Florida Strong is more than a hashtag. It’s an attitude helping people recover and rebuild after multiple hurricanes.
But even with that attitude, there’s a possibility some won’t be able to rebuild because of a FEMA requirement aimed at protecting life and property.
“Can we afford to rebuild our home, and if we can’t, what does that mean? Where do you go? Where do you live?” said Rep. Linda Chaney (R-Pinellas).
Thursday night, Rep. Chaney hosted an online webinar to educate local leaders about FEMA’s 50% rule, which is used to determine if a home was substantially damaged. Mike Ilczyszyn, the City Manager of Cape Coral, learned so much about the rule after Hurricane Ian.
“I can tell you, in Cape Coral, we literally had residents that, you know, broke down in tears at our permitting counter,” he said.
If you live in a special flood hazard area and suffered damage during Milton or Helene, the rule prevents you from making improvements to your home if those improvements exceed 50% of your home’s value.