Hurricane Ian aftermath: Temporary public housing slow to come to Fort Myers Beach, SWFL

Phil Fernandez, Naples Daily News
·5 min read
3

The mistaken delivery of the first FEMA trailer and the delay in promised travel campers for Fort Myers Beach has been a kick in the gut for residents reeling from Hurricane Ian's devastating strike more than three months ago.

Mayor Dan Allers had learned about the trailer's appearance after meeting with local, state and federal officials Tuesday morning but at that point he, like his colleagues, had been unaware that FEMA had erred in placing the modular on the island, which is in a flood zone.

More:Home sales cool but records keep coming; higher insurance may bring house price decreases

And:New businesses, housing, developments keep coming to SWFL's hot Coconut Point corridor

Plus:Ian: Targeting more than $13M, mansions vie for most expensive sold on SWFL's Bonita Beach

Housing:Business, tech titans cut deal for most expensive home in Sanibel history, even after Hurricane Ian

Before becoming aware of the error, Allers had posted a video on the town's Facebook, proclaiming its arrival in the hopes of boosting spirits.

"They've got the stairs put in. Some of the septic is put in. It's just waiting on a little bit of electric," Allers said. "Progress is happening. We are getting there day by day. Hopefully this is just the beginning of many more to come from FEMA and the state programs."

A FEMA trailer was mistakenly placed at a home site on Fort Myers Beach recently. It was mistakenly put there because it is in a flood zone. It will eventually be replaced with a travel trailer according to FEMA.
A FEMA trailer was mistakenly placed at a home site on Fort Myers Beach recently. It was mistakenly put there because it is in a flood zone. It will eventually be replaced with a travel trailer according to FEMA.

As it turns out, it's not the beginning, with FEMA confirming its plan to remove the structure and saying it will be replaced with a travel trailer.

"They are coming," Allers said. "There is progress being made. People are working very hard in the background to get people into their homes."

Unfortunately, FEMA and the state, which is providing campers, couldn't this week provide a date for when islanders may get such housing relief in the town, where 97% of structures were destroyed or damaged on Sept. 28.

FEMA "is working as quickly as possible to house eligible survivors in Southwest Florida," said Deanna Frazier, an agency officer. "As you can imagine, many steps must be taken to place a manufactured housing unit or travel trailer on private property to include site inspections, local and county permitting, pad preparation, hauling, installing, anchoring, power and utility hook-up, multiple inspections along the way and more."

A FEMA trailer was mistakenly placed at a home site on Fort Myers Beach recently. It was mistakenly put there because it is in a flood zone. It will eventually be replaced with a travel trailer according to FEMA.
A FEMA trailer was mistakenly placed at a home site on Fort Myers Beach recently. It was mistakenly put there because it is in a flood zone. It will eventually be replaced with a travel trailer according to FEMA.

Allers understands the frustrations of his constituents.

"It's been a long process. I know that patience is very difficult to come by now," Allers said. "Progress can sometimes be slow. As long as you're patient, we'll all get through it."

The beach is now waiting on the state to roll in its domiciles that feature wheels.

These are the travel trailers Gov. DeSantis said would be provided to residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
These are the travel trailers Gov. DeSantis said would be provided to residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

"One (is) in the permitting process right now, which I believe is one from the state program," Allers said. "That's coming down the pipeline. (The) process is moving along."

But not promptly enough for some residents, who recalled Gov. Ron DeSantis promising three weeks ago in one of his traveling shows to Fort Myers Beach that his RVs would be "immediately" provided. The state had previously said in November that up to 3,000 campers would be available at the beginning of December.

Beach Talk Radio asked followers last week to "please post a picture of said promised immediate trailer" if they had received one from the governor. It got crickets in terms of photos but plenty of chirping, with complaints of "publicity stunts" and "false hope" by DeSantis.

In this Dec. 16, 2022 visit to Fort Myers Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised the state would "immediately" bring travel trailers there to the island. But three weeks later, many residents say they're still waiting.
In this Dec. 16, 2022 visit to Fort Myers Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised the state would "immediately" bring travel trailers there to the island. But three weeks later, many residents say they're still waiting.

"They called me and told me over a month ago and told me I was approved," Fort Myers Beach resident Beth Ross said Thursday. "Now crickets. Was hoping the governor would help people like me that FEMA denied. How long do we wait?"

"He (has) not kept his promises," Fort Myers Beach resident Kay Fogelson said. "Where is the help for Fort Myers Beach, Gov. DeSantis?"

We reached out to the governor's office and staff this week and are waiting to hear back.

In this Dec. 16, 2022 visit to Fort Myers Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised the state would "immediately" bring travel trailers there to the island. But three weeks later, many residents say they're still waiting.
In this Dec. 16, 2022 visit to Fort Myers Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised the state would "immediately" bring travel trailers there to the island. But three weeks later, many residents say they're still waiting.

More:'Wiped off the face of the earth,' Fort Myers Beach businesses start over post-Ian

And:7 things to know about Fort Myers Beach's 'functional paradise,' new damage estimates

While not on Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island last month did receive an initial RV, according to the state Division of Emergency Management. At last month's Collier Commission meeting, county officials said FEMA had placed about a dozen modulars overall in Southwest Florida.

"To date FEMA has licensed-in 58 temporary housing units across the seven approved counties," Frazier said Thursday afternoon. "There is no way to know how many units will eventually be placed, but I can say that in the seven counties approved for direct housing assistance, some 18,572 households were determined eligible for the program. However, after conducting pre-placement interviews 3,276 applicants told FEMA they were still in need of direct housing assistance."

For Southwest Florida, the number of households in line for FEMA direct housing:

✦ Lee, 2,124;

✦ Collier, 143; and

✦ Charlotte, 507.

These are the travel trailers Gov. DeSantis said would be provided to residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
These are the travel trailers Gov. DeSantis said would be provided to residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

Federal funds deadline next week for Fort Myers Beach

If you need to apply for assistance for FEMA, you have until Jan. 12, according to Fort Myers Beach leaders. Options: apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov; download the FEMA App for mobile devices; call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.; or visit the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, at Beach Baptist Church, 130 Connecticut St.

More:Hurricane Ian aftermath: Fort Myers Beach shuffle during recovery 'harder than it has to be'

And:Fort Myers Beach leaders promise 'functional paradise' within year; Ian 2nd-biggest insured loss ever

How to apply for state temporary housing

  • Go to IanRecovery.FL.Gov 

  • From there, you will be asked to fill out an application for housing. It will require information, such as name, address, phone number and FEMA registration number. If you have not registered for FEMA, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, download the FEMA Mobile App, or call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The state doesn't have a deadline listed on its home page.

Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com), who grew up in Southwest Florida, writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Support Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Little sign of SW Florida temporary housing from feds, state after Ian