POST-STORM UPDATES - OCTOBER 11, 2022

Dear Residents, Businesses, and Visitors,

It’s been 14 days since we began feeling the effects of Hurricane Ian, as it approached the west coast of the Florida peninsula with near Category 5 winds and a devastating storm surge that submerged most of Naples and destroyed communities to our north. The damage left in the wake of Ian is unprecedented and the recovery efforts will be unlike storms of the past. Naples will be beautiful again, but it will take a collective and coordinated effort (and a lot of patience) to see us through the weeks and months ahead. 

We understand the major points of frustration are related to electricity, cable and internet services, debris removal, safety and security, and FEMA assistance. Please know that your Mayor, City Council, and City Staff are working night and day to ensure that the recovery process happens as fast and safely as possible. But we cannot do it alone, as we rely on the private utilities to do their part. We will continue to push for better communication and faster response to get power, cable, and cellular services back online. 

The County and City's debris removal contractor has finished addressing the unsafe hotspots in the community and are now 100% focused on moving through the entire community in the most efficient way possible during their second week of operations. As of yesterday, over 620 large truckloads (31,000 cubic yards) of debris have already been removed from the city, and tens of thousands of additional cubic yards will be hauled away in the weeks ahead. Multiple passes on every street will be made until all the debris is gone, but the hard truth is that it will take months.

To ensure the community’s continued safety and security during the recovery process, our police presence (supported by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office) will remain highly visible, with targeted checkpoints and a curfew for non-residents in residential areas of the community from 10:00 pm – 6:00 am. The County has a Midnight to 6:00 am curfew in effect for residential and commercial areas west of U.S. 41 as well as areas that are south of U.S. 41.  The purpose of the curfew is to protect the safety of you and your property as you recover from the effects of Hurricane Ian. The curfew does not apply to emergency responders, employees at healthcare facilities, critical staff for businesses that provide essential services, or those seeking medical assistance. Please rest assured that these curfews are tools for law enforcement to keep criminals out of our community who have no reason for here.

Regarding FEMA assistance, disaster assistance teams have been on the ground in Naples. Thousands of residents and businesses have already applied in person, over the phone, or online for relief. If you need help filling out for assistance, the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is now open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice at Veterans Community Park, 1895 Veterans Park Dr, Naples, FL 34109. A Small Business Recovery Center has been temporarily established at The Naples Players (701 5th Avenue) with support available 7 days a week. For a more detailed report on the City’s recovery efforts and resources available to help the individual recovery efforts of the community, please see below for today’s Community Update. 

On behalf of Mayor Heitmann, the City Council, and the City Staff, we cannot thank you enough for your continued support of one another, your generosity for those less fortunate, and for your patience. Together, and through the spirit of community, we will get through this. 

Sincerely,

Jay Boodheshwar

City Manager

NEW INFORMATION

Cooling Centers and Computer / Internet Workstations available:

With the City now in its second week of debris removal operations, we offer the following tips to the community, which will help to expedite the process: 

  • Do not block storm drains with debris

  • Do not block Fire hydrants with debris

  • Do not block / cover Comcast and other utility boxes with debris

  • For commercial customers, please do not place any horticulture debris, construction & demolition debris (C&D), or white goods, within commercial front-load dumpsters.

  • Take hazardous waste and vegetative debris to recycling center - free of charge

  • Do not take C&D debris to recycling centers, or you will be charged

  • The City’s debris removal contractor will still pick up these materials if they are placed in a separate pile at the curb/right-of-way. However, their current focus continues to be on collection of construction & demolition (C&D) debris. Please ensure that lids have been secured on any cans of paint or other containers.

  • Pay close attention to debris categories in right-of-way. Click here

  • Residents will be allowed to pump their pools to the street into the City’s stormwater collection system. It is highly recommended that the discharge must be into a grassed area and filtered through a hay bale. They must also monitor the discharge so that street flooding does not occur.

Buildings where electrical equipment was flooded or damaged by Hurricane Ian, or that have been notified by FPL that a city inspection is required to obtain power, are required to follow these steps for the city to notify FPL that power may be restored.

D-SNAP (Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Benefits Approved for Florida residents.  Click HERE for more information about eligibility and pre-registration.

The Red Cross moved their distribution center to Baker Park. Hours will be from Noon - 6:00pm.

DBPR Urges Floridians to Use Only Licensed Professionals for Home Repairs

Avoid The Traps of Unlicensed Contractors

Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Secretary Melanie S. Griffin warns Florida homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian to be alert and reject fraudulent and illegal offers to perform work on their homes, use properly state-licensed professionals and verify the contractor at myfloridalicense.com 

“As structural repairs and rebuilding get underway, licensed contractors offer the only safe, legal and accountable way to have work done,” said Secretary Griffin. “You can bet that fraudsters will come out of the woodwork in the days and weeks ahead. The key safeguard is only doing business with professionals you confirm are properly licensed in Florida. Ask for their license information. Verify your contractor by using the DBPR mobile app or visiting MyFloridaLicense.com.”

Avoid the most common traps and threats created by unlicensed frauds:

  • Taking a deposit but not performing the work, or performing substandard work resulting in an extensive loss in home value, financial cost to the homeowners, and potential dangers to occupants and guests

  • A lack of proper permitting or proof of work performed resulting in difficulty or inability to sell the home

  • Non-compliance with building codes leaving defects, or the inability for the home to withstand future storms

  • A lack of necessary insurance, creating possible liability for the homeowner for injuries on their property or for shoddy work performed

  • Unknown criminal backgrounds allowing potentially dangerous people access to the home and near loved ones

  • A lack of education and/or qualifications endangering the safety of homeowners, their loved ones and their property.

Verify the license of any prospective contractor by visiting MyFloridaLicense.com, or downloading the DBPR mobile app on iTunes and GooglePlay.

Report unlicensed contractors and other unlicensed activity to 866-532-1440 or on the DBPR mobile app or MyFloridaLicense.com. For more information visit the DBPR Unlicensed Activity web page.

Also, DBPR is a founding partner of the Disaster Contractors Network (DCN), a contractor-verified clearinghouse to connect individuals with building professionals to address storm-related construction and repairs. Once homeowners are safely able to assess their home repair needs, they are encouraged to visit DCNOnline.org and search by county for a list of Florida-licensed contractors providing these services in their local community.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Debris Removal

  • Click image for debris instructions

  • Hazardous waste materials and vegetative debris (only), free of charge, at the following designated recycling drop-off centers:

  • Marco Island Recycling Drop-Off Center, 990 Chalmer Drive, Marco Island

  • Naples Airport Recycling Drop-Off Center, 2640 Corporate Flight Rd, Naples

  • Tim Nance Collier County Recycling Center, 825 39th Avenue NE, Naples (near the Fairgrounds)

  • Immokalee Transfer Station at 700 Stockade Road, Immokalee

  • The Recycling Drop-Off Centers are open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The Immokalee Transfer Station is open 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday. These locations are open only to Collier County residents with proper identification. Debris will not be accepted from businesses or contractors.

Safety, Security, and Curfew

  • The City’s curfew (specific to residential areas) remains in effect from 10pm–6am.

  • Police will strictly enforce this curfew for individuals who do not live in residential areas and will remain on high alert while patrolling all corners of the community.

  • As an added security measure, we have a police presence at certain check-point locations after sundown to keep non-residents out of areas experiencing extended power outages.

  • There will be a mandatory county curfew in effect from midnight, 12 a.m. to 6 a.m., for all incorporated and unincorporated areas south and west of U.S. 41. This curfew does not apply to the City of Marco Island and the City of Everglades.

  • The purpose of the curfews are to protect the safety of the citizens of the City of Naples and Collier County and their property as they begin the process of recovering from the effects of Hurricane Ian.

  • Collier County Sheriff Deputies are assisting the City with road patrol and will have a presence in the City 24/7 through the end of the weekend.

FPL, Comcast, and Verizon

  • City staff is working very closely with FPL field teams to energize the remaining buildings without power as soon as clearance is provided by property owners.

  • Contact # to schedule electrical inspections by the City of Naples Building Department for condominium's/commercial buildings to be re-energized by FPL (239) 564-9109

  • Comcast is working to restore service as safely as possible. Generally, Comcast service restoration follows power restoration. It is possible that even with power restoration, damage of Comcast equipment may prevent Comcast service from being restored. If debris is covering Comcast facilities, it may delay restoration.For these reasons, it is difficult for Comcast to forecast a detailed restoration plan. Comcast has been maintaining a Hurricane Ian website for Ian response and restoration at: https://florida.comcast.com/2022/10/02/hurricane-ian-response-and-restoration-update-for-central-and-southwest-florida/

  • Xfinity WiFi hotspots can be found at Xfinity.com/wifi

  • Verizon has installed three mobile towers in the City to help with coverage and congestion. The third tower was installed in the Moorings today.

  • Century Link Account and Tech Support | M-F 8a-6p | 800-244-1111

Building and Permitting

  • As City of Naples residents and businesses begin the process of cleaning up and rebuilding after Hurricane Ian, the Building Department wants to help speed up the recover process.

  • Building Permit inspections have resumed.

  • Online permit submission is open, review, and processing continues with remote and essential Team members.

  • Permits are NOT REQUIRED for: Tarping, Painting, Tiling, Carpeting, Minor Removal of Drywall and Baseboards no more than 4’ above the floor will not require a permit. Roof covering repairs that do not exceed 500 square feet is allowed without a permit.

  • For all properties waterward of the Coastal Construction Setback Line (CCSL) in which post-storm activities are being conducted, a City of Naples CCSL Field Permit may be required.

  • Click here to view the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Handout for list of activities and appropriate approval needed.

  • City Field Permit Guidance & Form

Utilities and Solid Waste Collection

  • Residents and businesses are reminded to contact the City Utilities Department at (239) 213-4745, if you observe any unauthorized use of fire hydrants.

  • Contractors who are in need of water to fill water trucks should contact the City Utilities Department at (239) 213-4745, to make arrangements to fill from a temporary water meter located outside of the Utilities Building at 380 Riverside Circle.

  • For any solid waste collection questions, please contact the City’s Solid Waste Division at (239) 213-4700.

Roadways

  • All roads within the City are passable. Crews continue to brush dried mud and run multiple street sweepers to pick up fine debris. These actions will continue until all roads are back to normal.

  • Storm basins and storm outfalls continue to be cleaned.

  • Six intersections are flashing, and all others are operable.

  • Please continue to use care and watch for emergency crews.

  • Over 17,000 people have already registered for assistance in Collier County.

  • FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Collier County

  • Veterans Community Park

  • 1895 Veterans Park Drive, Naples 34109

  • Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily until further notice

  • It’s Important to Submit the SBA Disaster Loan Application

  • FEMA may refer survivors of Hurricane Ian to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) with information on how to apply for a disaster loan. It’s important to submit the loan application as soon as possible. If your application is approved, you are not obligated to accept an SBA loan but failure to return the application may disqualify you from other possible financial assistance from FEMA.

  • Residents can apply for federal assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or download the mobile app.

  • For those who did not evacuate but now need to leave their home can visit www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status for open general and special needs shelters in Florida.

  • Operation Blue Roof program is a free service to homeowners. Residents can sign up at Blueroof.us. A Right of Entry (ROE) form must be completed. Residents can call 1-888-ROOF-BLU (766-3258) for more information.

  • Free Legal Assistance Available for Florida Ian Survivors - view information here

Links to additional FEMA information:

Small Business Administration Assistance

  • Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans are available. Applicants may apply at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov under declaration #17644. You can also call 800-659-2955 or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, dial 7-1-1.

  • These field offices act as one-stop-shops for businesses, homeowners, and renters seeking to cover losses caused by declared natural disasters. Specifically, the centers help the Office of Disaster Assistance in its mission to provide low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.

Closed Facilities and Parks (until further notice)

  • Naples Fishing Pier (indefinitely)

  • Lowdermilk Park (indefinitely)

  • ALL Beach accesses

  • The following beach end parking is closed:

  • 14th Ave S. beach end.

  • 10th Ave. S. beach end.

  • 15th Ave. S. beach end.

  • The beach is being cleaned by Collier County contractors.

  • Norris Center and Tennis Center at Cambier Park

  • City Dock

  • Phase 1 (current phase): closed to public, allowing tenants to access vessels for assessments only. Fuel is only available to emergency personnel. No commercial vessel operations at this time.

Open City Buildings and Parks

  • City Hall and other office buildings are open Mon - Fri 8:00am-5:00pm

  • River Park (except Aquatic Center)

  • Fleischmann Park and Community Center

  • Baker Park and Dog Park

  • Cambier Park

  • Seagate Park

  • Anthony Park

Additional Information

City of Naples | mbarnhart@naplesgov.com | (239) 213-1001 | Website