Criticism of FEMA at Fort Myers hearing

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The U S House of Representatives Oversight Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a hearing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its response to Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers last week with Rep Byron Donalds (R-19) and other representatives seeking answers from FEMA officials over delays in providing trailers after the storm among other questions.

The members of the committee also h e a r d t e s t i m o n y f r o m l o c a l o f f i c i a l s , including Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Brian Hamman, Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson and former Sanibel Councilmember Chauncey Goss Donalds entered into the record statements from Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach as well

Tom McCool, federal coordinating official for FEMA, handled the brunt of the questions for the agency. Ian was the third-costliest hurricane in American history, and McCool said more than 50,000 homes were damaged by the storm

“Affordable housing remains a challenge for some survivors,” McCool said

McCool said 111 travel trailers were placed on properties in Lee County’s barrier islands, with 16 FEMA trailers still in place Some of those who had trailers, have now been moved into apartment rentals while their homes are repaired or their homes have been repaired, he said.

Donalds, whose district covers most of Lee County and Collier County, was most critical of the agency’s trailer policy

“There were two issues surrounding travel trailers The first was the initial deployment, which in my view took forever and a day considering the fact we had people who were instantly displaced The second concern was there was a concern with FEMA around FEMA’s regulation about putting trailers in a flood zone but Southwest Florida, we’re in a flood zone for the most part,” he said “The disaster is a flood zone ”

McCool said that if there is no practical solution, FEMA can put travel trailers in special flood hazard areas He said more than 900 trailers were placed in special flood hazard areas

Donalds was critical of the timeline for installing the trailers McCool said it took about 45 days to start getting the trailers

“Our administrative team of the county doesn’t have the confidence to fix or repair anything right now relating to county facilities or county infrastructure because until it gets an inspection by FEMA they are risking the reimbursement that could come from making those repairs.”

BRIAN HAMMAN Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman (District 4)

“There were two issues surrounding travel trailers The first was the initial deployment, which in my view took forever and a day considering the fact we had people who were instantly displaced The second concern was there was a concern with FEMA around FEMA’s regulation about putting trailers in a flood zone but Southwest Florida we’re in a flood zone for the most part ”

REP BYRON DONALDS

reimbursement that could come from making those repairs ”

Hamman said, “Many residents call us daily ‘Why haven’t you torn down the restrooms at Fort Myers Beach at Lynn Hall Memorial Park that look terrible?’ We are told we are not even allowed to touch them If we touch them, if we clean them, we are risking reimbursement ”

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers attended the proceedings though he didn’t speak at the hearing He met with congressmen on Fort Myers Beach afterwards along with FEMA and other federal officials in place to residents

“I’ve got residents who are out of a house,” Donalds said “The first couple days they are trying to figure out what is going on Then they make a request and then they are waiting 45-60 days and sometimes longer than that.”

McCool said there were thousands of households in transitional shelter assistance after Hurricane Ian

“I don’t think we could have worked any faster,” he said “We did very deliberate flood plain analysis ”

McCool said the agency couldn’t have worked any faster “This is a unique situation ”

Donalds said FEMA had to be “flexible enough” to respond quicker to disasters “so we don’t have to go through a bureaucratic workflow like this ”

Donalds asked McCool how residents were more safe living in damaged homes while they waited for the trailers

McCool said FEMA speaks 22 times to survivors before they go into a trailer and they have to evaluate and identify sites “All of that takes time ”

Donalds also questioned why there was a delay in getting FEMA inspectors to the county to inspect work

McCool said more than 150 inspectors are on the ground and Lee County School District’s inspections would be completed within the next two weeks

D o n a l d s s a i d h e r e q u e s t e d m o r e inspectors for his district months ago without a response

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers went on a tour on Fort Myers Beach with several congressmen including Rep Byron Donalds and other federal officials though no media members were invited.

Hamman, in his testimony, blamed a lack of FEMA inspectors on the delay in r e b u i l d i n g d a m a g e d c o u n t y s t r u c t u r e s such as Lynn Hall Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach

“It didn’t help that FEMA initially blamed its slow process on our local land development code This triggered waves of distrust,” Hamman said “FEMA needed more of its inspectors here sooner rather than later ”

Hamman said, “Our administrative team of the county doesn’t have the confidence to fix or repair anything right now relating to county facilities or county infrastructure because until it gets an inspection by FEMA, they are risking the

“It was a chance to show them the examples of things that went right and where there still needs to be improvement in the process that they heard during the hearing,” Allers said “Our focus was to share that although the response with people on the ground was swift, the ultimate decision making was far from that, leaving our residents without homes, money, or answers to their questions We thank them for their willingness to hear our constructive feedback and commitment to implement changes to the process ”

The media was not invited to the tour of the island. Allers said security was of the utmost priority to the congressmen

“The tour of the island was a lastminute decision and security was of the utmost importance for capital security,” Allers said It was not clear what, if any potential security issues existed

The tour took place during a Town of Fort Myers Beach Council management and planning session

Renderings Provided

Neptune

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The hotel was a “good performing asset” for the owners before the hurricane, he said “It was a dated resort ”

Under the current proposal, there would be a parking garage with two levels and four stories for the hotel above that, Vanasse said. There will be two pools, like before

“They want to honor the past of what the Neptune used to be - very family-oriented, but they are looking to the future to meet today’s expectations,” he said Among the new additions will be amenities such as a public restaurant, a ballroom that could host weddings, a meeting room and a new tiki bar with more public access.

“The consumer today is different than the 1960s,”

Vanasse said

The plans would also include a gathering place for neighbors and the public to enjoy the sunsets

In addition, the plans call for improving the public beach access by widening the access point near Mango Street. The owners would also construct 16 public parking spaces along Delmar Avenue, Vanasse said