SOUTHERN BRIDGES TO OPEN TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed temporary repairs to four damaged and closed bridges that provide access to the south end of Fort Myers Beach. This includes Big Carlos Pass, Big Hickory, Little Carlos Pass and New Pass.
On Tuesday, Oct. 18, access to Fort Myers Beach from the south will be limited to essential response personnel to speed restoration of essential services and infrastructure. Then starting Wednesday, Oct. 19, residents and their hired contractors can access the island from the south from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The schedule moving forward will mirror the recently announced plan for the Matanzas Pass Bridge on the Beach’s north end. Mondays and Tuesdays will be reserved for essential response personnel: Debris management (crews from CrowderGulf and Thompson Debris); electric providers, water and sewer utility providers; and transportation crews from Florida DOT and Lee DOT. Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be for residents and their hired contractors.
WATER RESTORATION
The Town's water utility staff, our mutual aid partners and contractors report they have restored stable pressure along the Town’s water transmission main along Estero Blvd. to Times Square and are working north to Bowditch Point. Lateral lines along side streets will be pressurized after the main line is complete. Water service requests can be submitted along with the required structural and electrical inspections/reports for homes that are habitable. The utilities department is not billing anyone during this period of emergency. Billing will resume after customers have passed inspections and have their water service turned back on.
FIRST PASS ON DEBRIS REMOVAL COMPLETED
Debris removal contractors have completed a first pass of debris removal on all Fort Myers Beach streets. Additional passes will be made until all debris is removed.
POWER RESTORATION
Several more homes on the island had power reconnected today, after the first two homes were connected Saturday. The Town provides a daily list to FPL of properties that are approved for power reconnection after having passed structural and electrical inspections. FPL will energize your home when they have completed the repairs in your area and the Town has approved your inspections. FPL is equipped with plenty of meters and says it will replace all meters on residential properties.
FIRE INSPECTION AND PERMIT FEES SUSPENDED
To aid the residents of Fort Myers Beach, the Board of Fire Commissioners and Fire Chief Ronald L. Martin are suspending all fire inspection and permitting fees. This suspension of fees will begin on Monday, October 17 and continue for 90 days.
ROOF PERMITS
Access, complete and submit roof permits on the Town’s website at www.fmbgov.com. Send questions to buildingpermits@fmbgov.com and find more information on the website. On the homepage, scroll down and click the Building Services sand dollar which will open the Building Services page.
CONTRACTORS
Be sure to use only licensed and registered contractors. Don’t become a disaster scam victim! A list of registered contractors of all types, including electrical, is on the Building Services page of the Town’s website at www.fmbgov.com/building and is being updated regularly. You can also access the state’s database of licensed contractors at www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
FEMA ASSISTANCE
There are FEMA teams set up outside the FMB Town Hall complex in a large white tent on Estero Blvd. to register you for federal disaster assistance. The fastest way to apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance is online through DisasterAssistance.gov. You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app or by calling 1-800-621-3362.
D-SNAP FOOD AND NUTRITION BENEFITS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that low-income Florida residents recovering from Hurricane Ian may be eligible for assistance from the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). Eligible households will receive one month of benefits they can use to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or from select retailers online to meet their temporary food needs following the disaster. Details on Florida’s D-SNAP program will be available at the Florida Department of Children and Families’ Hurricane Ian Response & Recovery website. D-SNAP sites will be posted on the website as they become available. Representatives from Florida Children and Family Services are in the Recovery Resource Center tent outside town hall at 2525 Estero Blvd to answer questions about D-SNAP.
FOOD/WATER
World Central Kitchen is serving meals at 2525 Estero Boulevard just outside the Town Hall complex. Lunch and dinner meals are free. Water and packaged meals are also available at that location.
SHOWER, RESTROOM AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES
Portable shower and restroom facilities are set up for the public at the FMB Town Hall complex as well as at Beach Baptist Church. Portable laundry facilities are set up at the FMB Town Hall complex. There are portable toilets set up at regular intervals along Estero Blvd.
TRASH PICKUP
Waste Management trucks are picking up trash on the island daily. For health and safety reasons, they ask that you dispose of your food and kitchen waste first and save other household debris for later pickups. Please separate food and household trash from construction debris, appliances and electronics.
STAY CONNECTED
We wanted to make sure that you know about and are connected to all of the ways that the Town is providing information directly.
- For permitting, reach out directly to Daphnie Bercher, Community Development Director, by phone at 239-537-5960 or email at daphnieb@fmbgov.com.
- For permitting info, please visit and continue to check the Town's Building Services Webpage at fmbgov.com/building as well as the homepage on the Town's website - www.fmbgov.com
- As we have new information, we will continue to share it with all media outlets as well as post it on our website, on the Town of Fort Myers Beach Facebook page, and text and email it to anyone who is signed up through our website to get messages directly
- To sign yourself up to the website, click this link: http://fmbgov.com/list.aspx
- You can also email publicinfo@fmbgov.com
