Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 30 | Jan. 18, 2023

FGCU is extending the timeframe in which employees can use the hours set aside in the Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave Program. Now, the hours can be used through May 1, 2023.

The major disaster leave-sharing plan was announced in October 2022. The plan created an avenue for staff to deposit personally accrued annual leave and faculty to deposit personally accrued sick leave to an FGCU-sponsored leave bank, which will distribute annual leave to colleagues who need it most.

View the attached document for details about:

• Eligibility requirements
• Distribution of hours
• Application details
• Instructions for donating time

If you have additional questions, contact Human Resources at (239) 590-1400 or hr@fgcu.edu.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 29 | Jan. 6, 2023

Next week – Thursday, Jan. 12 – is the deadline for homeowners and renters affected by Hurricane Ian to apply for FEMA Individual Assistance or low-interest disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

For more information about these resources, visit the following websites:

• FEMA assistance
• U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans

As a reminder, all FGCU employees hired before Oct. 5, 2022, are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in interest-free loans through the Hurricane Ian Employee Loan Program. The purpose of this loan program is to assist faculty and staff who continue to face financial hardship as they work through FEMA and insurance to recover from the loss and damage of their homes, vehicles and personal belongings related to the storm.

To fill out the application or learn more about the loan terms, log in to Workday. Once you sign in to Workday, the link to the application will appear at the top of the “Announcements” section on the right side of the webpage.

Questions can be directed to Human Resources at (239) 590-1400 or hr@fgcu.edu.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 28 | Jan. 5, 2023

Applications are now being accepted for the Hurricane Ian Employee Loan Program, which is available to faculty and staff who continue to face financial hardship as they work through FEMA and insurance to recover from the loss and damage of their homes, vehicles and personal belongings related to the storm.

All impacted employees hired before Oct. 5, 2022, are eligible to apply for up to $10,000. Loans are interest free and will be paid back through payroll deduction over the next three years. Employees will need to provide documentation as part of the application process. Applications will be reviewed and funds awarded on a case-by-case basis, as long as funds are available.

To fill out the application or learn more about the loan terms, log in to Workday. Questions can be directed to Human Resources at (239) 590-1400 or hr@fgcu.edu.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 27 | Dec. 16, 2022

Many of our faculty and staff continue to face financial hardship as they work through FEMA and insurance to recover from the loss and damage of their homes, vehicles and personal belongings related to Hurricane Ian.

In an effort to provide bridge funding to those facing storm-related financial challenges, FGCU created the Hurricane Ian Employee Loan Program. The funding is provided by the Foundation, the Financing Corporation and donations to the Ian Relief Fund.

All impacted employees hired before Oct. 5, 2022, are eligible to apply for up to $10,000. Loans are interest free and will be paid back through payroll deduction over the next three years. Employees will need to provide documentation as part of the application process. Applications will be reviewed and funds awarded on a case-by-case basis, as long as funds are available.

On Jan. 3, 2023, the first day back from winter break, the Hurricane Ian Employee Loan Program application will launch in Workday. Full details of the loan terms will be explained on the application.

Questions can be directed to Human Resources at (239) 590-1400 or hr@fgcu.edu.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 26 | Oct. 27, 2022

It’s been nearly one month since Hurricane Ian made landfall in our region, and the storm’s impact continues to reverberate through FGCU’s campus community. FGCU continues to work with local, state and federal agencies to provide storm-related resources to help our students and employees, especially those in need of temporary housing.

If you are in need of temporary housing, you need to register with your insurance company as well as FEMA.

HOW TO REGISTER WITH FEMA
After filing a claim with your insurance company, Hurricane Ian survivors can apply for FEMA assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling the disaster assistance helpline at 800-621-3362, or using the FEMA mobile app.

On your FEMA application, you will be asked if you are able to live in your primary residence. This is important, regardless of if you rent or own a home, as various housing assistance programs are available to those whose home received major damage or has been destroyed as a result of the storm.

TYPES OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE
If you are eligible for any of FEMA’s housing assistance programs, you will receive confirmation via an automated phone call, text message and/or email (depending on how you signed up to receive communications from FEMA when you applied for assistance).

• Transitional Sheltering Assistance: A program that provides temporary housing in hotels and motels to eligible hurricane survivors from 18 counties. FEMA pays the cost of room, taxes and non-refundable pet fees directly to participating hotels and motels.
• Direct Temporary Housing Assistance: A program available in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto and Lee counties that may include:

• Transportable temporary housing: Travel trailers or manufactured housing units set up at a private site or commercial park, potentially including group sites.
• Direct lease of existing, ready-to-occupy residential properties: Lease of vacation rentals, corporate apartments, second homes, single-family homes, cooperatives, condominiums and townhouses, etc.
• Multi-family lease and repair: FEMA funds the repair or improvement of existing, vacant multi-family rental properties that eligible applicants can use for temporary housing.

• Rental Assistance: Applicants who do not qualify for direct temporary housing may qualify for temporary rental assistance so they have somewhere to live while they make plans for permanent housing.

APPEALING FEMA DENIALS
If you have been denied a FEMA claim, it is advised that you appeal the decision in person at a local Disaster Recovery Center. A representative may be able to help you resolve the reason for a denial. Find the closest site to you by using the DRC locator map.

EMPLOYEES: HAVE A ROOM TO SHARE?
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, FGCU launched RoomSync, a housing platform that connects employees who need a place to live with those who have the space to spare. Access the free portal today by logging in to the Workday sign-on webpage. After logging in, look for details under the announcements box on the right side of the home page. To be eligible for this service, you must be an active employee with an FGCU email address and UIN. Student-workers are not eligible for this service.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 25 | Oct. 14, 2022

Educators and first responders will be given priority service at local Disaster Recovery Centers from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15, and Sunday, Oct. 16.  Please bring official identification to get priority service at the following locations:

Charlotte

• Home Depot, 12621 S McCall Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33981

Hardee

• Wauchula Civic Center, 515 Civic Center Drive., Wauchula, FL 33873

Lee

• Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33919
• Fort Myers DMS Building, 2295 Victoria Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901

Sarasota

• Shannon Staub Public Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port, FL 34289

If you are in need of transportation, Uber has announced free round-trip rides, up to $30 each way, to the Disaster Recovery Centers listed above. To receive the discount, use promo code IANRECOVERY.

To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app for smartphones or call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

FOOD PANTRY OPEN ALL WEEKEND | The FGCU Campus Food Pantry is open noon to 6 p.m. daily, including all weekend, for all currently enrolled students and active employees. Visit the pantry today at the Music Modular, Lot 7, Room 102. Students and employees need to show a university ID card.

DISASTER LOANS | Residents in a declared disaster area may be eligible for financial assistance from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA). A Hurricane Ian disaster fact sheet provides detailed information about the options, including:

• Business Physical Disaster Loans
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
• Home Disaster Loans

D-SNAP | Low-income Florida residents recovering from Hurricane Ian may be eligible for assistance from the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP). For eligibility information, visit the Hurricane Ian Response & Recovery website for the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 24 | Oct. 12, 2022

FGCU is pausing the application process for the Eagles in Need relief fund so we can focus on distributing the funds we currently have available to the identified students, faculty and staff with the greatest need. We anticipate reopening the application forms on Monday, Oct. 17, following additional fundraising efforts.

During the pause, support teams for students and employees will continue to process the forms that have already been submitted. We appreciate your patience as we work to distribute funds to those who need it most.

If you have the means, please donate to help your fellow Eagles recover. For every dollar donated to the fund, the FGCU Foundation will match it dollar for dollar so those in need can quickly obtain the basics needed for daily living.

Here’s how to donate:

Online | Visit: www.fgcu.edu/ianrelief

By check | Send a check with “Hurricane Ian Relief Fund” in the memo line to:

Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc.
Campus Support Complex
10501 FGCU Blvd. S.
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

VEHICLE REPLACEMENT INCENTIVES
Florida residents who own a vehicle damaged by Hurricane Ian are eligible for the GM (General Motors) Disaster Relief Bonus Cash Program. The $1,000 incentive is available on a range of Buick, Cadillac, Chevy and GMC vehicles, including car and truck models ranging between the 2022 and 2023 model years. The program also offers a $500 incentive for customers impacted by the storm who lease a new GM vehicle.

LEE PUBLIC TRANSIT
LeeTran is offering limited, modified bus services at no cost to riders until further notice. Operational routes include the 10, 30, 50, 60, 70, 100, 120, 140, 240/600, 110/515 (interlined route), and 590 (Sunday schedule). Route 60 services FGCU directly, and the county reports it is currently running from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily with about an 85-minute frequency. Route frequency should improve as services normalize. The mobile app will not display accurate detailed schedule information until regular service resumes, so please refer to the LeeTran bus schedule webpage or call (239) LEE-TRAN or (239) 533-8726 for more information.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 23 | Oct. 12, 2022

During this difficult time, FGCU has learned that some of our employees have space available that they would like to share with colleagues who have been displaced due to Hurricane Ian. To help connect people, FGCU has launched a new housing tool for employees that will connect those who need a place to live with those who have the space to spare.

The housing tool is called RoomSync, and the platform is accessible by FGCU employees through the Workday sign-on webpage. To be eligible for this service, you must be an active employee with an FGCU email address and UIN. Student-workers are not eligible for this service.

The platform is free to use and operates similar to social media platforms, where you will be asked to create an online profile, complete with pictures and information about your interests and hobbies.

Through RoomSync, FGCU employees will fill out a simple questionnaire. The answers will be used to match potential users based on their personality and lifestyle. As part of the survey, employees will be asked about their unique needs, such as whether they have pets, children, need multiple rooms or a single bedroom.

From here, RoomSync will match employees with people of similar interests and needs. Ultimately, employees will be able to swipe through potential roommates to find the ideal housing match.

It will be up to matched individuals to discuss and agree to any rental agreements, monthly payments or fees.

Disclaimer

This service is provided by a third party and FGCU makes no warranties of fitness for a particular purpose, and users of the service do so at their own risk.  While a link is provided to the external site for the benefit of FGCU employees, FGCU does not have control over the external site or service provider and users of the service are responsible for determining the permissibility of subletting space or leasing space as determined by individual circumstances. Please check the Privacy Policy of the external site and read the “Terms of Service” before engaging in any business or uploading any information.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 22 | Oct. 10, 2022

FGCU is no longer under a boil-water notice.

Lee County announced this evening that it lifted the precautionary boil-water orders for 99% of the Lee County Utilities service area, which includes our main campus. According to the county, bacterial testing has shown the drinking water is safe and residents may now resume the usual use of their water without the need to boil it. 

Campus signs blocking water fountains and fill stations are now being removed.

If you live off-campus, there may still be an active boil-water notice in your area. Please check with your local municipalities for the most up-to-date information on your neighborhood.

The 1% of residences still on a boil-water notice for Lee County Utilities are:

• Town & River neighborhood at McGregor Boulevard and Cypress Lake Drive
• North Trail RV along Old Orange River Boulevard
• All of Siesta Isles, which includes Siesta Drive, Cutlass Drive, Deep Passage Lane and Old Pelican Bay Drive.

A map of the affected areas is available through the county’s website, www.leegov.com.

CAPS AT LIBRARY LAWN

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is offering a campus outreach event for students, faculty and staff from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, on the Library Lawn. Clinicians will provide coloring pages and opportunities to draw and/or create an aromatherapy bracelet or keychain. Resources will be available as well on each table.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE

Employees can meet one-on-one with representatives of our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Cohen Student Union (Rooms 245 and 213). Can’t make it? EAP services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 833-746-8337 or online at www.mylifeexpert.com. Use company code: Florida.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 21 | Oct. 10, 2022

To help address the adverse impacts Hurricane Ian and its aftermath had on our employees, FGCU has launched a major disaster leave-sharing plan. The Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave Program allows staff to deposit personally accrued annual leave and faculty to deposit personally accrued sick leave to an FGCU-sponsored leave bank, which will distribute annual leave to colleagues who need it most.

Who is eligible?

An employee may be eligible for the leave program if they suffered severe hardship that requires them to be absent from work. Examples of severe hardship include displacement, the need to remediate flood damage to an employee’s home, loss of vehicle/transportation options due to flood, inability to physically travel to campus due to road closures or obstructions, and/or inability to work or telework due to local school or daycare closures.

Recipients:

• must be in a leave-accruing classification. OPS employees are not eligible.
• will be paid at their normal rate of compensation
• must only use the leave time for reasons related to Hurricane Ian and its aftermath, as described above.

Disaster leave will be available in one-week (or 40-hour) increments. Impacted employees who continue to experience severe hardships can request additional weeks of leave for up to four weeks (or 160 hours), depending on the balance of leave hours remaining in the pool. The leave time must be used by Dec. 31, 2022, and recipients can choose to use the time all at once or spread the weeks out intermittently as necessary.

All paid leave granted to recipients of the program is considered wages, and it is subject to Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA), Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA), and other federal, state, local, or municipal tax withholding requirements.

The leave may not be converted to cash.

How to donate

If you are interested in donating leave time, contact the Human Resources Benefits Department via email at edennis@fgcu.edu. Leave donors may contribute leave for up to four weeks (or 160 hours). Please note: employees cannot designate that their leave time be used by specific recipients.

Any unused donated leave remaining in the bank at the time Hurricane Ian no longer qualifies as a major disaster will be proportionally returned to the leave donors within a reasonable time.

How to apply

The Hurricane Ian Disaster Leave Program application is on FGCU’s Hurricane Ian recovery website. Please submit your completed application to edennis@fgcu.edu.

For more information, read the attached document: Hurricane Ian Major Disaster Leave-Sharing Plan.

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 20 | Oct. 7, 2022

“Eagles in Need”

FGCU has launched the Eagles in Need relief fund to help our students, faculty and staff through this difficult time. One-time emergency awards are available to current full and part-time FGCU students, faculty and staff who need immediate help recovering from Hurricane Ian.

Our mission is to grant funds to pay for:

• Temporary living accommodations or transportation that were lost due to Hurricane Ian.
• Replace personal items lost due to Hurricane Ian.

Students may be eligible for $500, and employees may be eligible for $1,000. The funds are a one-time emergency payout that will be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis to those who qualify as long as funds are available.

If you have already notified the FGCU Storm Recovery Call Center and let personnel know you have needs, you will be contacted about emergency awards if you qualify.

If you have not checked in with us:

Students: Fill out the Student Storm Recovery Form, which will go to our CARE team for review. If you do not have internet, text (239) 350-4536, call (239) 590-7728 or email care@fgcu.edu. If you qualify for funding, the CARE team will contact you.

Employees: You can fill out the Storm Recovery Form online. If you don’t have internet, call (239) 590-1400.

FAQs are available on the Ian Relief website to assist you in this process.

Want to help? For every dollar donated to the fund, the FGCU Foundation will match it dollar for dollar so those in need can quickly obtain the basics needed for daily living.

ONLINE | Visit: www.fgcu.edu/ianrelief

BY CHECK | Send a check with “Hurricane Ian Relief Fund” in the memo line to:

Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, Inc.
Campus Support Complex
10501 FGCU Blvd. S.
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Hurricane Ian – Advisory 19 | Oct. 7, 2022

FGCU continues to ramp up on-campus services to meet the needs of students and employees as we move into normal operations next week. Here is a look at what’s new today:

CAMPUS PHONES
ITS has confirmed the university phone system is fully operational, and employees now have the ability to dial outside lines. If you have problems, contact the Help Desk at 239-590-1188 or helpdesk@fgcu.edu. The Help Desk is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 9.

LIBRARY
The Wilson G. Bradshaw Library is open until 8 p.m. this evening, Friday, Oct. 7. Here are the weekend hours:

• Saturday, Oct. 8:  1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 9: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

CAMPUS RECREATION

• University Recreation & Wellness & Wellness Center: noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The facility will expand operating hours to 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Monday.

• SoVi pool: noon to 5 p.m. through Monday. Normal hours of operation are planned for the remainder of next week.
• Lee County/FGCU Aquatics Center: Closed through Sunday, but reopens Monday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• The Waterfront: Closed through Sunday, but reopens Monday from noon to 5 p.m.

If you have questions, send an email to FGCUupdate@fgcu.edu. You can also visit the fgcu.edu/hurricaneian website for student and employee resources and information.

FROM PREVIOUS MESSAGES

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
Employees, come to campus to meet one-on-one with representatives of our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Monday| 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Cohen Student Union, Rooms 245 and 246
• Tuesday| 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Cohen Student Union, Room 245 and 213

Can’t make it? EAP services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 833-746-8337 or online at www.mylifeexpert.com. Use company code: Florida  

STUDENT ASSISTANCE

• Student CARE Services is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through the weekend to assist with resources and referrals for students in need of assistance. Contact the team by text at (239) 350-4536, phone call at (239) 590-7728 or email at care@fgcu.edu. To learn more about the office, visit Eagle Care.  
• Student Health Services is open until 5 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 7. Call (239) 590-7966 for appointments, or drop by the SHS Modular near Garage 2 and Parking Lot 7.
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available for crisis functions with same-day brief, check-in meetings until 5 p.m. today, Friday, Oct. 7. Call (239) 590-7950. The (239) 745-EARS hotline is available after hours and on weekends. FGCU students can also access Uwill (free teletherapy services) at www.Uwill.com, and Togetherall (free peer-to-peer mental health and wellbeing support) at www.togetherall.com.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

• Students: www.fgcu.edu/hurricaneian/student-academic-advisory

• Faculty: www.fgcu.edu/hurricaneian/faculty-academic-advisory
• Staff: www.fgcu.edu/hurricaneian/staff-academic-advisory

CAMPUS DINING/VENDING

Friday, Oct. 7:

• Einstein Bros. Bagels: open until 3 p.m.
• SoVi Dining: open until 10 p.m. for dinner.

Saturday, Oct. 8

• Einstein Bros. Bagels: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• SoVi Dining: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 9

• SoVi Dining: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.Starting Monday, Einstein Bros. Bagels will operate 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Chick-fil-A will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Normal operations are expected at Brahma, Marketplace at The Link, BYOB, Boar’s Head, and Marketplace at Howard Hall. Other dining outlets will proceed with normal operations once staff become available and the boil-water notice expires.

Vending machines (beverage, snack and pharmacy) are operational. Report any issues to vending@fgcu.edu.

COHEN
Here are the hours through the weekend:

• Friday, Oct. 7 | open until 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 8 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 9 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FOOD PANTRY
The FGCU Campus Food Pantry is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday for all currently enrolled students and active employees. Go to the Music Modular, Lot 7, Room 102. Students and employees need to show a university ID card. Starting Monday, the hours of operation will be noon to 6 p.m. daily.

LAUNDRY SERVICES
North Lake Laundry facilities are available for free to students and employees with a university ID card 24 hours a day through Sunday, Oct. 9. 

TRANSPORTATION
Shuttles are available on a limited basis to run routes between North Lake Village and South Village until 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, Oct. 7. Normal operations begin Monday, Oct. 10. Scooters are now available for rent.