Hurricane Ian Assistance

Post-hurricane consumer alert

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued a consumer alert about the risk of lithium batteries catching fire after being submerged in salt water. Lithium batteries are commonly found in:

• Electric vehicles.
• Golf carts.
• Electric scooters.
• Power tools.

The consumer alert includes the following fire safety tips from the State Fire Marshall Office:

• Call 911 if your vehicle is smoking or on fire.
• Batteries in vehicles submerged in salt water are susceptible to “thermal runaway” that’s demonstrated when the car appears to start smoking or catch on fire.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and never drive or operate a vehicle that was submerged. Follow the specific vehicles manufacturer recommendations for submerged vehicles.
• If your vehicle was submerged and housed in a garage or parked adjacent to other structures or vehicles, do not turn it on or charge it and do not try to open the battery pack at any time.
• If your home or business has an energy storage system that was submerged, shut the power off to the unit, and contact the manufacturer for information. If it is showing signs of white smoke, contact 911.

Working with public adjusters

Check out Patronis’ statement on working with public adjusters after Hurricane Ian.

Insurance villages

Patronis and the Florida Department of Financial Services have set up two insurance villages to assist people with insurance claims and other needs:

Port Charlotte Insurance Village

Port Charlotte Town Center Mall (Parking Lot)

1441 Tamiami Trail

Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Daily Hours of Operation: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST / Seven days per week

Fort Myers Insurance Village

Disaster Recovery Center

Lakes Regional Library

15290 Bass Road

Fort Myers, FL 33919

Daily Hours of Operation: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST / Seven days per week

You can find additional assistance at Florida Disaster Relief or calling the Florida Assistance Hotline at 800-342-3557.

Free tarps, temporary housing, and FEMA assistance

Anyone looking for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian can find:

• Free tarps. Call 888-ROOF-BLU for free tarps provided by the Army Corps of Engineers.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA representatives are available at both insurance villages from 9am to 4pm today. You can also call 800-621-3362.
• Temporary housing. Segwick is offering temporary shelter. Call 800-548-5196 for assistance.

Also check FEMA’s Hurricane Ian page for more information and resources.

Distribution points

Head to your nearest distribution point for food, water, and ice.

Charlotte County

Muscle Car City

10175 Tamiami Trail

Punta Gorda, FL 33950

Charlotte Sports Park

2300 El Jobean Rd

Port Charlotte, FL 33948

Ann Dever Memorial Regional Park

6791 San Casa Dr.

Englewood, FL 34224

Collier County

Collier County Emergency Management

8075 Lely Cultural Parkway

Naples, FL 34113

Sugden Regional Park

4284 Avalon Dr.

Naples, FL 34112

Everglades City Administrative Office

102 Copeland Ave.

Everglades City, FL 34139

Barron Collier High School

5600 Cougar Drive

Naples, FL 34109

DeSoto County

DeSoto County Department of Emergency Management

2200 Northeast Roan Street

Arcadia, FL 34266

Nocatee Elementary School

4846 SW Shores

Arcadia, FL 34266

Save-A-Lot

1325 E. Oak Street

Arcadia, FL 34266

Hardee County

Burgin Farms

611 S. 6th Ave

Wachula, FL 33873

Highlands County

Save-A-Lot

70 Plaza Ave.

Lake Placid, FL 33852

South Florida State College

600 W College Drive

Avon Park, FL 33825

Florida Department of Health in Highlands County

7205 S. George Blvd.

Sebring, FL 33875

Lee County

Old Bonita Springs Library

26876 Pine Ave.

Bonita Springs, FL 34135

Kelly Road Soccer Complex

10750 Kelly Road

Fort Myers, FL 33908

Cape Coral Sports Complex

1410 Sports Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33991

Cape Coral Leonard Street

4820 Leonard Street

Cape Coral, FL 33904

Estero High School Ballfield Park

9100 Williams Road

Estero, FL 33928

North Fort Myers Rec Center

2000 N. Recreation Park Way

North Fort Myers, FL 33903

Fleamasters Fleamarket

4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

Fort Myers, FL 33916

Veterans Park Rec Center

55 Homestead Road S.

Leigh Acres, FL 33938

Sarasota County

Hyundai of Venice

200 Jacaranda Blvd.

Venice, FL 34292

Englewood Center Plaza

200 S. Indiana Ave.

Englewood, FL 34223

Twin Lakes Park

6700 Clark Road

Sarasota, FL 34241

Venice Community Center

326 S. Nokomis Ave.

Venice, FL 34258

San Pedro Catholic Church

14380 Tamiami Trail

North Port, FL

Sarasota County Croquet Club

1400 Lucaya Ave

Venice, FL 34285