September 21, 2017 4:57 pm

Information to assist you is below:

Hurricane Irma documents are available online.
People seeking Lee Board of County Commissioner resolutions, such as evacuation orders, from Hurricane Irma can find these documents atwww.LeeEOC.com in the center of the page.
Residents may need these documents when making insurance claims, applying for FEMA assistance or other reasons.

Contractors
Look out for illegitimate unlicensed contractors who may prey upon homeowners affected by Hurricane Irma. Unlicensed contracting is illegal.
Obtain at least three estimates from licensed and bonded contractors; get the estimate in writing; ask for and check references; ask for proof of insurance; get a written contract;
and make sure all work that requires city or county inspection is officially approved in writing before a final payment is made.
For a list of reliable licensed contractors, contact the Lee BIA at bia.net.Also, for financial protection, call the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) at (850) 487-1395 or visit www.myfloridalicense.com.
Otherwise, to report unlicensed activity, contact DBPR at (866) 532-1440, as well as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, homeowners can report incidents of price gouging by calling (866) 9NO-SCAM.

Need help?
Call the Bonita Assistance Office at 239-992-3034. They are open now! Volunteers can also register to help at 239-992-3034.
A resource meeting was held with local charities to be sure they are coordinating needs. We will share updates as we have them. The Assistance Office is still primary contact.
For those seeking a cooling charging option, they can contact Assistance Office as well.

Need childcare? Sports Club will open at the Bonita Springs Recreation Center on Monday, September 18th for ages 5-12 years old. The center has electricity and air conditioning.
The hours of operations will be 7 am until 6:30 pm. The cost will be $90 for the week or $18 per day. They are waiving the registration fee. For more information about Sports club, please call 239 784-7630 or 239 537-1004.
All curfews have been lifted for Lee County.

FEMA Town Hall Meeting
Please join Mayor Peter Simmons at the FEMA Town Hall Meeting on Friday, September 22, 2017 at 6:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church located at 9751 Bonita Beach Road. Bonita Springs residents with losses due to Hurricane Irma are eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. FEMA representatives will be at the town hall meeting to discuss FEMA eligibility and answer your questions.

 

Motorists still urged to use caution with standing water in Bonita Springs area

Motorists are still urged to use caution with standing water in Bonita Springs area, according to the Lee County Department of Transportation.
These roads remain posted with signs related to standing water:

• Bonita Grande Bl at Bonita Beach Rd
• Bonita Grande Dr at E. Terry St
• E. Terry St at Kent Rd

 

USPS
Bonita Springs PO service status as of September 21st 12:00pm.
Both Post Office Retail units at 26150 Old 41 Rd and 9071 Bonita Beach Rd operating and providing full customer service. Telephone lines have no connection at the Bonita Springs PO on Old 41 Rd.

 

No delivery made due to the flooding and damages:
-70 deliveries (Lake Shalimar Dr, Rue de Paix, River view Dr) flooding
-32 deliveries (Worthington community) flooding
-20 deliveries (Imperial Harbor Estates) mailboxes down
-21 deliveries (Kent, Jefferson Ln, Tower Rd) flooding
-15 deliveries (Downs, Edith) flooding
-196 deliveries (Chapman, Pawley, Saunders, McKenna, Dean, Quinn, Imperial Bonita Estates community – Bourbonniere Dr) flooding.
Total of 354 deliveries.

Mail pick up is available for impacted street addresses at our Main Post Office at 26150 Old 41 Rd from 8am to 6pm Monday – Saturday.

 

BSU Update:

At this time, power has been restored to almost all sewer lift stations. We continue to manually pump those stations without power using portable generators.
You may be experiencing a foul smell in your neighborhood. This is primarily due to standing water and rotting organic matter from the floodwaters and debris. In most cases this is not coming from the sewer system. As in any tropical climate, please stay out of any standing water for health reasons. If you believe there is a problem with sewer service in your area, please contact us at 992-0711.
Please check the “Service Alerts” section of our website, www.bsu.us, for any boil water notices.

 

 

Community Development:
Building Officials and inspectors began a citywide assessment of structural of structural damage. Those inspections continue this week.

strong>Additional Information from yesterday’s update that is still relevant.

Update from state Department of Health in Lee County: Beaches test normal

Bacterial testing of Lee County beaches has determined that all are within normal levels. No beaches are under a post-Hurricane Irma advisory. Results are located Here

 

Hurricane Irma’s Impact on Mosquito Populations
Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) is predicting a large mosquito outbreak as a result of Hurricane Irma’s heavy rains and flooding. Coastal and inland areas have expansive areas of standing water, which will produce large numbers of mosquitoes.
Treatments to control adult mosquitoes will begin Sept. 18th between the hours of 9 PM and 2 AM. Residents of Lee County may encounter adult mosquitoes for several days before experiencing relief from LCMCD control efforts. Areas with the highest numbers of adult mosquitoes and that are without power will be treated first. Many areas still have debris and flooding preventing ground control of adult mosquitoes. LCMCD suggests individuals consider using repellent to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Animal Industries, preventing animals from exposure to adult mosquitoes is important. Horses should be stabled inside during peak mosquito feeding times, which are dawn and dusk. Use of mosquito-resistant devices such as well-maintained insect screening and fans may reduce potential access of mosquitoes to equine and other livestock hosts. Horse owners should use repellents approved for use on horses, but the effectiveness of some formulations under certain conditions (e.g., rain, perspiration) may be limited. Always follow label instructions. Residents are encouraged to contact their veterinarian for advice on mosquito protection measures for pets and livestock, especially for heartworm disease. To report mosquito concerns please call 239-694-2174.

To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes, the Department of Health recommends that individuals remain diligent in their personal prevention efforts. These should include the following for prevention:

• Apply repellent. Using mosquito repellent is one of the most important ways to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
• Wear light colored clothing that covers most of your skin.
• Ensure or restore all window and door screens are secure and functional.
• Check around your home to rid the area of standing water, which is where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Areas to check: clear rain gutters so that water can drain, keep pools chlorinated, flush or treat bromeliad plants, change water in birdbaths once a week, remove obstructions to water flow in drainage ditches, and remove, cover, invert or dump containers that hold water.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tips on Repellent Use:
• Always read label directions carefully for the approved usage before you apply a repellent. Some repellents are not suitable for children.
• Products with concentrations of up to 30 percent DEET are generally recommended. Other effective mosquito repellents contain Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Look for active ingredients listed on the product label.
• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin, or onto clothing, but not under clothing.
• In protecting children, read label instructions to be sure the repellent is age-appropriate. According to the CDC, mosquito repellents containing oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under the age of three years. DEET is not recommended on children younger than two months old.
• Infants should be kept indoors, or mosquito netting should be used over carriers when mosquitoes are present.
• Avoid applying repellents to the hands of children. Adults should apply repellent first to their own hands and then transfer it to the child’s skin and clothing.

FEMA
Florida residents with losses due to Hurricane Irma in nine Florida counties are now eligible for Federal Disaster Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.

Individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

Applicants will need the following to apply: Social security number, daytime telephone number, current mailing address and address and zip code of the damaged property, and private insurance information, if available.

Questions about Your Determination Letter

FEMA applicants who have been notified they were ineligible for assistance can have FEMA revisit their cases.

Applicants must read their letters carefully. It should explain any problems that could be corrected. You may need to provide additional information or documents. If a mistake has been made, they should let FEMA know right away by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center.

Everyone has the right to appeal any FEMA decision. Appeals may relate to eligibility, the amount or type of help provided, a late application, a request to return money, or continuing help. If you were determined ineligible due to insurance coverage—but had under insured or uninsured losses—you can appeal the decision by submitting your insurance settlement paperwork.

The appeal must be sent and postmarked within 60 days after you receive the letter.

Explain in writing why you think the decision about the amount or type of assistance is not correct.

When submitting the letter, the applicant needs to include his or her full name, their nine digit FEMA registration number and the 4 digit disaster number.

Sign the letter. It must be notarized and accompany a copy of a state-issued identification card. If you cannot do that, write: “I hereby declare under the penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”

Date the appeal letter and include the FEMA application number and the disaster number (DR-4337) and mail or fax it to:

FEMA National Processing Service Center
P. O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
FAX: 800-827-8112; Attention: FEMA

You can also visit any Disaster Recovery Center to submit your appeal. Find the DRC nearest you by visiting the Disaster Recovery Center Locator page.

Printable and Downloadable Information:
Questions about Your Determination Letter – Click Here
What to do if you disagree with FEMA’S Decision Letter – Click Here

City of Bonita Scheduling
The Bonita Springs budget Hearing has been rescheduled to Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 5:05 p.m. The final Budget Hearing date is October 4, 2017 at 5:05 p.m. Parks remain closed at this time. Parks are closed at this time. Recreation Center to open on Friday.

Streets are 99% cleared of obstructions. Bonita Springs is continuing to monitor the flooding. As flood water recedes, the city will be removing additional roadway obstructions in affected areas.

The following building permit fees have been approved to be waived. Fees relating to damage from Hurricane Irma for the following permits: roofing permits- singe family and multifamily residential, screen enclosures and sheds. For more information,
please call community development at 239-444-6150.
There are several agencies also assisting with aid in the area. Lee County Human & Veteran Services, United Way, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Catholic Charities and more. For a full list of organizations, go to. www.unitedwaylee.org

Lee County Business Owners
If your business was damaged by Hurricane Irma we strongly encourage you to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once registered you may apply for a Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loan.

Click the link below for complete and detailed information regarding U.S. Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance.

Click the link below for additional disaster assistance programs that may be available for Lee County business affected by Hurricane Irma.
Additional Disaster Assistance Resources

FPL
FPL crews are restoring power safely and as quickly as possible.
They estimate that they will have restored power for customers along the west coast service territory by end of day, Sept. 22, with the possible exception of areas impacted by tornadoes, severe flooding and other pockets of severe damage.

They urge customers to be safe; avoid downed power lines and standing water. Visit FPL.com for information.

 

Bonita Springs Utilities
Bonita Springs Utilities, Inc.’s offices at 11900 East Terry Street are open for business. Go to BSU.us for information updates.

 

Solid Waste
Regular household garbage collections have begun and will continue to proceed on the regularly scheduled collection days. Recycling and yard waste are suspended and will resume at a later date.

The City of Bonita Springs contractors will begin storm debris removal on Monday, September 18th on areas where Hurricane Irma has generated storm debris to the extent that these areas can be safely accessed to perform debris removal.
Residents of impacted areas that can safely do so, are asked to place any storm-generated debris on the public right-of-way.

The public right-of-way is the area of residential property that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement. Residents are urged to separate the debris as follows:

• VEGETATIVE DEBRIS (whole trees, tree stumps, tree branches, tree trunks and other leafy material)
• CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS (damaged components of buildings and structures such lumber and wood, wall board, glass, metal, roofing materials, tile, furnishings, and fixtures)
• HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE (materials that are ignitable, reactive, toxic or corrosive such as paints, cleaners, pesticides, etc.)
• WHITE GOODS (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, heat pumps, ovens, ranges, washing machines, clothes dryers and water heaters)
• ELECTRONIC WASTE (computers, televisions, office electronic equipment, etc.)

Only loose debris will be collected, bagged debris should not be placed on the public right-of-way.
Do not place debris near a water meter vault, fire hydrant or any other above-ground utility. Only debris placed on the public right-of-way will be eligible for collection until further notice.
The attached flyer provides residents with a visual overview of the proper method to set debris on the right-of-way.
The City of Bonita Springs urges all residents to make personal safety a top priority, and only set out debris if it is safe to do so at this time.