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FEMA decision is due next week regarding if communities impacted by Ian will lose steep discounts

A home under rebuild in Fort Myers Beach. Numerous homes there are being rebuilt after being damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ian. A decision on federal flood insurance discounts could be coming for Fort Myers Beach and several other communities in Lee County by July 17.
Michael Braun-WGCU
A home under rebuild in Fort Myers Beach. Numerous homes there are being rebuilt after being damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Ian. A decision on federal flood insurance discounts could be coming for Fort Myers Beach and several other communities in Lee County by July 17.

The FEMA decision will impact a majority of federal flood insurance policy holders in Lee County.

Residents in several Southwest Florida communities are on edge after being told in April that their local governments were no longer in good standing with the federal government's flood program.

Local government leaders persuaded FEMA for more time before a final yes or no. FEMA spokesperson Melanie Blake confirms to WGCU that no decision has been made as of July 11.  

All of unincorporated Lee County and its cities, villages and towns, with the exception of Sanibel Island and the city of Fort Myers, could see 20 to 25 % increases in their flood insurance premiums.

Dan Allers, mayor of Fort Myers Beach, says FEMA’s decision to offer or deny the steep discounts in Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero and unincorporated Lee is expected next week.

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Eileen Kelley
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