Charlotte County Emergency Management has issued an evacuation order for residents in Yellow Zone-C. This is in addition to the previously ordered evacuations of the Red Zone-A and Orange Zone-B. The evacuation also includes residents in any zone living in mobile and manufactured homes. Charlotte County Emergency Management urges residents to leave now, do not wait.

The shelters are:

• Kingsway Elementary School, 23300 Quasar Blvd., in Port Charlotte
• Harold Avenue Rec Center, 23400 Harold Ave. in Port Charlotte
• Liberty Elementary School, 370 Atwater St., in Port Charlotte CLOSED/FULL
• Neil Armstrong Elementary School, 22100 Breezeswept Ave., in Port Charlotte CLOSED/FULL
• Babcock Ranch School Field House at 43281 Cypress Parkway

If you choose to go to a shelter you will need to bring supplies for each family member and pets (all Charlotte County shelters are pet-friendly).

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FEMA Assistance: If you have been affected by Hurricane Helene, apply for FEMA assistance to take care of your critical needs. FEMA may provide financial help to assist you with home repairs, temporary housing, or property damage (appliances, furniture, vehicle, etc). You may also qualify for help with childcare, medical, lodging, moving, and funeral expenses.
Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Help is available in many languages.
     Don’t wait to apply for FEMA assistance and, if you do have insurance, do not wait to file an insurance claim for damage caused by the disaster.
If you have business losses, including property damage and economic losses, you may qualify for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Visit the MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov to learn more and apply.
For recovery information, call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center at 941-833-4000 or go online to www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/storm. Follow Charlotte County Emergency Management for important emergency information at www.charlottecountyfl.gov/em, www.facebook.com/oemcharlottecounty, and www.x.com/ccoem.

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Charlotte County has enacted a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all of Charlotte County, including the City of Punta Gorda, effective at 9 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9. The curfew will be in place until further notice. Violation of the curfew is a misdemeanor.   The curfew includes a ban on the sale of alcohol between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. until the curfew is rescinded.
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CHARCOCARES:  Free Hurricane Helene disaster cleanup assistance is available.  Call 844-985-1386 for help with flood cleanup, tree and debris removal.  Charlotte County will open two water and MRE distribution centers on Monday, Sept. 30, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or while supplies last.
The distribution centers are located at Port Charlotte Town Center Mall, 1441 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte in Macy’s Parking lot and at the Tringali Park Community Center, 3460 N Access Rd, Englewood.

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Food and beverage workers needing financial assistance, Southern Smoke Foundation. Financial assistance is available nationwide and Gulf Coast funded relief for workers in Charlotte, Sarasota, and DeSoto Counties.

Individuals may receive up to $1,000, and families may be eligible for up to $1,200. Southern Smoke provides a simple application process and outlines requirements for funding on its website, assigning all applicants with a case manager for support.

We have information on our social media if that’s an easier way to disseminate the resource. We know lots of restaurant staff are out of work right now.
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For safety tips about flooding and electrical safety, visit https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/news/what-to-do-to-prevent-electrical-hazards-if-your-house-is-flooded.stml.

Follow Charlotte County Emergency Management for important emergency information at  www.charlottecountyfl.gov/em, www.facebook.com/oemcharlottecounty, and www.x.com/ccoem.

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City of Punta Gorda Hurricane Helene Update 3:00 p.m.  Post Date: 09/26/2024 3:04 PM  The latest road closures are available City of Punta Gorda Helene Update.

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CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2024) – Charlotte County has an online Self-Reporting Storm Damage system to help us collect damage assessments. Visit www.tinyurl.com/reportingdamage, enter your address, select the type of damage and add a photo. If possible, include high water marks when reporting damage.
Please follow all safety guidelines for flooded areas when taking photos, stay on higher ground, avoid contact with flood waters, and do not drive on flooded roads.
Reporting damage in this system gets the information to county departments quickly and eliminates the need to call it in. The information will help the county compile an extensive list of the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
Do understand that by self-reporting this information to the county, you are simply assisting the county with damage assessment information. You must still take whatever steps are necessary to report any damage to your insurance company or FEMA, etc.
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Tallahassee, FL - September 27, 2024 Today, FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Helene. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Helene. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Helene recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses.
Businesses can complete the survey online by visiting FloridaDisaster.biz and selecting “Hurricane Helene” from the dropdown menu.
If you need additional assistance with your business, please call the private sector hotline at 850-815-4925, open daily, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or email  ESF18@em.myflorida.com
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Verify State Contractor License with the Florida Department f Business & Professional Regulation myfloridalicense.com  

Charlotte County Chamber member Building Contractors Link
Charlotte County Chamber member Water Damage Restoration Link
Charlotte County Chamber member Roofing Contractors Link

Charlotte DeSoto Building Industry Association reminds you to use a licensed contractor - for additional information visit https://www.cdbia.com/after-the-storm-assistance. You can also call them at the office at 941-625-0804.