well as federal, state, local and non-profit partners. This location will be open 24 hours a day with representatives from the various agencies available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Both sites have hot meals available 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Lee County, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have partnered to open the new Beach Baptist Church location to serve Fort Myers Beach residents. The Community Resource Center includes FEMA Disaster Recovery Assistance Teams, as well as other local and national non-profit organizations. The site includes bathroom trailers, shower trailers, and water and ice distribution, provided by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. Florida Department of Children and Families is also on site providing assistance for existing beneficiaries of DCF programs or newly unemployed residents who need food assistance.
NEXT WEEK – TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, at 4 p.m., there will be an additional Town Council meeting at 17650 San Carlos Blvd., the site of the former SkipOne Seafood.
POWER RESTORATION
Residents need to get an inspection from a Florida licensed structural engineer and an electrician for power to be turned on. Email inspection reports along with the address and their Florida license number to buildingpermits@fmbgov.com.
The Building Services Department will submit the address to the Florida Power and Light (and water utility) for energizing and reconnection of service. Please be patient as the Town is processing hundreds of inspections. Electricity and water service repairs may not have been completed in some areas which may result in delays. Please email utilities@fmbgov.com if you need to reach the Utility Department.
Since the first two homes were connected Saturday, Oct. 15, more continue to be restored every day. The Town provides a daily list to FP&L of properties that are approved for power reconnection after those properties have passed structural and electrical inspections. FP&L will energize homes when they have completed the electrical system repairs in the area and the Town has approved inspections. FP&L says it will replace meters on residential properties.
DEBRIS REMOVAL
Debris removal contractors from Lee County have completed a first pass of ALL Fort Myers Beach streets and are working to complete the second pass. Additional passes will be made until all debris is removed. Among other places, debris is primarily being deposited on Bay Oaks Recreational Campus although other locations i.e. Lovers Key are being considered. Since the beginning of the debris removal process on Oct. 7, nearly 200,000 cubic yards has been collected, with collections resulting in excess of 25,000 cubic yards per day. If your street or home has been skipped, please ensure that no vehicles are parked in the right of way and that debris is pushed curbside, not in the right of way. It’s also possible that property owners have pushed more debris curbside since the last pass.
INITIAL DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
Town of Fort Myers Beach building inspectors in conjunction with Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure assessment team are continuing to conduct rapid safety assessments of buildings. The intent is to quickly assess the habitability of the structure and recommend a rating of safe to enter, restricted use, or not safe to enter. This is for resident safety and wellness. The teams have experienced engineers familiar with design and construction. The completed assessments will be provided to the county and local governing authorities which is important data that is needed for governmental assistance and redevelopment.
CONTRACTORS
Only use licensed and registered contractors. A list of registered contractors, including electrical, is on the Building Services page of the Town’s website at www.fmbgov.com/building and is being updated regularly. A database of licensed contractors is available at www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
TRASH PICKUP
Waste Management trucks are picking up trash on the island daily. IMPORTANT: For health and safety reasons, dispose of food and kitchen waste first and separate it from other household debris for later pickups. Keep food and household trash sperate from construction/damage debris, appliances and electronics.
IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE FROM THE FMB FIRE DISTRICT
Residents are asked to remain aware of their surroundings and conditions as they return to their homes. Keep the road and fire hydrants clear of debris piles. If a hydrant is opened, contact the Fire District. Wear proper footwear as debris piles cause uneven walking surfaces and tripping hazards. Stay away from standing water as it may contain bacteria. Point the exhaust of gas-powered machines away from any activity. If possible, avoid walking or working in high-dust areas or wear at least a N-95 mask. Look out for your neighbors and be courteous.
MAIL PICKUP
FMB residents can pick up mail at the Fort Myers Processing & Distribution Center, 14080 Jetport Loop. For customers arriving by car, there is signage directing them to parking. A mobile retail unit has been set up in the parking lot to assist customers with mailing and shipping needs, stamp and money order purchases and change of address requests. This location is Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Per USPS, customers impacted by Hurricane Ian should file for a change of address to ensure they can receive uninterrupted and accurate mail delivery service. The USPS Care Center (1-800-275-8777) is available for customers in affected areas with questions about their mail or package delivery service, or postal operations.
STAY CONNECTED
Rely on Real. Rely on information from reliable and trusted sources. We want to continue to ensure that you aware and are connected to every way that the Town provides information.
- For permitting, contact Daphnie Bercher, Community Development Director, at 239-537-5960 or daphnieb@fmbgov.com.
- For permitting info, please continue to check the Town's Building Services Webpage at fmbgov.com/building and the Town's website - www.fmbgov.com.
- As new information becomes available, it will be provided to media outlets and posted on www.fmbgov.com, as well as the Town of Fort Myers Beach Facebook page. Updates will also be sent out via text and email to those who is signed up through the website to get messages directly. To sign yourself up to the website, click this link: http://fmbgov.com/list.aspx or email publicinfo@fmbgov.com.
INSURANCE HELP
The Division of Consumer Services can assist insurance customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Visit myfloridacfo.com/Division/Consumers/HurricaneIan.htm or call 877-693-5236 from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for additional information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON BOIL WATER NOTICE
Under a boil water notice, water used for consumption can be disinfected by any one of the following methods:
• Bringing the water to a rolling boil and holding it there for one (1) minute, OR
• Using a disinfecting chemical. If you cannot boil water, you should put eight (8) drops of common household bleach (unscented) which is about 1/8th teaspoon, into one (1) gallon of tap water, then shake it, and allow it to stand for 30 minutes before drinking. If the water is cloudy, use sixteen (16) drops, about 1/4 teaspoon of bleach instead of 8, shake it, and let it stand for 30 minutes. There should be a slight chlorine odor. Use common household bleach that has 5% to 8% active ingredients. Use food grade containers. OR
• Using water purification tablets or iodine that many sports and camping stores sell and follow their directions. You can also buy commercial bottled water for consumption and food preparation as an alternative. Consumption includes brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, and homemade ice.
Tap water may be used for showering, baths, shaving and washing, so long as care is taken not to swallow or allow water in eyes or nose or mouth. Children and disabled individuals should have their bath supervised to ensure water is not ingested. The time spent bathing should be minimized. Though the risk of illness is minimal, individuals who have recent surgical wounds, are immunosuppressed, or have a chronic illness may want to consider using bottled or boiled water (that has cooled) for cleansing until the notice is lifted.
Businesses and non-residential sites should take steps such as posting notices or disabling water fountains and ice machines. If you provide water to visitors or employees, use commercially produced bottled water for drinking or beverage preparation (coffee). Food service operations have additional requirements from their regulatory agency. After the water system is repaired, and the pressure is restored in the pipes to your home or business, the mandatory boil water notice will remain in effect for one to several days while bacteria tests are conducted to assure the safety of the water.