FMB residents raise concerns over removal of business trailers

Reporter: Haley Zarcone Writer: Julianna Perez
Published: Updated:

Residents and business owners on Fort Myers Beach are raising concerns after the Federal Emergency Management Agency called for removing temporary structures off the island.

According to FEMA, temporary structures like trailers and shipping containers that do not comply with FEMA guidelines must be removed by Monday.

Howie Hoffman, a Fort Myers Beach resident of over 25 years, said these removals could hurt local businesses still recovering from storm damage.

“There’s been hurricanes, there’s been red tide. There’s been a lot of disasters,” said Hoffman. “You could tell the beach is crowded today. That’s good for our businesses, and we gotta let those businesses survive.”

According to the town of Fort Myers Beach, over 50 businesses have been asked to leave the island.

“Listen, it makes sense to leave us here. Leave us alone. FEMA wants to penalize us. We’re living here; we’re victims. We’ve been in a disaster, and the government wants to make us pay in one way or the other. It makes no sense to me,” said Hoffman.

The removal of these temporary structures will have an impact not just on local businesses, but on the local economy of Fort Myers Beach as a whole.

With snowbird season approaching, business owners whose structures do not comply with FEMA regulations are being forced to pack up and leave during their busiest time of year.

“It sucks that the businesses have to go through that. It’s greed, you know?” It’s something to do with money,” said Hoffman. “Let these people earn a living, for crying out loud. That’s the American way.”

Meli’s Ice Cream is one of the businesses operating out of a trailer on Fort Myers Beach.

Vincent Padula, who works at the establishment, said that while he doesn’t think Meli’s Ice Cream will be impacted, he is sad to hear about the several other businesses that will be.

“I feel like those businesses bring the regulars and tourists down here because they’re still in business for a reason, and I think once you kick them out, it kind of ruins the atmosphere around here, and it starts to bring in more, bigger corporations and ruin Fort Myers Beach,” said Padula.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach requested that FEMA extend the deadline to June 1, 2025; however, the request was denied.

WINK News contacted FEMA regarding documentation updates. A representative confirmed that all five communities have submitted their documentation, which is under review.

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