Hurricane Ian Resources
Florida is no stranger to extreme weather, and although common throughout the state, storms of this size and strength are infrequent on the west coast. Hurricane Ian will go down as one of the top five worst hurricanes to hit the state of Florida and the number 1 worst hurricane to hit Florida’s Suncoast in more than a century. We know Ian’s impact on our families, friends, neighbors, and fellow Suncoast residents will weigh heavy in our hearts as we build back our homes and lives.
The team at Sarasota Home Specialists with Keller Williams on the Water knows how much this storm has affected the communities we live and work. We, along with our clients, friends, and families, are working on picking up and moving forward, thankful to have each other still. We work with amazing vendors, from contractors to insurance agents to restoration specialists. We have you covered for whatever you need to get back on your feet.
We want to thank those who have checked in with us and ensured we are doing well. We wanted to make sure that we were able to get resources to those that need them most and provide information for those that would like to donate or help out our communities.
Resources:
Shelters:
If you have been evacuated or your home is no longer safe, there are shelters throughout the state. To find a shelter consider using the information from your local county or municipality. You may also connect with the Red Cross through their free app by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or online at redcross.org. Residents of affected areas may also connect with the state of Florida by phone at 1-800-342-3557 or by logging on to floridadisaster.org.
For Sarasota County, the current general population shelter is Venice High School, located at 1 Indian Ave. Venice. If you have questions about the shelters or need transportation, Sarasota residents can call 311 for more information.
What to donate:
- Basic toiletries like shampoo, toothpaste, hairbrushes and toothbrushes, body wash, and soap.
- Clothing items like shirts, skirts, pants, hoodies/jackets, socks, and shoes.
- Blankets, sheets, sleeping bags, and pillows.
- Nonperishable food items such as peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned soup, and cereal.
- Bottled water and juice boxes.
- Comfort items like stuffed animals, books, and games.
- Wheelchairs.
- Walkers.
- Canes.
Where:
The following locations have been set up for donations in Sarasota and Lee Counties. The Red Cross along with Sarasota and Lee County governments, asks not to bring donations directly to shelters.
Grace Community Church, 8000 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
Through Sunday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
South Shore Church, 1899 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota
Monday through Saturday, Noon to 7 p.m.
First Baptist Church, 1661 Main St., Sarasota
Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to noon
Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, 580 McIntosh Road, Sarasota
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Riverside Church, 8660 Daniels Parkway, Ft. Myers
Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
FEMA Disaster Assistance
Those impacted by Ian are encouraged to apply for disaster assistance through FEMA. Go to www.disasterassistance.gov, download the free FEMA mobile app, or call 800-621-3362 between 7 am and 11 pm ET.
Ways that you can help:
- Volunteer to help; the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website can be used to find opportunities around Florida that are looking for volunteers.
- Monetary donations to trusted and vetted organizations and crowdfunding campaigns. Beware of scams and those trying to take advantage of the situation.
- Lastly, one of the most significant ways you can help is by staying off the roads and out of the way in affected areas so first responders and utility personnel can get to those in need.
Lastly, We want to remind everyone that our area is still in recovery, and those living or visiting should take special precautions. Avoid downed powerlines and flooded roads, and listen to local authorities. Be aware of areas that were flooded, but water has now receded as roads could have weakened, and remember to never operate a generator indoors or within 10 feet of air intake or open windows. Be kind to others as we are all recovering in our unique ways.