Midst what is predicted to be a hyperactive hurricane season, Charlotte County is still recovering from Hurricane Ian almost two years after the Category 4 storm made landfall. Til today Financial impact of Ian The total cost to the county is over $362 million.
District officials watched closely as Tropical Storm Debby barrelEd. through the county, causing water intrusion and flooding on some streets, particularly in historic downtown Punta Gorda and on a section of Beach Road on Manasota Key that closed on April 2. Charlotte-Sarasota county line.
But the damage caused was nothing compared to Ian At September. 28. 2022.
In February, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it has approved grants totaling $17,146,064 the district to clear debris after the hurricane.
The storm left behind large amounts of debriswhat to if there is a threat to public safety and health, district Officer sID.
Approximately 1,667,497 cubic yards of vegetative waste and 241,794 cubic yards of hurricane-related debris were removed from roads and public property. FEMA Officials said.
On 6 August Tthe district gave an update on the total damage by Hurricane Ian and what funds have been received so far. FEMA, so far scattered $48 million for the county, but a total of $242,300,833 is needed from the federal agency.
The total financial damage from Hurricane Ian is estimated at $362,021,150, but “this does not include the removal of debris from private roads and navigable canals; these costs were borne directly by the state,” district Press Secretary Brian Gleason said.
Charlotte County Projecting the impact of a hurricane Update lists funding sources needed for repairs, replacement and restoration work.
For FEMA alone, the forecast is 82,995,083 USD for rubble removal, 15,076,137 USD for emergency protection measures, $8,242,022 for Roads and bridges, $6,339,969 for Water control devices, $6,390,065 for Buildings and equipment, $2,360,020 for UtilityS, $113,128,174 for Parks and recreational facilities And $7,769,363 for administrative coststotal $242,300,833.
After final approval, FEMA commits the Florida Division of Emergency Management to fund projects. Once a project is committed to funding, FDEM works closely with applicants to complete the grant process and begin disbursement. According to FEMA’s website, FDEM has procedures in place to ensure grants are made available to local communities as quickly as possible.
About 50% of the repairs and replacements have been completed so far. District office ficials said.
Charlotte County has not had to take out any loans, but has set up a hurricane fund to cover all initial costs for anything that is not repaid. to the district’s reserves of value.
“We currently estimate that the county will need to raise approximately $26 million from reserves,” Gleason said.
To cover most of the remaining damage from Hurricane Ian, also asked the state for $11,864,527, and other funding agencies were asked to provide debris removal, road and bridge repairs, water control facilities and parks, recreation and other facilities with a total value of 22,323,084 USD.
The insurance forecast is $54,957,327 for emergency response, roads and bridges, buildings and equipment—the largest item totaling USD 45,389,171—Utilities and parks and recreation.
Senate Bill 4A was to provide $3,676,974 for all items, and the county’s share, as noted above, totaled $26,898,405.
In the meantime, the City of Punta Gorda is still struggling with Ian’s refunds. Assistant City MManager Melissa Reichert provided cost estimates for some of the projects that are still being bid and implemented.
“There are disputes with FEMA, too,” she said.
Damage estimates range between $46 million And 50 million US dollars, with an estimated 36 to 40 million US dollars Costs would be necessary just to repair the damaged embankments, said Reichert.
The city maintains the canal’s embankmentsAnd Taxpayers pay a sewer maintenance fee, The funds go into a reserve fund to pay maintenance and damage costs.
“At the moment, We assume that the majority of the damage will be covered by FEMA, the Florida Department of Emergency. MAdministration and insurance, with the city’s share being about $2 million to $3 million,” Reichert said.
If the damages are not covered, taxpayers will ultimately have to pay for the unreimbursed amount, she added.
But Reichert said the city “assumes that the situation can be managed through reserves that have been prudently set aside in anticipation of such events occurring.”
For the city hall building, which CMIS had already contracted to renovate, insured losses amount to $538,000 with a $65,000 deductible, she said.
“We have a spreadsheet with estimated costs as well as reimbursements from FEMA, state and insurance. At this point, some of the numbers are still questionable because the actual work is not yet completed., and FEMA has not provided the majority of the amounts the city is requesting reimbursement,” Reichert said.
City lights, signage and outdoor buildings and property are insured and covered by insurance, FEMA, FDEM and city funds. Infrastructure, including Sidewalks, piers, docks and seawalls are not covered and are expected to be reimbursed by FEMA (90%), FDEM (5%) and the City (5%), with the exception of seawalls that were already scheduled for replacement or already covered by FEMA.she said.
