Cindy Johnson's heart still hurts one week after Helene brought 4 to 5 feet of storm surge on Fort Myers Beach.
"A lot of people lost their vehicles. They lost their belongings they had no way of judging what the stormwater system is going to do to you," Johnson said.
Robert Burns who lives on Bayview Drive lost several items, ranging from rugs, to damaged furniture, he even told NBC2 his refrigerator doesn't work, all things the town of Fort Myers Beach says you don't need a permit to replace.
"FEMA was very good to us during Ian, and they helped us out a lot. This time, I don’t think I’m going to file anything," Burns said.
Although you don't need a permit for things like carpet or cooling or heating appliances, you still need to submit a cost backup worksheet. The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires it for any repair or improvement, regardless of the amount.
"We never had a problem with permitting with the town of Fort Myers Beach, I have to say that," Johnson said.
Officials say you do need permits before you begin repairs to electrical, plumbing, or anything structural. The application can be found
here
.