Hurricane Irma still raining misery for some, almost a year later

Talk about hanging around until everyone's sick of the mention of you.

Yes, we're talking about you, Hurricane Irma.

As the one-year anniversary of the devastating storm's Sept. 10, 2017, arrival approaches, countless repairs have yet to be made to Space Coast homes, businesses and beaches. Signage skeletons still haunt the landscape, from billboards to gas stations. 

What's the holdup on the Irma fix-up in Brevard, where homes and businesses sustained an estimated $157 million in damage?

In many cases, insurance claims haven't been closed out and FEMA funds distributed. In some instances, delays have stemmed from the huge burden on contractors locally and in other hurricane-ravaged areas. In all, 7,131 residences and businesses in Brevard County were damaged during the devastating storm.

More than 93 percent of the 45,458 insurance claims from Brevard County — those reported by insurers to the state Office of Insurance Regulation — have been closed. But 3,065 of those claims remained open as of June 12.  

And though there's no longer a sea of blue tarps dotting the horizon, local roofers are whittling away, countywide, at the backlog of roofing projects. The county issued 2,778 re-roof permits between Sept. 10, 2017, and Aug. 1, 2018.

"Calls are still coming in for damages — customers needing repairs are calling; insurance companies working claims are calling," said Dawn Willis, one of the owners at Mike Willis Roofing and Construction of Melbourne.

United Way of Brevard continues to assist people seeking help to finish or even start needed repairs.

And at the county level, big gaps, totaling big bucks, persist.

Brevard County has spent $18.4 million on repairs to everything from buildings and parks to culverts and traffic equipment — but has yet to receive reimbursement from FEMA to the tune of millions of dollars, said county spokesman Don Walker. 

"Nor are we aware of any municipalities having received any," said Walker. 

Because the county hasn’t gotten that FEMA money, Walker said, Parks and Recreation recently acquired a $12 million in-house loan — borrowing county money from another fund — to begin repairing Irma-inflicted damage to boat ramps, docks and boardwalks. That money will also address Irma-related beach erosion at county parks.

At United Way of Brevard, post-Irma help is still requested, said Rob Rains, president.

United Way oversees the Brevard Long-term Recovery Coalition (BLTRC), created following the 2004 hurricanes, which matches low-income residents to available resources. 

Since Hurricane Irma, the BLTRC has completed 34 major projects, Rains said. They're working 89 active cases in Brevard, with an additional 400 cases registered through FEMA and United Way's Crisis Cleanup fund.

United Way also: 

• Secured more than a half-million dollars’ worth of items to assist hurricane victims, getting food and water in place at local food pantries and sharing centers.
• Spent 180 hours answering calls at the Emergency Operations Center for 2-1-1 Brevard pre-and post-storm.
• Recruited and coordinated more than 573 volunteers to tackle 2,200 requests for help with tree and debris removal and roof tarping.

From the front and side porches of his condominium at Harbor Edge in Melbourne, Fred Bartleson III can see ongoing roof work and lighthouse repair atop Melbourne Harbour Condominiums.

"We were right here the day of Sept. 10, and viewed the aftermath on Sept. 11," said Bartleson, whose own residence suffered floor damage from flooding.

"The place also had to get windows replaced. Contractors just finished that last week."

That's not surprising.

Back in March, Robert Sava, owner of Merritt Island-based All Space Coast Roofing, told FLORIDA TODAY many roofers were "buried with work through the fall."

Sava was, indeed, plugging away as of the first full week of August. But he said if someone had a crisis, he'd "try to bump them up and help the best we can."

"The biggest questions you get from people: 'What's your schedule?' and 'When can you start?'" Sava said.

"They just don't understand — it doesn't work like that."

Contact Kennerly at 321-242-3692 or bkennerly@floridatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter @bybrittkennerly or at Facebook.com/bybrittkennerly.

Be a disaster volunteer

Learn about opportunities to serve your community in potential disaster, such as a hurricane, at an Aug. 29 orientation for the Community Information Hotline, a partnership of BCEM and nonprofit 2-1-1 Brevard. 2-1-1 operates 24 hours a day before, during and after a storm. Register here.

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