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Tag: Hurricane Irma recovery

Irma supplies

Helping hands for neighbors

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For residents who need help recovering from Hurricane Irma, there are islanders here to help. Volunteers and donors also are needed to help local and state-wide recovery efforts.

Holmes Beach Commissioner and one of the founders of Anna Maria Island “Home Sweet Home,” Jean Peelen, has a group of people ready and willing to lend a hand. The group is helping neighbors with post-storm cleanup and repair, particularly seniors. To request help or to volunteer, call Peelen at 941-896-5827.

Laurel Nevans is raising money for two long-time Holmes Beach residents to replace an HVAC unit. Thirty-year residents George and Dottie Mizzi lost their unit due to a power surge as electricity was restored to their home. Nevans started a Go Fund Me page for the project; as of Sept. 21, donors raised $5,160 of the $7,500 goal. Dottie Mizzi said all funds raised over the goal amount will go to benefit the Senior Adventures program and the Center of Anna Maria Island.

Firefighters and staff at West Manatee Fire Rescue are collecting donations to take to residents in Immokalee, located in northern Collier County. Needed supplies include non-perishable food, clothing, tarps, batteries, fuel cans, baby supplies, plywood, chainsaws, bottled water, insect repellent, flashlights, rakes and trash bags. Donations of other supplies are welcome. Drop supplies off at any of WMFR’s three fire stations or at the administration building, 6417 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. All donations will be taken to the Immokalee Fire District for distribution.

The Center of Anna Maria Island is partnering with Saltair in collecting donations traveling south to help with recovery efforts in the Florida Keys. The Center hopes to collect enough supplies to fill two containers traveling by boat to the affected areas. Items can be dropped off at Saltair, 5508 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, or the Center at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria. Items needed include bottled water, non-perishable food, diapers, first aid kits, batteries, trash bags, cleaning products, insect repellent and flashlights. For more information, call the Center at 941-778-1908.

FEMA representatives available to assist Irma victims

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Archives.

HOLMES BEACH – For anyone affected by Hurricane Irma, help is on the way.

Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, at the Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, to answer questions.

Residents and property owners with questions about what programs they may qualify for or who need help filling out FEMA paperwork are encouraged to attend. Assistance will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. No reservations are needed.

To apply for FEMA assistance, attendees must bring along a Social Security number, telephone number, mailing address and property insurance information. Also bring the address of the damaged property, a description of the damage and banking information for direct deposit of funds.

Other application submission options are by phone at 1-800-621-3362, 1-800-462-7585 for TTY users, or online at https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

After applications are submitted, FEMA inspectors will contact applicants to schedule on-site inspections to verify disaster-related loss. Proof of property ownership or residence also is required. No fees are charged for inspections. More than one inspector may visit the property during the verification process.

After review, all decisions are sent to applicants in writing by e-mail or physical mail.

For more information, or to see what programs are available, visit FEMA’s Hurricane Irma web page.

Anna Maria City Pier post-Irma

Landmark City Pier shredded

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars.

ANNA MARIA – The historic Anna Maria City Pier and its restaurant will remain closed until further notice due to significant damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma.

In addition to the roof being torn off the bait shop, there is extensive damage to the wooden planking on the northwest side of the pier’s T-end that faces Tampa Bay.

The bait shop roof has been given a temporary protective covering. A water line that leads to the pier end was damaged and replaced Friday. The damaged fire suppression system was repaired Friday.

The wooden planking along the northwest edge of the Anna Maria City Pier also sustained heavy damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

A missing support bent consisting of two pilings and a crossbeam located near the pier’s midway point was also replaced Friday.

The Tampa-based Ayres Associates engineering firm conducted a structural assessment of the pier damage on Friday and Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy is expected to have the report by Tuesday, Sept. 19.

The Ayres report will help determine if the pier can be repaired and reopened. If Ayres deems the pier structurally unsound or not financially feasible to repair, the previously planned $2 million pier rehabilitation project will be accelerated to get a new pier in its place.

Commission discussion

Last week, Murphy took each of the five city commissioners on separate tours of the pier. Murphy and Commissioner Dale Woodland spent about 20 minutes at the pier end Thursday afternoon examining the damage. Murphy said he thought the plank damage was caused by waves and the roof damage by high winds.

Anna Maria Pier post-Irma
Temporary covering has been placed atop the roofless bait shop at the Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

He also said he believed the restaurant’s smashed glass door was an act of vandalism associated with the theft of beer.

Woodland suggested it might be a long time before the pier reopens, and he expressed concerns about the impact a prolonged closing would have on the restaurant and bait shop employees who work for the city’s longtime pier tenant, Mario Schoenfelder.

The pier damage was discussed at the Thursday, Sept. 14, commission meeting.

Murphy said he already spoke with Schoenfelder, who’s in Germany, and his on site manager, Dave Sork. Murphy said City Attorney Becky Vose is researching the city’s lease options, but it was premature to discuss any lease-related actions.

“The cost of all this is the city’s responsibility. The city’s in charge. We’re the ones that have to make the decisions on what’s going to happen,” Murphy said.

“The critical thing at this point is the structural engineering report. Included in that will be an estimate of the closing time, how long it’s going to take to repair it and the correct way to repair it,” he added.

A contractor who assessed the roof damage told Murphy he didn’t recommend simply replacing the missing roof materials. He said there are no hurricane straps holding the roof in place and the roof supports are held in place only by rusted nails.

“When I was out there, there were new nails in old boards that hadn’t held in the stringers, which says to me the stringers are rotten,” Commissioner Doug Copeland added.

“At this point I can’t give you an estimate as to how long the pier’s going to be closed. This is pretty significant damage and it’s going to take some time. We will get it done as quickly as possible, but it going to have to be done right and according to code,” Murphy said.

He suggested the commission have an emergency meeting this week to discuss the Ayres’ report findings.

“I don’t want the bureaucracy to slow this down. We’re in charge; we can get it done,” Murphy said.

The commission authorized Murphy to spend up to $35,000 on the Ayres assessment.

Cortez donation drive Everglades City

Cortez helps Florida fishing communities hit by Irma

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Archives.

CORTEZ – Residents of the Cortez historic fishing village are reaching out to provide aid to fellow commercial fishermen in Chokoloskee and Everglades City in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

The donation drive kicks off at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Bradenton Elks Lodge 1511, 2511 75th St. in Bradenton. Collection will continue through 4 p.m. with items being delivered to a distribution point at the Chokoloskee Church of God on Wednesday morning.

Items needed include cleaning supplies – vinegar, bleach, mops, buckets, work gloves, chainsaws, large garbage bags, generators, power cords, waders and waterproof boots, fuel and fuel cans, personal hygiene supplies – toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, razors, feminine products, deodorant, antibacterial soap and contact lens solution, and first aid products – bandages, anti-bacterial cream and sprays, bug bite cream, peroxide, Ace bandages, bug spray, and gauze and wound dressings. Other items requested include underwear and socks.

Cash and gift card donations also are welcome to help purchase needed equipment and other items.

Volunteers also are needed to help collect and package items for transportation during the event along with those willing to travel to the affected area to assist with distribution and cleanup efforts.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Rose Lipke at 941-725-9189.

Center offers help Friday and Saturday

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Archives.

The Center of Anna Maria is opening its doors to hurricane victims who may be sweating it out with no air conditioning.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy The Center free on Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No formal programming is set for Friday, but The Center is a cool place to hang out, shoot hoops or work out. Kids under the age of 10 need to have adult supervision.
A hot lunch of burgers and hot dogs will be provided to those in need – especially city employees and utility workers helping to get the Island back together.
Saturday will feature Iron Yoga from 9-10 a.m. and Pickleball from 10:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The gym will be open from 1:45-5 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 18, The Center will resume regular programs, including Beyond the Classroom After School Program for K-5th graders. The Center will be open from 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Monday’s schedule:
7-8:30 a.m. Open Gymnasium
7:30-10:30 a.m. Round Robin Tennis
8:30-9:30 a.m. Foundational Yoga
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Drop-in Child Care
10-11 a.m. Strengthen & Lengthen
10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Open Tennis
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Cardio Flex
11:15 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Pickleball
2:30-6 p.m. Beyond The Classroom After School Program
5-8 p.m. Drop-in Child Care
5:30-6:30 p.m. Youth Karate
6-9 p.m. Open Gymnasium
7-8 p.m. Hot Yoga