FEMA to Provide Trailers for Displaced Hurricane Ian Survivors

NAPLES, Fla. – Southwest Florida leaders breathed a sigh of relief Wednesday as the federal government announced it would provide trailers for displaced Hurricane Ian survivors in Lee and Collier counties, amidst a shortage of hotel rooms and other options, according to reporting Fort Myers News-Press.

“Finally,” said Collier County Commission Chairman Bill McDaniel. But, he noted, “We still don’t know when these trailers are coming.”

The announcement comes a day after Collier County commissioners made it clear that they wanted to see travel trailers and manufactured homes available to displaced residents.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it will provide that and more to residents in Lee, Collier, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

The federal agency’s release said it determined that rental assistance is insufficient to meet the housing need in those counties because of a lack of available housing resources.

The direct housing program gives displaced residents three additional housing options besides staying in a FEMA-provided hotel.

In addition to travel trailers, the new program will offer readily-available housing leased by FEMA, as well as multi-family housing that FEMA will repair and lease.

Direct housing may be provided for up to 18 months after the date of the disaster, which would sunset the program in Southwest Florida by about March 28, 2024.

FEMA cautioned that it takes time to roll out a direct housing program. Furthermore, not everyone impacted by Ian will get it.

“FEMA is committed to helping Hurricane Ian survivors get a safe roof over their heads to jumpstart their recovery as quickly as possible,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Tom McCool.

See the complete Fort Myers News-Press report here.