STORM RECOVERY INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday, October 20, 2022, 2 p.m., the Town Council of the Town of Fort Myers Beach will hold a public meeting at the former SkipOne Seafood restaurant, 17650 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL. (adjacent to Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf)
COMMUNITY MEETING
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at 4 p.m., there will be a second meeting to provide an opportunity to residents to hear from representatives from various agencies assisting in the restoration of FMB. This meeting will take place at the same location of the Town Council meeting, 17650 San Carlos Boulevard.
SOUTHERN BRIDGES NOW OPEN
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, thus providing residents, and their hired contractors, access the island from the south from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The schedule for the Matanzas Pass Bridge on the Beach’s north end will be the same (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). This means, for now, Mondays and Tuesdays will be reserved for essential response personnel while Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will be for residents and their hired contractors.
*NEW - WATER and ELECTRICAL SERVICE RESTORATION
Once water and electricity is able to be restored in residential areas, residents need to get an inspection from a Florida licensed structural engineer and an electrician to get water and power turned on. Once you have both inspection reports, send them via email to buildingpermits@fmbgov.com, noting the address and the contractors’ Florida license number. The Building Services Department will submit the address to FP&L and the Utilities Department for energizing and reconnection of service. NOTE: Please be aware that the Town will be processing hundreds of inspections. Also, FP&L electricity and water service repairs may not have been completed in some areas which may result in delays to the process. Please email utilities@fmbgov.com if you need to reach that department.
We are NOT providing water to any side streets at this time. We are in the process of pressurizing our primary water main. It is our intent to move to the side streets, from south to north (one by one), once we know the main is intact and can hold pressure. Fire hydrants are being tested as part of this process.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS
Town of Fort Myers Beach building inspectors in conjunction with Army Corps of Engineers infrastructure assessment team are conducting rapid assessments of buildings on Fort Myer Beach. The intent of the assessments is to quickly assess the habitability of the structure and recommend a rating of safe to enter, restricted use, or not safe to enter. 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 emergency governmental assistance.
FIRST PASS ON DEBRIS REMOVAL COMPLETED
Debris removal contractors have completed of all Fort Myers Beach streets (first pass). Additional passes will be made until all debris is removed. The debris is being deposited currently on Bay Oaks Recreational Campus though a secondary location at Lovers Key is possible in the future. Since the beginning of the Ft Myers Beach debris removal process on October 7, more than 120,000 cubic yards has been collected, and more recently in excess of 25,000 cubic yards per day.
POWER RESTORATION
The first two homes were connected Saturday while others continue to be restored every day. The Town provides a daily list to FPL of properties that are approved for power reconnection after those properties have passed structural and electrical inspections. FPL will energize your homes when they have completed the repairs in your area and the Town has approved your inspections. FPL 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 began this week 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
TRASH PICKUP
Waste Management trucks are picking up trash on the island daily. IMPORTANT: For health and safety reasons, we ask that you dispose of your food and kitchen waste first and save other household debris for later pickups. Separate food and household trash from construction/damage debris, appliances and electronics.
SAFETY MESSAGE FROM THE FMB FIRE DEPARTMENT
The fire department asks that you be mindful of parking and/or otherwise piling debris near fire hydrants. Please keep the area around fire hydrants clear and free of vehicles and debris.
STAY CONNECTED
Rely on Real. Rely on information from reliable and trusted sources. We want to continue to ensure that you are aware and are connected to every way that the Town provides information.
• 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
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 1-877-693-5236 from 9 am to 5 pm.
