FEMA wants the business trailers removed from Fort Myers Beach by November 18th.
It’s been 2 years since hurricane Ian destroyed Fort Myers Beach and now FEMA once again has changed the rules and wants all shipping containers, trailers and storage trailers removed from the beach. Any trailer that can not be hauled by a light-duty trucks has to be removed by Nov. 18th.
The question is why are they wanting certain trailers removed and many of which are being used as a place for a business to operate and yet they are ignoring the fact that there are RV/trailers that are not inhabited and are parked on empty lots or parking lots by owners or contractors. Why can these remain when they serve no purpose other than a place for out of town and out of state owners to be able to visit once in awhile? These are not monitored and if we have a hurricane, they will be floating off their jacks and crashing into homes, cars, etc. Why can they stay? Why are they even allowed in the first place?
After hurricane Ian, Mayor Dan Allers explained during an interview on Beach Talk Radio that owners who were under contract and in the process of building were allowed to park a trailer for them to live in during the building process. He also stated that it had to have a permit and was only for owners, not for contractors. This is not the case at all.
We have owners renting out their lot to people and allowing them to park their RV’s on the lot when they have no reason to be here.
We also have owners who are not under contract and have parked an RV for them to stay in if they visit. If we have a storm those RV’s will wash away and damage homes, cars as well as risk bodily injury.
Where is code enforcement? Where is Town Council? They have been contacted about these issues and they did what they always do, pass the buck and they did nothing.
It’s been 2 years. If a person is not under contract by now, then there is no reason that they should be allowed to park RVs on their lot. It’s not a campground and is just opening us up to more problems. If there is a storm, who will be responsible for any damage caused by these trailers and RVs?
People have reported that they emailed Town Council and nothing was done. Now FEMA is demanding that businesses remove their trailers. These businesses are actually helping the island and are not just vacation spots for owners who are not rebuilding.
