15/10/2024
Post-Hurricane Milton News and Updates
We hope your recovery is going better than expected. We have a couple of new items to share. But we also wanted to make sure the info we sent previously about recovery and where to seek help was circulating as widely as possible, so some info below may be a repeat for you. If you have specific questions or are looking for hurricane-related recovery information not included below, please feel free to email us at [email protected] and we will do our best to find answers for you.
Please feel free to forward this email to friends or neighbors who might find the information helpful. And if you're not receiving our email directly to your inbox, sign up for future updates on our website: GPICA.org/contact/
— GPICA
P.S.: We hope you join us in giving a big shout-out to the line crews working on the Island. It appears that all but two customers now have power! xfinity services are coming back to Islanders as well!
New: Greater Pine Island Alliance Seeks Volunteers to Help with Recovery
The GPIA, created after Hurricane Ian to help support Island residents' recovery, is already connecting residents in need with volunteers who can help with things like debris removal and mucking and gutting. GPIA volunteers active since Milton passed have already donated hundreds of hours to help the community, but the need is great and the Alliance is seeking additional volunteers who:
• Are skilled in building trades;
• Can help with physical labor (like mucking and gutting);
• Can man phones in the office to help answer calls and perform basic intake for those in need of help;
• Help the GPIA seek additional grant monies to fund the latest recovery efforts.
The GPIA welcomes individual volunteers and volunteer groups. Please feel free to forward this information to groups off-island that are looking for ways to support the community.
• Click here to sign yourself or your group up to volunteer now or stop by or call the GPIA office: 239.558.4901; 10484 Stringfellow Road, Suite 2, St. James City, FL 33956.
New: Lee County Permitting
Lee County Department of Community Development is opening a temporary, remote permit office tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 16, to allow residents to obtain permits for repairs to existing buildings damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The remote location means staff will be readily accessible to help islanders navigate the permit process, especially those residents without internet service.
• What: Temporary Remote Permit Office for Lee County building permits
• Where: The Pine Island Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia,
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through the end of October.
Any residents or businesses of unincorporated Lee County within the Special Flood Hazard Area with any damage to their homes or businesses, including water intrusion, must obtain a permit for all repairs. Email [email protected] for assistance with permit requirements and resources, and be sure to include the following information:
• Contact information
• Property address
• Type of damage
• Height of the water that entered the home
At the remote permit office, residents acting as their own contractors can submit permit applications, have them reviewed and — in some cases — issued from the remote office. The applicants need only a description of the work and their address, and staff will walk them through the process. Residents seeking a full demolition or complete replacement of a structure still need to visit the main Department of Community Development permitting office at 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers.
• Please remember that the remote office is only for residents acting as their own contractors; hired contractors are asked to continue to use the Fort Myers office for permits.
• Hired contractors are also asked to continue to use the existing electronic permitting process.
Lee County Government is reminding residents in unincorporated areas to pull permits for work on their homes to repair storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
New: Household Hazardous Waste Dropoff on Pine Island
Lee County Solid Waste is hosting a mobile household hazardous waste collection day for Pine Islanders. You can drop household waste — things like drain cleaners, pesticides, pool chemicals, polishes/strippers, liquid paint/thinners, fluorescent tubes, car/boat batteries, automobile oil/antifreeze, boat flares, empty propane tanks and items marked "Dangerous," "Flammable," "Toxic," "Poison," "Reactive," and "Corrosive" — at this site.
• When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 19
• Where: Phillips Park, 5675 Sesame Dr., Bokeelia, FL 33922
• Etc.: Drop off is a drive-through process and is free of charge
Hurricane Debris
Lee County has started Hurricane Milton storm debris pickup throughout the impacted areas. Please use the following guidelines so that work crews can quickly and efficiently remove debris:
• Most Important – Please set storm debris at the curb away from your normal weekly garbage; it will be collected and documented separately.
• Place storm debris at the curb in four separate piles:
o household garbage,
o appliances (white goods),
o yard waste,
o construction and demolition debris.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency rules require documentation of the volume and type of debris collected to reimburse the county for storm cleanup, which saves local taxpayer dollars.
• Place yard waste in piles that can easily be managed by collection personnel with a claw truck.
• To expedite collection, do not place anything beneath low hanging obstacles like trees or power lines or near anything like fire hydrants or mailboxes.
• Food must be removed from any appliance set at the curb. Inedible food should be placed with your normal weekly garbage.
Debris Drop-Off Site on Pine Island
Lee County has opened a debris collection site for vegetative and construction and demolition debris for residents who have the ability and desire to self-haul Hurricane Milton debris while waiting for roadside pickup.
You must be a resident of unincorporated Lee County to take advantage of the site. Be prepared to show identification (accepted forms of ID include driver’s license, utility bill, rental or lease agreement, or local business license).
You will also be asked to complete a waiver confirming the debris came from your property. Click here for a waiver or you can get a form on site.
Residents
Only storm debris will be accepted, and you must be prepared to unload your trucks yourself. No more than 5 cubic yards of debris may be dropped off at a time. (A standard full-size pick-up truck bed can hold about 2.5 cubic yards.)
• Hours: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
• Pine Island Location: 5031 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922
Businesses
Lee County commercial businesses are encouraged to take their storm debris to the Waste-to-Energy Facility, 10500 Buckingham Road, and will be charged by weight. It will be open regular hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Landscaping Companies
Landscaping companies hauling vegetative storm debris cleared from residential properties will need a signed declaration from the resident indicating the address where the debris was generated. No debris will be accepted without a signed declaration.
Pine Island Traffic Cams
All four of the Lee County traffic cams (located on the drawbridge and at the Little Pine Island bridge reconstruction project) are operational. Use them to check traffic coming on and off the Island.
• Click here and page down to "Matlacha Cameras" to view the new cams, along with those previously installed on the drawbridge
Parks and Recreation Facilities and Boat Ramps
Due to heavy impacts, all of the Lee County-operated parks and recreation facilities and boat ramps in Matlacha and Pine Island are currently closed. If you're looking for an alternate park location or public boat ramp, please click here for a listing of open county facilities. You can also use that link to check for updates.
More County Information
Follow the Lee County Government page. The county will post the latest news there, as well as on the county's website.
Need Post-Storm Help With Recovery?
The GPIA has resources for residents who need help with recovery. Their goal is to return Islanders to their primary residences, ensuring safe, sanitary and secure housing.
The Alliance has already resumed recovery operations following Milton and is deploying volunteers throughout the community.
If you need help after Milton (or still need help from Helene), you can visit the GPIA website to register for help, call them at 239-558-4901 or stop by their offices in person, 10484 Stringfellow Road, Suite 2, St. James City, FL 33956.
Federal and Other Disaster Aid, Including for Those Uninsured
Florida homeowners and renters in counties who had uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance.
Currently eligible counties: Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, and Wakulla.
Ways to Apply for Disaster Aid:
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Online: www.DisasterAssistance.gov
Call: 1-800-621-3362
When you apply, have the following information on hand:
• The address of your damaged home or apartment
• Names of people living in your household
• A description of your disaster damages
• Insurance information
• Your Social Security Number
• A telephone number where you can be reached or left a message
• An address where you can get mail
• If you want your disaster assistance funds sent directly to your bank, provide FEMA your bank information
SBA Disaster Assistance Loans
Online: www.SBA.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance
Call: 1-800-659-2955
USDA - Agriculture Assistance
Online: www.Farmers.gov/protection-recovery
Call: 1-352-379-4500
Red Cross
Online: www.RedCross.org
Call: 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767)
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
FloridaCommerce has announced that Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Helene and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Helene are encouraged to submit a claim at FloridaJobs.org .
FloridaCommerce is accepting applications for DUA from residents and businesses frpm: Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, and Wakulla Counties.
Additionally, work search reporting, waiting week, and Employ Florida registration requirements for Reemployment Assistance claims have been temporarily waived for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Helene in FEMA disaster-declared counties. By waiving these requirements, eligible Floridians will be able to quickly apply and receive Reemployment Assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits.
DUA is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:
• Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
• Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster.
• DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning Sept. 29, 2024, through March 29, 2025 , as long as the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in the designated-disaster areas.
• The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than December 2, 2024.
To file a claim, go to www.FloridaJobs.org and select “File a Claim”, visit a local CareerSource Career Center, or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak with a representative.
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