In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida residents have critical resources at their disposal, six days a week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set the Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at Tringali Park Community Center, which sits at 3460 N. Access Road in Englewood, to provide aid from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Notably, as Charlotte County's official website announced, this center is now closed on Sundays.
At these facilities, survivors can receive information from various Florida agencies, FEMA, and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Individuals may also seek help with applying for federal assistance, disaster loans, updating their applications, and learning about other available resources. A significant note to the residents in need – the deadline to apply for assistance is January 7, 2025. This can be done online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, which is available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, with multilingual assistance.
Additionally, the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) offers localized aid, operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday at the Port Charlotte Town Center mall. Situated at 1441 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte, this hub – also closed Sundays – connects residents with state and local resources tailored for recovery after Hurricane Milton. Despite Sundays closure, the breadth of support remains accessible on all other days.
Charlotte County Transit Services are chipping in by offering free rides to both the DRC and MARC, ensuring transportation is not an obstacle for those seeking help. Residents can schedule these complimentary trips by calling Charlotte County Transit at 941-575-4000, pressing option 1. For those looking to sift through more recovery information, they can make calls to the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center at 941-833-4000 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday or can visit the county’s storm assistance website for more details.
