In Ian’s Wake

This historic storm brought with it several attendant issues

BY DICK HOGAN

When Hurricane Ian brought its almost-Category 5 winds and storm surge to Southwest Florida on September 28, it created a worstcase scenario for thousands of homeowners who experienced record-breaking devastation wrought by flooding and roof and other property damage. By dawn the following day, residents and property owners immediately began picking up the pieces as several post-hurricane issues began to emerge.

Insurance Issues

Not surprisingly, one industry that’s been in overdrive in Ian’s aftermath is the insurance industry. By the end of October, David M. Arter, Jr, private lines department manager at Private Client Insurance Services, had handled nearly 2,000 Ian-related claims in four weeks. “There was a point when my daily goal was just to keep my voicemail from filling up,” he says.

Look at hard-hit areas in Lee County—Estero Island was covered by 15 feet of surge and Sanibel, Captiva, Matlacha, and Pine islands suffered brutal, widespread damages—and it’s easy to understand the volume of claims. One of Arter’s Sanibel clients reported that almost nine feet of water coursed through their home. When there is water damage, insurance adjusters use the high-water mark on walls to determine the difference between flood damage and water damage caused by wind.

Standard homeowner insurance policies do not cover flood damage, so homeowners who live in a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)designated flood zone can buy separate flood insurance. People who own their homes without a mortgage are not required to buy flood insurance, though those who have mortgages must have flood coverage.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, only 18 percent—1 in 5—of Florida's 10 million homes are covered by flood insurance. Eighty percent of flood insurance policies in the state are from the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which is managed by FEMA. Congress created NFIP in 1968 “to share the financial risks of flood and restrict development in floodplains. Even for those who have NFIP, however, payouts may not be enough to cover their losses.”

Flood insurance coverage through the NFIP covers: Single-family homes and two- to four-family residential structures are limited to $250,000 in damages. Other residential buildings and non-residential buildings are capped at $500,000. For contents-only policies, residences are limited to $100,000 in damages, while the contents of commercial and other structures are capped at $500,000.

Home insurance policies offer windstorm coverage, but it is not mandatory if you own your home and many choose not to pay extra for the coverage or a separate windstorm policy that covers water damage that was “wind-driven” or caused by wind,

such as a punctured roof or window or rapid stormwater run-off that causes overflowing swales. The cost of wind insurance in Florida varies depending on several factors, including a home’s value, location, and how it was built. Policies are more expensive in coastal areas.

State law requires insurance companies to offer discounted windstorm insurance rates to residents who buy homes with wind mitigation features or install them. To qualify for discounts, a certified inspector must make sure certain wind-resistant features are installed, such as: Impact-resistant doors and windows, roof truss clips, hurricane straps, and storm shutters. (Florida owners of single-family homes with an insured value of $500,000 or less and a homestead exemption are eligible for credits toward a free inspection.)

Finding Rentals

Many in Southwest Florida recognize that Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island was ground zero for Ian’s storm surge with thousands of houses swept away. Throughout the region, people were scrambling for another place to live. “You’ve got a lot of people who were displaced, and the rental market was very tight even before the hurricane,” says Mike Hughes, vice president and general manager for Downing-Frye Realty. “After the hurricane, it was worse. Where are people going to live?”

Standard flood insurance policies don’t include money for housing. And homeowners insurance will only pay for temporary housing up to 10 or 20 percent of the amount for which your dwelling is insured if there is a wind declaration —and the homeowner can prove their dwelling is uninhabitable because of wind, not water. “It’s looked at as ‘reasonable expenses,’” Arter says. “If you’re living in a small, modest home, they don’t expect you to be staying at The Ritz-Carlton. It’s got to be reasonable.”

Further complicating the issue is a drastic shortage of rental housing in Southwest Florida—and escalating rent costs. As a result, some people displaced after Ian are simply packing up and leaving.

Collier County experienced less displacement than Lee but for businesses throughout Southwest Florida, the problem is regional, says Greater Naples Chamber President/CEO Michael Dalby. “It’s not a secret that a good part of our workforce lives in Lee County,” Dalby says. “And the scale of the damage and impacts in Lee County, combined with the impacts in Collier County, have certainly led to a significant number of displaced workers.”

Some have managed to stay in the area, “but there’s also a number of them that have left the area. It remains to be seen if those

FEDERAL AID BY THE NUMBERS

After the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Ian, Collier County residents had received more than $61.6 million in federal funds as of October 31: $25.8 MILLION in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters, and businesses $35.8 MILLION in FEMA grants to 12,991 homeowners and renters through its Individuals and Households Program. This includes: → $23,950,263 in housing assistance for home repair or replacement, and/or rental assistance → $11,900,333 in “other needs” assistance to replace essential household items and for other critical disaster-related expenses → 2,681 homeowners and renters approved for rental assistance → 7,159 home inspections issued; 6,992 completed → 4,579 households in Collier County visited by Disaster Survivor Assistance agents (Source: Florida Attorney General’s Office)

individuals will be coming back,” Dalby says. “Certainly, we have heard from employers that Ian only made it tougher to regain employees and to attract new employees into the area.”

Especially in demand, Dalby reports, are “skilled tradesmen and credentialed professionals—any field where you’ve got to have a certified worker. We were already tight in that labor market and it’s only gotten tighter.”

So far, he’s seen no signs that supply chain issues with construction materials worsened. “There were already challenges getting things like faucets and appliances; I haven’t heard that Ian impacted that.”

In the long term, Dalby’s optimistic there will be a strong economic recovery. “Southwest Florida has proven to be incredibly resilient, and it’s a place where people still want to be,” Dalby says.

Taking it to the Curb: Debris Disposal

After a hurricane, people tend to move fast to clean up yard debris. With the severity of Ian, they were also hauling sodden household contents to the curb, followed by demolition materials, such as drywall, cabinetry, and appliances wrecked in floodwaters. Long-time residents who’ve experienced post-hurricane life probably knew that there are rules that guide debris separation and curb placement. But those who got to work and piled it all together, or in the wrong place, were deflated to learn afterwards that their piles may not be picked up.

Collier County has specific guidelines in place for any storm. Residents are asked to place all yard debris curbside in the right-ofway as soon as possible. The right-of-way is the area of residential property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole, or easement. It’s also important to prevent debris from clogging drainage swales and driveway culverts, which can create blockages and more drainage problems.

Collier County Solid & Hazardous Waste Division debris separation rules state:

→ Place storm-related yard waste in a separate pile. Do not mix yard waste with household trash or construction/demolition debris.

Yard waste must be kept in a separate pile.

Piles of yard debris mixed with other waste will not be collected. → Do not put yard waste in bags. Only loose debris will be collected. Keep vegetative debris (such as limbs, extracted stumps and shrubbery) separated from construction and demolition debris, as it will be.

→ Household hazardous waste (paints, solvents, etc.) cannot be mixed with household debris.

→ Do not stack or lean debris near or on trees, utility poles, or other structures, including fire hydrants, water meters, or backflow prevention devices as that makes removal difficult and could lead to property damage.

Place the debris at the edge of your property before the curb.

→ Avoid blocking the road, driveways, sidewalks, mailboxes, water meters, fire hydrants, and utility poles.

Call the Collier County Solid & Hazardous Waste Division at 239-252-2380 for more information.

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