If you missed the October meeting of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association yesterday, then you missed a host of information about post-Hurricane Helene happenings. Click to watch the full meeting recording. Keep reading for some key takeaways.
Meeting Highlights
- Lee County Commissioner and Vice Chair Kevin Ruane provided an overview of how the hurricane is impacting the county and the resources that Islanders have available:
- County officials are expecting less in FEMA reimbursement from Hurricane Helene because, while some areas of the county had severe damage, the total impacts countywide are much smaller than during Ian. Regardless, the county will still be providing services to impacted areas.
- Federal funding dollars are stretched given the size of Hurricane Helene and some of the extreme impacts faced in areas to our north, including north Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
- The newest disaster should not impact the funding we expect for Hurricane Ian recovery.
- Regular trash collection has resumed and hurricane debris removal has begun. The county will work hard to expedite hurricane debris pickup in areas like Pine Island in advance of any expected adverse weather. **Please keep an eye on the forecast. There are systems developing as you read this!
- Mr. Ruane said last night that the county was considering opening remote permitting offices in impacted areas as the county did after Hurricane Ian. [Today, the county put out a notice that a remote permitting office will indeed be opening on the island, with the dates, location and times still to be set.]
- Greater Pine Island Alliance’s Co-Founder Aaron Barreda and Executive Director Erin Lollar Lambert also provided an overview of what’s been happening on the ground on the island.
- Because areas to our north were so hard hit, many of the volunteer groups that helped Islanders after Ian have deployed resources to those places. That means Islanders will play an even bigger role in helping friends and neighbors this time around. If you were spared damage from Helene and can help in any way — from answering office phones, to providing skilled or unskilled labor — please consider volunteering at the GPIA. Click here to sign up to volunteer or stop in the office.
- If you need help: Here are three ways you can reach out for help:
- Click here to fill out the “Get Help” form on the GPIA website;
- Stop by their office in person: 10484 Stringfellow Road, Suite 2, St. James City, FL 33956. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fridays.
- Call 239.558.4901
- The GPIA has flood recovery buckets donated by the American Red Cross available for pickup at their offices.
- If you have questions about dealing with insurance, the GPIA is arranging for United Policy Holders — a consumer-focused nonprofit organization — to come back. Watch the GPIA facebook page for updates.