Deadline today for FEMA applications for mitigation funds to elevate homes

Applications to apply for FEMA flood mitigation funds to elevate homes is today, Wedneday, March 8, 2023 The program is administered through Lee County that has hired Hagerty Consulting to assist with applications

Lee County will hold another informational meeting (date to be determined )

For additional information now, please call the prog r a m h o t

Pine Island

Ann Elizabeth Spangler Vogt Bartlett

Ann Elizabeth Spangler Vogt Bartlett, previously of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Needham, Massachusetts, East Orleans, MA. and most recently of Pine Island Florida, passed away peacefully on January 27th 2023 in East Orleans, at the age of 85, following a valiant struggle against cancer. She was surrounded by her son and daughter.

Ann was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. The daughter of Dr. Clair Grove Spangler, and Frances Parker Spangler. She was a granddaughter of an early 20th century industrialist, James Heber Parker, of the Carpenter Steel Corporation, Reading, PA. Ann was a graduate of the Kent Place School and Wheelock College. She is survived by her daughter, Virginia Elizabeth Vogt Fraser of Needham and Martha’s Vineyard, MA., and son, Peter Alfred Vogt of Brewster, MA, her grandson, Myles Parker Fraser, of Denver, Colorado, her granddaughters Vanessa Elizabeth Vogt of West Yarmouth, MA. and Randi Louise Vogt, two sisters, Jane Spangler Green and husband Dr. Willard Green, of Wallingford, Pennsylvania and Susan G. Spangler, of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, plus nieces and nephews.

While living in Needham, MA she was active in the Junior League of Boston, performed in the local theater guild and loved every flower show she could go to. After working as a PA / Bookkeeper for CONGRAF in Needham, she moved to Orleans, MA. Over her life in Orleans, Ann worked for the Orleans Park and Harbormaster Departments, was a Licensed Real Estate Broker / Agent with Bob Andrew’s Real Estate, a PA / Bookkeeper with the World of Watson’s Clothing Store, and many other companies on the Outer Cape. Ann was also a member and Officer of the Orleans Board of Trade, serving as the editor of the Orleans Vacation Guide for several years including the edition for the country’s Bicentennial celebration. In her semi-retirement years she was involved with the Bass River Yacht Club.

Ann was an enthusiastic resident of East Orleans, MA for nearly 60 years and delighted in welcoming many friends past and present to her home. She loved summers driving her old manual transmission Jeep Wagoneer out on Nauset Beach with her kids and family. Her later years were by her pool and canal with the pelicans and manatees in St James City, Pine Island, Florida.

Ann is also survived by her husband of 15 years, Jim Bartlett, and ex-husband Robert Vogt.

The family would like to thank Quality Homecare Cape Cod and Cape Cod Healthcare VNA Hospice.

Funeral arrangements are being made by Nickerson Funeral Home, Orleans, Ma. for a service in the Spring to be announced at a later date. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Orleans Firemen’s Relief Association P.O. Box 132, Orleans, Ma. 02653 or to Cape Cod Healthcare VNA Hospice.

R u a n e e n c o u r a g e d e v e r y o n e w h o needs to, to reach out to his office at 239533-2224, or on his cell phone at 239273-0011

Harner, who oversees all county operations, said his office has been dealing with the aftermath of the storm by building shelters, handling damaged facilities and debris cleanup His office is working with FEMA to find solutions that fit countywide, and harden facilities, such as utility lines. They are also responsible for a large portion of current roadwork, even though the state is doing the work

“We’re not quite sure what our share is going to be for Pine Island, but we think it’s somewhere from $5 to $7 million,” Harner said

A s s i s t a n t D e p u t y C o u n t y M a n a g e r

Christine Brady said the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department had damage in each of the parks, totaling approximately $14 million, not including Lee County beaches, which had a damage inventory of approximately $16 million

“We continue to work with your longterm recovery group out here for volunteers and donation programs, we’re doing that with United Way, Catholic Charities and the Collaboratory are working on those programs and those volunteers that are coming in,” Brady said

South District Director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Jennifer Carpenter spoke on the current role of the DEP in the recovery process. Just after Hurricane Ian, a priority for the DEP was restoring critical services, such as water and wastewater, she said People who came to help Greater Pine Island

Water Association told her some of the people currently employed by the utility continued working 24 hours a day to restore the island’s water, although they had no home after the hurricane

“That is something impressive to see,” Carpenter said of the resiliency of the island community

The DEP has grant money allocated to restore infrastructure, she said, as well as a n o v e r s i g h t r o l e i n d e b r i s r e m o v a l , including debris removal from marine areas

“We also have a role in authorizing things that need to be rebuilt We do have a final order that allows things that are in or over water docks, still houses, fill the kind of things that need to be rebuilt,” Carpenter said

Many of these things can be re-built the way they were, without an actual permit, she said, providing they meet certain criteria If there are complications, someone may need to ascertain a permit. They are here, she said, to help navigate the route through proper channels, if necessary “ W e w i l l h e l p y o u t h r o u g h t h a t process Any permits needed for rebuilding from Ian will be expedited our role is to support the recovery anything that we can do for you all we’re here to do that,” Carpenter said

N a t i o n a l F E M A D i r e c t H o u s i n g Mission Director Mike Piper reported Lee County alone received $2.8 billion for debris removal, national flood insurance, individual household programs, as well as other FEMA programs Pine Island alone, he said, has received almost $28 million

FEMA is currently looking at group sites for Pine Island and is currently approved to build 29 mobile home units with more being considered in Bokeelia, to house the remaining people without homes

“For the whole mission, it’s been an honor and a privilege to have me and my team help you all in the recovery,” Piper said

He assured everyone that his team is there to house those who need it, either temporarily or through rental assistance, FEMA’s hotel program, or with home repair

“We are still here at the disaster recovery center for assistance with appeals SBA is still there for small business administration loans, to help out what FEMA cannot help with,” Piper said

Greater Pine Island Water Association General Manager and Engineer Mikes Maillakakis spoke on the condition of the water utility, saying former management and directors made exceptional decisions, leaving the benefits to Greater Pine Island today

“We’re a small utility, but we’re scrappy We don’t have a lot of people, but we work hard, so we’re out there every day working trying to do the right thing for everyone,” Maillakakis said

District Chief Ben Mickuleit was asked to

His mission, he said, is to continue providing fire service as well as getting Advanced Life Support-equipped trucks, so each truck can carry a paramedic, as they have many medical related calls Damages to the department from Hurricane Ian totaled $1 5 million, he said.

“A concern we have is brush fire season There’s a lot of debris or vegetation still down all over the island that cannot be removed, so we are working with the Division of Forestry to work in mitigation,” Mickuleit said

Greater Pine Island Alliance founder and American Legion post commander Aaron Barreda reported, as recognized by the county, state and federal government as the long-term recovery group for Pine Island, that the GPIA received $100,000 f r o m t h e D i s a s t e r F u n d , t h r o u g h Volunteer Florida Costly comfort stations will be tapered back over the next few weeks, he said

If anyone needs to reach out the GPIA, they can visit, Team@gpialliance org