HURRICANE IRMA
MONROE COUNTY:
Hurricane Irma destroyed 675
structures, most on Big Pine Key
Florida Construction News staff writer
Hurricane Irma destroyed 675 residential and com-
mercial structures in unincorporated Monroe County and
damaged thousands of others, county government staff
have reported in a preliminary assessment.
“Some are saying it’s worse than that,” county Mayor
George Neugent told the Miami Herald.
Keys Recovery - Monroe County Emergency Management
Most of the damaged structures - the count there is
465 - were on Big Pine Key, the assessment says.
Eighty-one were on Cudjoe Key. As well, houses were
destroyed on Big Coppitt Key, Geiger Key, Little Torch
Key, Lower Sugarloaf Key, Ramrod Key, Stock Island,
Rockland Key, Sugarloaf Key, Summerland Key and Scout
Key. County staff employees went door to door, reviewing
exteriors. They did not enter the buildings.
The report says 583 structures had “major” damage
and 2,739 sustained “minor” damage. Overall, 10,009
houses were affected by Sept. 10 storm, compared to
3,884 not affected in the unincorporated areas.
Meanwhile, the Herald reports that Key West has re-
opened its doors to tourists.
County building inspectors are still evaluating damage
to structures and placing placards on those that have
“major damage” (those get an orange placard attached
to the front that say “unsafe structure stay out”) and “de-
stroyed” (they get a red placard that says “dangerous
keep out”).
County information officer Cammy Clark says if resi-
dents find one of these placards on their property, they
should call (305) 453-8816. County employees can help
obtain the inspection reports and pictures. This is impor-
tant information for insurance companies or the Federal
Emergency Management Agency during the process of
recovery. If a home has an orange placard, people need to re-
tain a licensed contractor to make improvements to help
remedy unsafe conditions or must be qualified as an
owner builder and bring a home back to a habitable
state. If a home has a red placard, building inspectors that
inspected the home have indicated that it is beyond re-
pair and demolition is necessary.
The Herald reports that county inspection teams are
also inspecting structures in cooperation with the Florida
Keys Electric Cooperative and Keys Energy Services, the
Florida Keys’ two power companies.
Preliminary damage assessment in Monroe County
Florida Construction News — FALL 2017 – 7