Public speaks, ResilientLee leaders listen at first of 16 forums on Hurricane Ian recovery
The Lee County Recovery Task Force trooped into San Carlos Park Elementary School Wednesday night to kick off nearly a month of sharing information about the impact of Hurricane Ian and the work ahead to take all measures possible to prevent a hurricane from bringing ashore anything similar to the horrific damage left behind by Ian last September.
"Unfortunately, we are all here because of what happened on Sept. 28," said Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass who represented the commission at the task force's inaugural ResilientLee town hall meeting, one of 16 planned throughout the county or streaming online through May 17.
Residents who can't make it to a particular session in their neighborhood can go to any other ResilientLee program, or stay home and take part in Zoom sessions.
ResilientLee is the name for the Lee County Recovery Task Force's public engagement effort. The Lee County Recovery Task Force was formed as a committee of Lee County leaders, such as mayors and school board, fire and law enforcement representatives to advise the county commission on hurricane recovery and rebuilding.
"I'm still waiting to get my roof fixed, and I'm sure that's why some of you are here tonight, you've got damage to some extent, that's why you're here tonight," Pendergrass said. "We're going to show what we're going to do long term, and in the short term, here in Lee County, how it's going to impact you today and for the future."
Wednesday's session at the San Carlos school included professional facilitators drawing out some of the three dozen residents who attended to compare what they have seen in the six months since the third most costly hurricane in U.S. history swept the region with unexpected fury.
Lee County has been awarded $1.1 billion by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for resilience programs and rebuilding. . The Lee County Recovery Task Force will help advise on how the money will be used. The county has created an Office of Strategic Resources & Government Affairs to supervise use of the funds, from proposals through close-out of grants to local agencies. HUD's grant earmarks $144 million for underserved communities.
During Wednesday's session, residents were asked to respond to questions about the response to the hurricane, the extent of the damage and challenges by pressing cell phone buttons to express opinions on a wide range of topics.
As the meeting progressed, some participants initiated discussions on topics based on where they lived, as well as difficulties in getting assistance.
The Lee County Recovery Task Force has a number of "branches" to discuss a range of topics that could become strategies and proposals as part of a wider recovery strategy. Examples of branches include: housing, infrastructure, health and social services, education and workforce. Part of the process is the countywide series of meetings designed to attract residents to contribute to designing goals for the program based on their experience.
The goal is to study post-Ian needs, engage partners to address identified needs and develop viable solutions. Later will come work to maximize funding to push the solutions into action.
Discussion Wednesday began with residents' thoughts on Hurricane Ian and developed into specific issues in topic areas ranging from manufactured home parks to long-standing issues with canals and drainage ditches.
Discussion leaders told the residents that stakeholders – from private sector, business, government, non profits –have different priorities and that they need input on whether they are on the right track, is anything missing, and what Lee County should become after Hurricane Ian.
Future ResilientLee town hall meetings:
April 22, 1-3 p.m. Fort Myers City Hall (English and Spanish)April 25, 6-8 p.m. North Fort Myers Park and Rec CenterApril 26, 6-8 p.m. Bonita Springs Elementary School (English and Spanish)May 1, 6-8 p.m. Sanibel and Captiva, Big ArtsMay 2, 6-8 p.m. Gateway Elementary SchoolMay 3 6-8 p.m. Pine Island Elementary SchoolMay 4, 6-8p.m. Iona, South Fort Myers (English and Spanish sessions), Heights ElementaryMay 4 6-8 p.m. Fort Myers Beach, Diamondhead resortMay 8 6-8 p.m., Spanish virtual zoom sessionMay 9, 6-8 p.m. Northeast Lee, Fort Myers Shores, Buckingham,River Hall Elementary SchoolMay 9, 6-8 p.m. Lehigh (English & Spanish sessions), East County Regional LibraryMay 10, 6-8 p.m. Cape Coral City HallMay 11, 6-8 p.m. Estero, Estero Recreation CenterMay 16, 6-8 p.m. Virtual via ZoomMay 17 10 a.m.12 p.m. Boca Grande Community Center
To learn more, go to https://www.resilientlee.com/
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane Ian: 'Resilient Lee' sets 16 meetings about rebuilding
