When Hurricane Irma blew through Southwest Florida in 2017, it was the worst storm event many of us had experienced. While we navigated our way through the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, we thankfully escaped any direct hits from major hurricanes. Hurricane Ian’s arrival on our shores on September 28, 2022, brought a violent reminder that our choice to live in paradise comes with the need to be mindful of the risks posed to our beautiful coastal home. Through it all, the partners that make up the Future Ready Collier network have come together to ensure our community receives the help and resources it needs. Read on for some information about Hurricane Ian recovery and resources. We will continue to update this website and our social media accounts, as well.
If you need to register with FEMA for disaster assistance, there are different ways to apply. You can apply through their website, www.disasterassistance.gov, or through their app, which you can download onto your smart device. You can also call 1-800-621-3362 for more information and assistance. To apply, you will need certain information: your address with zip code, the condition of your damaged home, any insurance information you have, your Social Security Number, a phone number where you can be reached, and an address where you can receive mail or a working email address. In Naples, you can go to the Disaster Recovery Center from 9am to 6pm at Veterans Community Park, at 1895 Veterans Park Drive. On Wednesday, October 12 at 6pm, the Collier County Board of Commissioners are hosting a FEMA town hall. Anyone may attend in person or by remote video access. For more information about the town hall, including how to participate remotely, click here.
Important local resources to keep in mind are 311 and Collier CARES. To access 311 services, you can visit the website, download the app, or call 311 on your phone. It is a free service, and provides residents with answers to a wide variety of non-emergency questions, related to topics like shelter locations and donations, and availability of other day-to-day essential services and amenities. Collier CARES is a free service you can also access on your computer or through an app. On Collier CARES, find a lot of information about food, jobs, health and safety, and more. In addition, the Collier County website is maintaining links to many resources for your assistance.
If you are in a position to support those in need, the Collier Community Foundation is directing funds raised through its Collier Comes Together initiative to programs and services that are immediately helping people in the community. Your donations, which can be made online through this link, will go right into in-need people’s homes, kitchens, and hands through organizations like Meals of Hope, the Salvation Army, the Boys & Girls Club of Collier County, Domestic Animal Services, St. Matthew’s House, the NAACP, and more.
Future Ready Collier is actively working with its 60-plus partners to learn more about on-the-ground efforts, need throughout our region, who needs help, and how to help. As we, together, work through the recovery from this disaster, we will share more. We also always invite you to reach out to us, if we may be a resource, answer questions, direct you to the right person or organization, or if you wish to contribute to any of the efforts mentioned above. Please email us anytime at info@futurereadycollier.org.