ABOUT 200 PEOPLE ATTENDED MONROE COUNTY’S PUBLIC MEETING FOR HOMEOWNERS NAVIGATING REBUILDING/PERMITTING PROCESS POST IRMA

BIG PINE KEY, FL – About 200 people whose homes were destroyed or badly damaged by Hurricane Irma attended Monroe County’s public meeting Wednesday night to receive information and ask questions about the rebuilding and repair process.

About 30 County staff employees – including department directors – were at the Lord of the Seas Lutheran Church to provide informational handouts and explain one-on-one, a variety of issues and topics. These included:

  • Damage Safety Assessments (Major Damage or Destroyed Placards place on some homes) – what does this mean?
  • Substantial Damage letters and Repair Process
  • Emergency Permitting/Permit Fee Waivers
  • Work without Permits – what is allowed and not allowed?
  • Manufactured and Mobile Home Regulations, Replacement and Repair
  • Illegal Clearing of vegetation
  • ROGO Exemptions process to prove your housing unit was developed legally and can be replaced or repaired

Homeowners also were able to get information about future federal and state recovery grants that may become available for Monroe County homeowners. The County has developed a survey to determine what types of housing programs would benefit residents. The survey is available on the Monroe County website at http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/index.aspx?NID=732. Homeowners can fill it out to indicate which of the following areas they may be interested in pursuing:

  • Repair of Damaged Homes
  • Replacement of Damaged Home with Code Compliant Home
  • Acquisition of Land and Relocation of Home (same house moved to another property)
  • Voluntarily Sell Land and House to the County so owner can move to a different home
  • Elevate Home above Floodplain
  • Wind Retrofit of House by installing hurricane straps, shutters, impact windows, metal roof, reinforced trusses and/or reinforced garage doors
[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]