Hurricane Ian Resources & Information

Business Damage Assessment Form

While our community rebuilds in the wake of Hurricane Ian, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce stays committed to helping our business community. We kindly request that our membership complete the Business Damage Assessment Form below to aid us in our efforts to help our membership rebuild, direct business affiliates to the best resources available and provide step-by-step guidance through any processes encountered. *Please note our assessment responses will not be made public.

FILL OUT BUSINESS DAMAGE ASSESSMENT FORM

Important Articles

Governor Ron DeSantis Activates the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, Making $50 Million Available – At Least $10 Million of Which Must Go to Assist Agricultural Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Ian

View Article

IRS Disaster Assistance and Emergency Relief for Individuals and Businesses

Victims of #HurricaneIan in Florida now have until Feb. 15, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Details on this and other Ian-related relief from #IRS at www.irs.gov/disaster IRS extends deadlines, provides tax relief for victims of #HurricaneIan in Florida.

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Volunteer/Donation Opportunities

If you’re looking to donate or volunteer, we recommend contacting the Red Cross, Volunteer Florida, and United Way by calling 2-1-1.

Emergency Resources

FEMA – Disaster victims can obtain additional information and apply for disaster assistance through FEMA in various ways. Phone: (800) 621-FEMA (3362)

Business Damage Assessment Survey – The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Ian.

FloridaDisaster.biz – Updates will be made with recovery programs and resources as they become available.

Enterprise Florida Resource Page – For any businesses affected by Hurricane Ian, Enterprise Florida has launched a Disaster Assistance Resources Page with a list of state and federal resources available for businesses to utilize in their mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.

Small Business Disaster Assistance – Florida SBDC – At a BRC, SBA and SBDC disaster specialists will be available to answer questions about available disaster loans and help small business owners with their disaster applications.

Disaster Assistance – SBA Disaster Loan – Businesses of all sizes located in declared disaster areas, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters affected by declared disasters, including civil unrest and natural disasters such as hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires can qualify.

IRS Excise Tax – IRS will waive tax penalties on disasters on a case-by-case basis. Phone: (800) 829-1040

State Assistance Information Line – The State Assistance Information Line (SAIL) is a toll-free hotline activated at the time of an emergency to provide an additional resource for those in Florida to receive accurate and up-to-date information regarding an emergency or disaster situation impacting Florida. SAIL hotline: 800-342-3557

Florida Housing Finance Corporation

If your family has been displaced, we encourage you to visit www.FloridaHousingSearch.org. This free, statewide search platform is updated to ensure all listings are accurate and can help you quickly locate an affordable rental property. Phone: 1-877-428-8844.

If your home sustained damage as a result of the storm, your local State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program office may have recovery assistance available to help with temporary relocation, rental assistance, debris removal, and/or home repairs. Please contact your local SHIP office directly for more information:

Florida Vacation Rentals – Beach Houses, Condos & More (floridarentals.com)
Short term lodging for guests, recovery workers and adjusters, here you can find many furnished homes and condos available!

Lee County Government Resources –

Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and visit leegov.com/storm for the most up-to-date information on the county’s recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian You can also catch up on recent press conferences and watch helpful videos, such as the generator safety video to the right, on our YouTube Channel.

Municipalities –

Six municipalities serve Lee County residents including the City of Bonita Springs, the City of Cape Coral, the Village of Estero, the City of Fort Myers, the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the City of Sanibel. If you are looking for information specific to a municipality, please visit their respective website (linked above) and follow their social media channels.

Local Utilities –

Lee County Government can only provide updates on behalf of Lee County Utilities regarding water restoration progress and boil water advisories. For information specific to your home, consult your utility provider’s website and social media channels. For updates on power restoration throughout the area, please consult local providers LCEC (Lee County Electric Cooperative) and FPL (Florida Power & Light).

Resource Pages

Additional Information

ROADWAY SAFETY

The National Guard and police from across Florida are here to assist our officers. Some intersections are working using generator power. For the intersections still not working, treat them like a four-way stop.

DEBRIS CLEAN-UP

Lee County Solid Waste garbage collection will resume Monday, Oct. 3, on the normally scheduled day for all routes in Lee County franchise areas that are accessible to collection trucks. This collection is for household garbage only − everyday trash items and all spoiled food. Collection of recycling will resume at a later time.

Clearing the City’s streets is a top priority. Crews have cleared approximately 3,000 miles of major roadways and local roads. Call 311 if you identify any streets that were not cleared.

MAIL DELIVERY

The U.S. Postal Service Florida 2 District has resumed delivery and retail operations in much of Central and Southwest Florida. Earlier this week, some postal operations were temporarily suspended, due to Hurricane Ian. Residential and business customers who are serviced by the following offices can expect mail and package delivery to resume as early as Friday, Sept. 30.

FAQ

Who is taking care of the trees down on residential developed property?

It is the responsibility of the property owner to place all hurricane related debris at the curb to be picked-up by the debris removal contractor. Volunteer or non-profit organizations may be able to assist property owners with debris removal.

Who is taking care of the trees down on residential vacant property/vacant lots?

The property owner is responsible to coordinate the placement of all hurricane related debris at the curb to be picked-up by the debris removal contractor. If debris is not removed in a reasonable time the City will remove the debris and bill the property owner.

Who is taking care of the trees down on commercial property?

It is the responsibility of the property owner/site manager to dispose of its debris. FEMA will not reimburse the City for this removal.

What should I do if I see a stop sign, street sign or channel marker damaged or missing?

Report the issue to 311.

I live out of town and cannot reach a family member. Can someone check on her to make sure they are okay?

Please call the Police Department’s non-emergency number at (239) 477-1000.

How am I advised if I need to boil water?

Boil Water Notice Hotline – 239-533-8575. To check the status of a BWN, you may call the Hotline at 239-533-8575. Our hotline is updated daily by 4:30 p.m. each day. View Website

What should I do? What does this mean?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

For wastewater/sewer backups who should I call?

Call 311.

I need assistance clearing my private property who can help me?

Residents can call the United Way at 211 or visit https://www.disasterassistance.gov/. For residents who do not have internet access they can call 800-621-FEMA.

Need help?

If you need assistance with damage from Hurricane Ian, call (800) 451-1954. Crisis Cleanup will connect you with volunteers who may be able to assist.

CIRCUIT BREAKER:

*Turn off the breaker. If you have a roof leak, TURN OFF your circuit breaker even if you have no power. When the power is eventually restored, this could cause a fire for underlying electrical issues.

GENERATOR:

*Do not “back feed” power. You MUST have a dedicated outlet for your generator. It would be best if you were not back-feeding to a breaker manually. A licensed electrician must properly install your outlet and breaker. If it is not, it causes the potential to back feed, causing significant hazards.

What is back-feeding? Back feeding is tying a portable generator directly to your home’s electrical panel instead of using a transfer switch. It is dangerous, often illegal, and it should never be attempted under any circumstance. Back feeding will put you and others, including utility workers, at serious risk for electrocution and/or electrical fire.

*Be aware of hazards. Awareness is key to safe generator use. Common hazards include shocks and electrocution from incorrect use, carbon monoxide (CO) from a generator’s exhaust, fires from improper refueling or fuel storage, and noise/vibration hazards.

*Proper ventilation is key. Do not use a gasoline-powered generator within 20 feet of any window, door, or vent. Don’t run a generator in a garage, even with the door open.

*Stay Grounded. Always follow the owner’s manual instructions on how to “ground” the generator.

*Keep generators dry and clear of debris. Clear 3 to 4 feet around the generator to create airflow space to avoid a fire. Never run generators in the rain or when wet. Place the generator in a dry area or under an open canopy structure.

*Avoid electrical hazards. Plug appliances directly into the generator. If you must use an extension cord, it should be 3-pronged, grounded, heavy-duty, and labeled for outdoor use.

*Organize your cords. Keep cords out of the way but in plain view to avoid slips, trips, and falls. Check cords regularly for damage (such as cuts or fraying) that could cause a fire.

*Hot. Hot. Hot. Even if operated for a short time, generator exteriors can quickly become hot. If you must touch the generator, wear protective gear. To avoid electric shock or electrocution, do not try to fix or work on a generator while it is on or plugged in.

*Be prepared and aware. Always keep a fully charged fire extinguisher nearby. If you or others show symptoms of CO poisoning – light-headedness, dizziness, tiredness, or nausea – go outside immediately for fresh air, and seek medical attention.