Power Restored
to Most, Not All
In a 5 p.m. LCEC Update, 1,330 of 80,516 Cape Coral Customers Had No Electricity
According to LCEC, MOST power should be 'essentially' restored in Cape Coral by tonight (end of 9/19).
"At that point," LCEC PR Manager Karen Ryan says, "customers
still out of power in those areas, may have more localized damage to the infrastructure serving their specific location and could be out a bit longer while crews address the isolated outages."
Per LCEC, if a person believes that their home or business is the only one on the street with no power, customers should:
1. Check to be sure their breaker is on.
2. If pipes or wires at the meter box are bent or broken, a licensed electrician must make repairs so that LCEC can restore power. Permits are not needed for emergency restoration but government inspections will be needed once power has been restored to ensure safety.
3. If the meter is damaged, LCEC will replace it to restore power.
4. Call 239-656-2300 and report an outage on the automated phone line , so localized damage can be tracked and addressed.
"Work will continue in all parts of the service territory until power is restored to everyone," adds Ryan.
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Good Things to Know Right Now in Cape Coral
Lee County Bridge tolls resumed today.
LeeTran (Lee County Transi) also resumed normal operations.
The Chiquita boat lock is closed until further notice due to storm damage
GARBAGE, RECYCLING & STORM DEBRIS
The Cape Coral garbage and recycling schedule is back to normal. The exception to this is horticultural and construction debris related to Hurricane Irma. This must be collected and tracked separately by the city in order to be reimbursed by FEMA.
Residents are asked to place storm debris curbside, not in the roadway as this could cause safety issues.
Do not place debris in plastic bags and storm-related debris does not have to be bundled or cut into smaller pieces. Please be patient as it may take several weeks for debris to be picked up.
The City also has a site where you can bring construction and vegetative debris, located at Pine Island Road and Andalusia Blvd. Access to the site will be from NE 7 Street to NE 10 Avenue. This site is only available to City of Cape Coral residents, not commercial contractors.
No household waste will be allowed at this site.
PARKS
Several city parks have begun to reopen.
The William Austen Youth Center is open normal working hours and hosting a "School's Out Camp" for k-8th this week. Limited spots. Call 23-242-3950.
Jaycee Park remains closed with no events allowed until the park is deemed safe.
For the latest information on park openings and to find
other information related to Cape Coral Irma Recovery:
and click on the Post Irma Information.
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Cape Coral Caring Center Needs Donations
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| Pre-Irma these shelves were full. |
With Cape Coral Charter schools and Lee County Public schools out for a second week and people losing the contents of their refrigerators and freezers, Cape Coral Caring Center Exec. Director Julie Ferguson says donations are much needed, either financial, non-perishable or a small amount of perishable foods can be brought directly to the Cape Coral Caring Center (4645 SE 15 Ave.) to fill their commercial-size refrigerator and freezers.
Ferguson says that kid-friendly foods are important along with juices and healthier food options. "Where pre-Irma we were seeing seven families come in, we've been seeing 30+," notes Ferguson. "One grandmother was especially grateful because she took in four grandchildren to care for, including a special needs child."
The Caring Center suffered damage when high winds caused two rooftop A/C units to topple over, causing roof damage and water leaks that ran down several walls. The units will need replacing and the roof will need repairs. But a small section at the front of the building has A/C and volunteers are on hand to accept donations and help those in need to fill their pantries.
Monetary as well as food donations are needed.
CURRENT DROP-OFF LOCATIONS FOR NON-PERISHABLE SUPPLIES
Cape Coral Wellness Center
609 SE 13 Ct.
5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Connect Hearing
1722 Del Prado Blvd.
(next to Heart & Soul
Café)
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Massage Envy
2221 Santa Barbara Blvd.
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Quality Automotive
876 Cape Coral Pkwy. E.
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (After hours donations accepted)
Premier Insurance
1326 Cape Coral Pkwy. E
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Raso Realty
4812 Cape Coral St.
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
If you can offer your location as a drop-off point, volunteers can pick up donations from you. The link below also allows anyone to make an online donation. For every dollar donated, the Caring Center is able to acquire $8 worth of foods.
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| Contact Us |
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Cape Coral Economic Development Office
Dana Brunett
Karen Ramos
Nita Whaley
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| General Business Resources |
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Like
Cape Coral
Economic Development on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for
the latest Economic Development News.
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| Economic Development News |
Message From Your EDO Manager
Cape Coral is Hurricane Tough!
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Cape residents are making use of the debris drop-off site off of Pine Island Road and Andalusia Pky.
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The events of the past two weeks have shown me a great deal when it comes to Cape Coral and our response to hurricanes. This was my first hurricane, and for all our sakes, I hope it's my last. I can say with much conviction that I am extremely proud and supportive of our first responders, city leaders and city staff and their well coordinated efforts related to Hurricane Irma. I am equally proud of the citizens of Cape Coral for their toughness, resilience and perseverance throughout this whole event.
Last year, city staff went through comprehensive FEMA training for emergency preparedness and recovery. That training, along with pre-planning on the part of many departments, put us in a position to be truly responsive. Don't get me wrong-we still learned a lot-but your City is in a much better position than we were two years ago regarding a large-scale event.
It is also very heartwarming to see so many people and to hear their stories about neighbors and strangers alike coming together to prepare and help one another to recover from the storm. There are still a few people without power as I write this, and I know that having no power is challenging. From everything I've heard so far, the last of our power should return soon. My point is this: When the chips were down, Cape Coral came together as a SOLID community!
There is certainly more work to be done, but progress is being made and we are headed back toward normalcy. As we travel that road, take heart in the fact that your city staff is trained and prepared and your fellow citizens are willing to step up and do what it takes to assist their community. Cape Coral is Hurricane Tough!
Sincerely,
Dana Brunett
City of Cape Coral
Economic Development Manager
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Need to Hire Contractor for Repairs?
Be Sure Your Contractor is Licensed in the
City of Cape Coral
From our own experience, our office can tell you that hiring a licensed contractor gives you an important layer of protection from a host of things that could go wrong.
If you are a Cape Coral resident or business owner who needs a licensed contractor perform work as a result of Hurricane Irma, we encourage you to use the city's eTRAKIT database to search for one. Here's how:
Go to the following section of the Cape Coral website:
https://etrakit.capecoral.net/etrakit3/
1. Under Contractor, Select "Search Contractors"
2. Under "Search By" Choose either License Type or Company Name. (i.e. Roofing, Plumbing, Electrical, Residential for homes or General or Building for commercial general contractors)
3. You can choose what type of search you want by using the drop-down menu under contractors. Make sure you leave "Contains" in the search option (in the second drop-down box).
Make sure the Contractor's Status in eTRAKiT is Active. Otherwise their license is not current in the City of Cape Coral.
A licensed Florida Contractor must be registered to work in the City of Cape Coral, and will be listed as "Active" if all requirements have been met (licensed, insured, registered, etc.).
To learn more about the reasons and warning signs of an unlicensed contractor, visit the Florida Department of of Business & Professional Regulation.
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Take Precautions Against Mosquitoes
If you have reason to be outside for work, or for hurricane recovery purposes, be aware that the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LMCD) is predicting a large mosquito outbreak as a result of Hurricane Irma's heavy rains and flooding. It's wise to take precautions.
In a news release issued this week, LMCD officials said that coastal and inland areas have expansive areas of standing water, which will produce large numbers of mosquitoes.
Treatments to control adult mosquito
es began Sept. 18 and run between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
Areas with the highest numbers of adult mosquitoes and that are without power are being treated first.
This link gives more information and tips for preventing mosquito bites. Protect yourself and your loved ones.
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Emergency Loans, Assistance For Businesses Hit by Irma
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The debris removal process could take several weeks.
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When President Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Florida on Sunday, this opened the door to financial assistance with rebuilding and repairs.
Emergency Bridge Loan
The bridge loan program was enacted Saturday and is managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). This program will provide short-term, interest-free loans to small businesses that experienced physical or economic damage during the storm. The application deadline is Oct. 31, 2017.
To learn more and to apply:
For questions, contact the FL SBDC Network at 850-898-3489 or email:
Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org
The phone line will be answered during regular business hours; all voice mails are to be responded to within 24 hours.
U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster loans to businesses, nonprofits and homeowners to repair or replace equipment and property damaged during the hurricane. The deadline to apply for assistance related to physical damage is Nov. 9, 2017 and the deadline for economic injuries is June 11, 2018.
Find details here.
The SBA recommends that the first point of contact for a small business impacted by a disaster should be FEMA to apply for financial assistance. They can provide money for housing along with other personal expenses i
ncluding food, clothing and medicine. This website is for businesses or residents to use to register for individual assistance:
1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)
The SBA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture provide low-interest loans for damaged and destroyed assets in a declared disaster. These include repair and replacement costs for real estate, personal property, machinery, equipment, inventory, and business assets.
Disaster assistance loans.
Check the following links to see if one of these loans apply.
Other Sources of Disaster Aid
Disaster Clean-up
Take precautions to avoid injury or illness occurring in the cleanup process following a disaster. The wide range of hazards range from downed power lines and contaminated waters to
hidden molds and toxins.
Disasters are magnified by their consequences on health and health services, so the Center for Disease Control (CDC) serves as an important resource through
its Health Studies Branch. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
published cleanup tips specifically for hazards during natural disaster recoveries.
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New Date For Primary Election Oct. 3
The Primary Election has been rescheduled to take place on October 3.
Early voting will be held Thursday, Sept. 28 through Saturday, Sept. 30, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Voters may use any available early voting site during early voting hours, prior to election day.
For more information about elections, candidates, voter registration, early voting, vote-by-mail requests, precinct locations, poll workers and more, go to:
Early voting sites in Cape Coral:
Cape Coral-Lee County Library
921 S.W. 39th Terrace
Cape Coral, FL 33914
Lee County Elections Cape Coral Branch Office
1039 SE 9th Ave.
Cape Coral, FL 33990
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Want to Help Our Community
Consider Taking "CERT" Training
The Cape Coral Fire Department is getting asked by many people what they can do to help their community. One of the best things they say is to become a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer.
Using lessons from the classroom and during hands-on exercises, CERT volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
CERT volunteers are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking an active role in emergency preparedness projects. According to our Fire Department, CERT volunteers assisted with shelters, manned the call center, volunteered in the Emergency Operations Center during the activation, and even went to North Collier to assist with supply distribution after Hurricane Irma.
The next CERT class begins on Wed. September 27 and runs for eight consecutive weeks, ending on Wednesday, November 15. Classes are from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Fire Department Headquarters/EOC located at 1115 SE 9 Avenue. The class is free and open to Cape Coral residents age 16 and above. If you are interested, please email:
rtuff@capecoral.net
or call 239-242-3608. Please RSVP by Monday, Sept. 25.
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