During a press conference Wednesday in Fort Myers Beach, Gov. Ron DeSantis highlighted programs in place to help remove homes and debris from Hurricane Ian.
Speaking against a backdrop of piles of concrete, drywall, and other debris, DeSantis said FEMA has agreed to expedite the removal of debris from private property and has created an 18-month temporary program for homeless people. Said it was processing and said the state was creating debris. A cleanup program to remove voters’ personal property such as cars and boats.
“Florida has reached an agreement with FEMA to facilitate the removal of debris on private and commercial property.FEMA will not only use new technology satellite imagery, but also other technologies that can assess damage. So we can do this faster, both at home and in the business,” said DeSantis. “As in the past, FEMA literally had to go door to door to physically inspect the structures, but as you know, it can take months to complete. I have.”
The governor noted that FEMA has issued guidance to enable rapid debris removal in the most affected areas of the most severe storm surges, including Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, and to conduct private debris removal. He said the exemptions that allow removal would accelerate cleanup and recovery efforts. It may also include removal of damaged slabs on private property.
“So this is not how this is normally done. We are not normally eligible for this type of refund. This is a great deal and we would like to continue to do so. We , is moving faster than ever on private and commercial property: trash removal.”
Governor DeSantis
“So that’s not how this is typically done,” said DeSantis. “Normally it would not be eligible for this kind of reimbursement. This is a great deal and we want to keep it going. We are moving faster than ever before.”
A related aspect of recovery from Ian’s impact, DeSantis said, is that FEMA has provided direct temporary housing for affected individuals whose homes have been rendered uninhabitable due to storms in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, and Lee counties. program and said it would provide assistance for up to 18 months. For manufactured housing units, non-motorized recreational vehicles, and other ready-to-use housing.
Those who have already applied for FEMA assistance do not need to apply again, DeSantis said.
“If an applicant meets the criteria for direct temporary housing, FEMA will contact them,” the governor explained.
Also, because the program cannot meet the needs of all households, state-led housing missions will provide travel trailers and recreational vehicles to affected Floridians who may not be eligible for FEMA’s program. the governor said.
“If families choose to live on their property, it’s the goal of these programs to make it available while home repairs are being made,” DeSantis said. “These communities are going through a lot and the recovery process can be difficult too. We know a lot of people want to be where their homes are. Not only does it give them peace of mind, it’s more effective in their recovery process… good.”
Kevin Guthrie, director of the Florida Department of Emergency Management, added that the temporary housing program complements efforts to provide temporary housing directly to Ian-affected displaced persons.
“The first of its kind in Florida is a collection of things that we’ve spent about two and a half years putting together,” he said. But I also want to set expectations, it’s a six month program that we’re running so we need to start working on getting them into permanent housing. They want us today so again folks, it would qualify for that 6 month temporary housing.The state needs to start programming you into permanent housing today.
Tom James
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Special to WGCU
Also mentioned were the hundreds of titled personal possessions lost during Ian.
“What you are seeing is debris from ships both on the water and on land.”
DeSantis said. “Therefore, the Emergency Management Division will work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coast Guard, and local governments to remove vessels and other debris from Lee County waterways and upland private property and commercial facilities as quickly and efficiently as possible. .”
To help with this, DeSantis announced the creation of the Florida Debris Cleanup Program to help survive Hurricane Ian and remove displaced and abandoned proprietary property.
The program allows residents to submit an online application at Iandebriscleanup.com or the State Call Center at 850-961-2002 to report the existence of titled property that has been transferred to private or commercial land. , may request removal of eligible debris, including vehicles. Marines, motorcycles, trailers, ATVs, etc.
“To date, 869 vehicles and vessels have been identified on private and commercial property, and efforts are continuing daily to identify others,” DeSantis said.
Federal official Thomas J. McCool, federal coordinator for federal response operations, said there are still more than 2,000 FEMA officials inside and outside the SWFL, and more than $1 billion in assistance is already ready. rice field.
“In terms of individual assistance, the numbers are big. I don’t want to bore you with numbers, but $1.3 billion from the federal side in less than 30 days. I’ve been doing this for a while, but that kind of stuff money in terms of individual support,” McCool said.
A joint field office has been set up in Brandon, near Tampa, and will open next week, federal officials said.
“A robust facility has been opened near JetBlue Park to house responders and recovery professionals,” McCool said. “So when we get into true recovery, we’re going to meet you, the applicant, and the individual support survivor.
FEMA’s 100,700,000 Florida households have applied for individual systems, with another 130,000 expected, McCool said.
“So you see Disaster Survivor Assistance. The FEMA crew knocks on your door and walks you down the street,” he said. We can renew, and we have 18 disaster recovery centers from here to Borussia County, and more are opening.”
Additionally, McCool said the federal government is working on more options than just travel trailers and mobile homes for housing programs that allow applicants to stay in temporary housing for 18 months.
“That’s our two options,” McCool said, adding, “We also do direct rentals. If you have someone who owns an apartment, go to them and get a direct rental. and ask him to put the survivor there, or it needs repairs and the landlord agrees to fix him. We can do it. A chapel where the children can go to school and feel comfortable.
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