At a briefing this morning at the State Emergency Operations Center governor Ron DeSantis said Lee & Collier Counties are basically off the grid and it’s going to take more than reconnecting lines to restore power to many people but is more of an infrastructure issue at this point.
He said more than 100 portable cell towers are being deployed in southwest Florida so cell service remains intermittent across the region.
The state has deployed more than 100 engineers to begin checking the structural integrity of bridges before they can re-open. The Sanibel Causeway and Pine Island Bridge both sustained serious damage and will remain impassible indefinitely.
FEMA has activated its individual assistance program…call 1-800-621-262 or go to FEMA.gov to register. The program provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs.
Florida Division of Emergency Management director, Kevin Guthrie, said they had already received more than 15000 inputs from people who are sheltering in place to the states shelter in place system.
If you need help register at floridadisaster.org/report.
If your home has sustained damage due to storms, follow these guidelines from the Charlotte County Community Development Department.
Monitor the progress of the building permit and inspections on the Charlotte County Citizen Access Portal: www.charlottecountyfl.gov. Call 941-743-1201 with any questions.
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