Mike Walcher
Instructor, FGCU Journalism Program-
The City of Fort Myers will allow temporary use of trailers and manufactured units on yards of homes that are being repaired after damage from Hurricane Ian. The city also will set up community sites for residents and non-residents to live in campers or trailers while their homes are being repaired.
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Outreach workers are knocking on doors in some Lee County neighborhoods, urging people to apply for aid to recover from Hurricane Ian damage. The deadline for FEMA applications is Thursday, January 12. The workers also are handing out information about non-FEMA recovery resources.
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They're now the law. Governor Ron DeSantis came to Fort Myers Beach Friday to sign hurricane relief and property insurance bills, just passed by the Republican-controlled legislature. He also directed his administration to provide people with travel trailers as temporary housing in hurricane-damaged areas, despite lack of approval from the federal government.
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Two and a half months after Hurricane Ian, remediation is set to begin Wednesday at the historic part of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, according to Lee School Superintendent Dr. Chris Bernier. The Lee County school board now is mulling options on how to restore the school, and bring students back to the beach.
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Lee County Commissioners Tuesday approved a $500,000 interest-free loan to help an affordable housing project in North Fort Myers. The Hermosa community could provide 72 multi-family units for low-income seniors.
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The biggest industry in Southwest Florida may be facing its biggest challenge ever: coming back from Hurricane Ian's catastrophic damage. Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers Beach sustained the worst damage, and they have to rebuild hotels, resorts and condos to rent to visitors.
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As many as 300 people will wake up Thanksgiving morning in a shelter in North Fort Myers. Many of those displaced by Hurricane Ian have been living in shelters for nearly eight weeks.
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Some charitable groups in Southwest Florida are getting donations for Thanksgiving meal giveaways in the middle of recovery from Hurricane Ian devastation. Some see it as a way to take joy in the holiday, while others dealing with severe damage or destruction from Ian say they're having trouble getting into a holiday mood.
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Charlotte County said it is investigating several cases of suspected illegal dumping of debris from Hurricane Ian. Charlotte says it believes out-of-state contractors may be dumping at places around the county, rather than taking trash to the landfill and paying disposal fees.
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Lee County and the City of Cape Coral are expressing satisfaction with the pick-up of debris from Hurricane Ian. Officials with the county and city are asking residents to be patient: the big debris trucks are coming to your street, and for more than one pick-up.