FEMA announces $5.5 million award to Lee County for reconstruction of Fort Myers Beach Pier
FEMA announced today that it has given approval for $5.5 million for the reconstruction of the Fort Myers Beach Pier. The pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The award is part of $6.2 million FEMA has approved for Lee County for Hurricane Ian recovery projects.
Lee County officials have stated the Fort Myers Beach Pier project could begin as soon as August, once FEMA approved the funding. The work is expected to take approximately a year to replace the pier that was destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
The new pier will be larger, which in turn carries a higher price tag and longer construction time than if the pier had been replaced at the same size.
Therefore, there is expected to be a shortfall between what the project will cost and how much FEMA is reimbursing.
The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted in April to award a $11.7 million construction contract for the reconstruction of the Fort Myers Beach Pier.
The reconstruction contract was awarded to RJ Gorman Contracting LLC and will extend the pier to roughly 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide, or more than 70% longer and 50% wider than the pier destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
FEMA only reimburses for the replacement of property, and typically does not fund reconstruction projects which enlarge the footprint of the structure that was destroyed – in this case the Fort Myers Beach Pier, which was crushed by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
According to Lee County officials, the project will be funded through FEMA Public Assistance, Lee County Tourist Development Tax funds and RESTORE Act grants stemming from the BP/Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010.
Lee County officials said on Monday that a groundbreaking ceremony is expected to be announced soon for the pier project.
County officials will be preparing final review of the contractor’s project schedule and construction submittals, coordinating with regulatory agencies and project stakeholders.
Lee County is working closely with its consultants for meetings with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to ensure all environmental, safety, operational, permitting and regulatory requirements are satisfied before construction begins.
Contracts will then begin mobilizing equipment and staging materials for the pier, which is located near Lynn Hall Memorial Park. The parking lot at the park has been closed since work begin this spring on new restroom facilities.
The county anticipates the project will be completed by late summer next year as planned.
The announcement by FEMA on Monday was part of nearly $55 million FEMA awarded for projects throughout Florida to help strengthen community resilience, restore critical infrastructure and invest in mitigation measures to reduce future disaster damage.
The approved funding is provided through FEMA’s Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. These programs help states, local communities, tribes and territories to rebuild safer communities and protect infrastructure from future events. The funding supports President Donald J. Trump’s commitment to improving federal disaster assistance and investing in projects that protect Americans.
Today’s funding also includes more than $30 million under FEMA’s Public Assistance program across Florida.
Other projects include:
Nearly $7 million for Florida Division of Emergency Management for various projects, including debris removal and to repair wastewater systems following Hurricane Ian and other severe storms.
$3.5 million for Hillsborough County for emergency protective measures, including debris clearance, immediately following Hurricane Helene.
$1.4 million for City of St. Petersburg for fire department emergency response operations following Hurricane Milton.
FEMA is also awarding more than $8 million for projects in the state of Florida through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to prevent or reduce future disaster damage.
Notable Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects include:
Nearly $2 million for Florida to elevate six homes in flood-prone area in Tampa.
More than $1.5 million for Florida to improve 125 sanitary lift stations risk in City of Sanibel.
More than $800,000 for Florida to strengthen wind-resistance and install generators for Hillsborough County.
This funding includes more than $15 million for Disaster Case Management (DCM) program.