FEMA, city host packed town hall
There was a packed house, a packed overflow outside council chambers and a lot of angry residents who couldn’t get into City Hall at all as the city and FEMA hosted a heavily attended town hall meeting Thursday. CHUCK BALLARO
Kevin Guthrie, of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, speaks during a FEMA Town Hall meeting at City Hall on Thursday. CHUCK BALLARO
City officials announced the opening of a new disaster recovery center at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., which is the Lake Kennedy Community Center. The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened this morning and will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There was a packed house, a packed overflow outside council chambers and a lot of angry residents who couldn’t get into City Hall at all as the city and FEMA hosted a heavily attended town hall meeting Thursday. CHUCK BALLARO
Kevin Guthrie, of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, speaks during a FEMA Town Hall meeting at City Hall on Thursday. CHUCK BALLARO
City officials announced the opening of a new disaster recovery center at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., which is the Lake Kennedy Community Center. The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened this morning and will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Update:
Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened at the Lake Kennedy Center on Friday will temporarily close.
The DRC will be closed from Wednesday through Friday, with it reopening on Saturday, weather conditions permitting officials said.
While this storm isn't expected to impact Cape Coral significantly, heavy rainfall is expected for mid- to late-week.
The Lake Kennedy Center is at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd.
Original post:
There was a packed house, a packed overflow into the hallway and a lot of angry residents who couldn't get into City Hall at all as the city of Cape Coral and FEMA hosted an informational town hall Thursday.
The town meeting was jointly organized to allow residents impacted by Hurricane Ian to get information on what FEMA does, the “50 percent rule” that restricts rebuilds and other information on how they can rebuild their lives, their homes and get back to a semblance of normalcy.
"We want to give you the resources that you need. This is a very complex situation, but we have the best state and federal representatives here to try to explain that process so you can go in the direction you need," Mayor John Gunter said.
The experts answered questions on the 50-percent rule, what happens to flood insurance, assistance for small business, and our neighbors, dealing only with reputable contractors and more.
Cape Coral Fire Department Chief Ryan Lamb also announced the opening of a new disaster recovery center at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., which is the Lake Kennedy Community Center. The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opened this morning and will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Because of the small venue and the lack of alternative places to hold the meeting, many were unable to get into the building, which made more than few people angry, preferring to watch in person (or suggesting they hold multiple meetings) than on Cape TV or on YouTube later.
Ryan Bubenheimer and his wife, Christine, lost their home in the storm and did not have flood insurance. They said FEMA only gave them $2,900 for rental assistance. Their home on Tower Drive, near the Yacht Club, was flooded out, forcing them to weather the storm standing on top of a table.
They lost their vehicles, one of which was almost brand new and another Ryan uses for work as a contractor. They also lost all the furnishing and wanted to know what to do next.
"There are TVs in the hallway but you can't hear them. You're trying to read the dialogue from across the room," Ryan said. "I don't think they thought they would have this turnout," Ryan said.
"They should have chosen a different venue. There are a lot of angry people," Christine asked. "My salary at Panera isn't going to cut the mustard."
Residents who couldn't attend the meeting can watch it on YouTube or Cape TV at their convenience.
Tina Gerard, who came on behalf of her son's family, which lost everything in the storm, said FEMA made a "valiant attempt" to try to help people understand a very complicated situation.
"I'm trying to process this and help them make a decision on their home. It's a complicated situation without a one-on-one meeting with someone helping you," Gerard said. "The younger generation can't really figure this out. The best resource would be a middle person."
Audrey Noel said the city has to do better making sure contractors build houses of better quality.
"My home had water seeping through it and that should never happen. I saw a house next to me and I could see the work done through the walls," Noel said "I learned a few things. Anything they have and you understand it, you get something. I didn't know I could go face-to-face with FEMA tomorrow."
Gunter said they looked at other venues, but decided on council chambers because it had the Cape TV option that other venues didn't.
Gunter said things went well, even if the turnout was greater than capacity.
"I hope between the information we gave here and the direction to go to the new recovery center. We've given residents an option where to go," Gunter said. "I think people walked away with more information than they had."