News Flash

STORM RECOVERY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Wednesday, Dec 14, 2022

STAY CONNECTED

The Town’s main phone line - 239-765-0202 - is back in service though transferring calls to extensions is not possible at this time. If there is no answer, you can leave a message by pressing “O” when prompted. The extensions of staff are not operational. Email contacts are best:

1. Building Services – buildingpermits@fmbgov.com 
2. Debris – publicworks@fmbgov.com
3. utilities@fmbgov.com
4. Publicinfo@fmbgov.com
5. Visit www.fmbgov.com
6. Follow the Town of Fort Myers Beach, FL on Facebook, Twitter, Instgram, LinkedIn, YouTube
7. Email publicinfo@fmbgov.com
8. Sign up for text or email alerts: http://fmbgov.com/list.aspx, enter your email and cell phone number, then select News Flash/Advisories 
9. Frequently Asked Questions, click here 
10. INTERNET SERVICE CONTACTS

Century Link  (866-460-4355) and Comcast  (1-800-XFINITY) – we continue to work with these two companies to restore internet service.

(NEW) Disaster Recovery Centers will be closed for the holiday season 

Christmas Closure:  Friday, Dec. 23^rd – Monday, Dec. 26^th, 2022 ; Reopen Tuesday, December 27, 2022 

New Year’s Closure: Friday, Dec. 30^th - Monday, January 2^nd, 2023 ;  Reopen Tuesday January 3, 2023 

(NEW) LAST DAY FOR THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER WILL BE THURSDAY, DEC. 22

Because fewer people are using the Community      Resource Center at Santini Plaza, the last day that it will be open is Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022. Any supplies that remain at this location when it closes will be given to the Beach Baptist Church. Last hot meal at Baptist Church will be served this Friday Dec. 16, 2022.

The Disaster Recovery Center at Beach Baptist Church that houses representatives from FEMA will be closed for the holiday season and will remain open until further notice from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

 (NEW) UTILITIES DEPARTMENT 

The Utilities department is currently receiving a high volume of calls and emails with questions and our team is working diligently to help everyone as quickly as possible. 

To help us serve you and all customers more effectively, we are requesting that all questions be sent to email: utilities@fmbgov.com 

(NEW) FEMA Direct Temporary Housing Mission and Timeline - Assistance Available Now 

FEMA financial assistance is our primary means of helping eligible survivors. In addition to Direct Temporary Housing, this is what is available under FEMA Individuals and Households Program right now:

o    Rental assistance, financial assistance for eligible survivors who need a temporary place to live while their home is repaired or until they secure permanent housing. FEMA may provide rental assistance, including initial Rental Assistance and Continued Temporary Housing Assistance, for a total of up to 18 months or until the end of the 18-month period of assistance, whichever comes first, plus a security fee.

o    Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) directly pays room and tax charges for eligible survivors to stay temporarily in a participating hotel or motel.

Timelines - Many factors can impact the time it takes to get survivors into direct housing units. This includes, site and floodplain assessments, permits, utility installation and construction, among other things, required before units can be available.

Florida residents in eligible counties can apply for the state's temporary housing & sheltering program. Assistance from verified volunteers with temporary or permanent repairs for damaged homes is also available.  Two ways to apply:  IanRecovery.FL.gov or 1-800-892-0948

Lee County launches housing website WITH resources

To better assist Hurricane Ian-impacted residents connect with state, federal and other partnering entities for housing needs, Lee County has launched a new landing page at its storm website. www.leegov.com/storm. Click on the house icon, or look for “Housing” in the left rail.  

CURFEW HOURS REMINDER

Curfew hours for Matanzas Pass Bridge on the north end of Estero Island have been changed to 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.  For the Big Carlos Pass Bridge on the south end, residents can use the new 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, but contractors need to adhere to the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.

Residents should be prepared to show proof of residency if they are traveling on and off the Island during the curfew hours.

How to Apply for FEMA Assistance if Your Home is a Boat

If a boat was your primary residence before and during Hurricane Ian making landfall in Florida – and the boat sustained hurricane damage - FEMA may be able to help. Survivors living in one of the 26 counties designated for federal assistance are encouraged to apply. You can begin your application online at DisasterAssistance.gov, visit a Disaster Recovery Center or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The line is open every day from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET. Be ready to provide the physical and complete address of the dock or marina and the slip or mooring number, if the boat was not located on private property. 

There are multiple Disaster Recovery Centers operating throughout the impacted area. To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator or floridadisaster.org, or text DRC along with your ZIP Code to 43362. 

Living on a boat is a unique situation, but you may qualify for FEMA assistance. However, if you don’t provide a slip or mooring number, it may result in your application becoming attached to another boat or boats at the same address. This will cause delays in processing your application. You also cannot use a P.O. Box as your primary address, but you can use it as a mailing address. The designated counties are Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, and Volusia. 

Building Services Division

The Building Services Division is currently receiving a high volume of permit applications and questions and our team is working diligently to help everyone as quickly as possible. 

To help us serve you and all customers more effectively, we are requesting that all those with questions first review the answers to our most frequently asked questions. 

Read them here: https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=82

If your question is not answered after reading the FAQs, Building Services staff can be contacted by email at buildingpermits@fmbgov.com, by telephone at 239-765-0202 choose option 2 or in-person at the east gate of the temporary Town government camp at 2545 Estero Blvd (located just south of the damaged Town Hall).

How do I acquire a demolition permit?

A demolition (demo) permit must be obtained before any structure is demolished/removed. A demo permit is secured through the Town by the demolition contractor. The demo permit application is located at the Building Services Applications and Forms page below:

https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1069/Building-Services-Applications-Forms

After issuance of a demo permit, the contractor must request and pass inspections from the Lee County Utilities Department, the Town of Fort Myers Beach (FMB) Utilities Department, and the FMB Building Services Division. The purpose is to ensure that the sewer lateral and water meter are properly capped off before demolition begins. 

After obtaining a demolition permit, the following steps must be completed by the demolition contractor:

A copy of the permit inspection board and all approved permitting documents must remain posted in a weather-protected condition at the job site, visible from the street. 

The existing sewer lateral must be capped off and the Lee County Utilities Department must conduct an inspection before it is covered. Email the Lee County Sewer Disconnect Form, found at the link below, to LCUNewinstalls@leegov.com;  https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/DocumentCenter/View/16454/LEE-COUNTY-FORM-Fort-Myers-Beach-Demo-App-Revised--1-31-20

The capping of the existing sewer lateral and the associated inspection is to be requested by the contractor and passed by Town Utilities prior to commencing demolition work on the structure. A copy of an approval letter from Lee County Utilities must be received by the Town Building Services Division at buildingpermits@fmbgov.com prior to commencing demolition work on the structure. For additional questions contact Lee County Utilities at 239-533-8399.  The existing water meter must be capped off on the customer’s side of right of way. The FMB Utilities Department must conduct an inspection before it is covered. Email the Town of Fort Myers Beach Utilities Department at utilities@fmbgov.com or call 239-463-9914 to request an inspection and approval. The capping of the existing water meter and the associated inspection is to be requested by the contractor and passed by FMB Utilities prior to covering the work and commencing demolition work on the structure.  It is the contractor’s responsibility to request and pass all inspections from Lee County Utilities, FMB Utilities, and the FMB Building Services Division when the associated work steps are complete. The contractor is solely responsible for any damages to sewer or water systems.

MAIL PICK UP

FMB residents can pick up mail at the Fort Myers Processing & Distribution Center at 14080 Jetport Loop. The USPS Care Center (1-800-275-8777) is available for customers in areas affected by Hurricane Ian with questions about their mail or package delivery service, or any other matter involving postal operations. 

DEBRIS REMOVAL AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE

APPLY for debris removal services on your property at iandebriscleanup.com

1. Gov. DeSantis has developed the “Unite Florida Portal” for state sheltering and housing assistance. People must be registered with FEMA for individual assistance at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. The deadline was just extended to January 12 but this new portal is a way to connect residents with additional resources. The portal is at: https://ianrecovery.fl.gov/ and the news release about the portal can be found here: https://www.flgov.com/2022/11/21/governor-ron-desantis-announces-unite-florida-portal-for-state-sheltering-and-housing-assistance/
2. The state launched awhile ago https://iandebriscleanup.com/ to help with property cleanup, be it a vessel or mobile home, or commercial or private property. View the fact sheet: https://iandebriscleanup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/FDEM_Info-Sheet_11.15.22.pdf

1. Lee County has launched a new Hurricane Ian Debris website to better provide information to residents. Visit www.leegov.com/debris
2. Public drop-off sites for storm debris are open through December 21 at the San Carlos Utility Site, 18078 Cypress Point Road, Fort Myers and the Shell Factory, 2805 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers

Need a new recycle bin?

For any questions, missing recycle bin, pick-up or holiday information, contact Waste Management at (239) 334-1224. If possible, place household waste in a trash can. Bagged material will be picked up if separated from debris. Please put bagged household waste in a separate pile at the end of your driveway away from storm debris. Household waste is picked every Thursday morning , recycling Wednesday morning.  

How TO apply for a temporary electric service pole

If you need temporary electric service for a temporary trailer/RV or for re-construction or renovations, follow these steps to get started:

1. Visit FPL.com/construction to request a temporary electric service (a Florida-licensed electrical contractor can complete this step for you). Refer to: Creating Project Application One-Pager for Temporary Service Only  and upload your W2 form for billing and invoice purposes.
2. An FP&L representative will assess the power requirements and provide you or your contractor with the requirements and the cost of installation. You can then make payment for the installation on fpl.com/construction. Refer to Project Portal Paying Construction Invoices Online   for more information. 
3. Obtain a trade permit from the Town of Fort Myers Beach. Before service can be run, a Florida-licensed electrical contractor must acquire a trade permit through the IWorQ online permitting system at http://www.fmbgov.com/building. The trade permit application form is located at the Town of Fort Myers Beach Applications & Forms page at https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1069/Building-Services-Applications-Forms. After the permit application is approved and the permit is issued, the contractor may install the temporary electric service pole. The contractor must then request a building code inspection from the Town, using their contractor code, through the IWorQ request portal at https://portal.iworq.net/FORTMYERSBEACH/permits/600. Once the inspection is passed, the Town will notify FP&L with authorization to energize the service.
4. For more details on constructing a temporary electric service, see also the following FPL electric service standards:  

FPL electric service standards for underground service

FPL electric service standards for overhead service 

1. Once FPL is notified of approval from the Town of Fort Myers Beach work request to install temporary service will be completed within 10 business days.  

If you have questions on either this info or any other restoration related concerns, please call 833-FPL-4IAN