Hurricane relief efforts

'Elevate Florida' program to be held on Marco Island on March 19

WGCU Staff

The Florida Department of Emergency Management is providing information and assistance on “Elevate Florida” for Marco Island residents on March 19th.The program is designed to protect homes and communities by reducing damage caused by natural disasters and flooding.

The staging are for the rescue team could be seen on Bahia Vista. They were taking boats into the neighborhoods along Phillippi Creek to rescue people. Hurricane Debby’s impacts leaving streets, cars and even homes underwater. The tropical storm produced more than a foot of rain and eventually turned into a category 1 hurricane once it made land fall.

Hurricane Recovery

Community input sought: Resilient SRQ’s draft recovery plan for 2024 storms

WGCU Staff

Sarasota County’s Resilient SRQ program has released its draft action plan for public review, outlining proposed uses for $210 million in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds. These funds will support long-term recovery efforts following Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The Lock ’N Key Restaurant as two feet of water inside their restaurant. Workers and friends showed up to remove most of the inside so work could begin on getting the restaurant opened back up. Sarasota and Charlotte county residents found storm surge from Hurricane Helene in their homes and on their roads Friday morning, September 27, 2024.

Top Story

After Hurricane Helene: weather forecast for cleanup & recovery

Irene Sans

Unsettled weather conditions for parts of Florida will make recovery and cleanup efforts harder for some.

Hurricane Recovery

LeeCares Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program application portal opened Thursday

WGCU Staff

LeeCares Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program application portal opened at noon Thursday to help residents impacted by Hurricane IanOutreach efforts ramp up to assist people with application process

Weather

'After Ian' -- What was the storm's effect, how will the area recover?

From the economy to the environment, from how the community rallied around each other to the very personal struggles in the recovery process, WGCU takes a unique look at how some of us fared during and after Hurricane Ian.

A theft ring, beginning in March and ending in July, stole, sold, and delivered 19 RVs/campers (16 belonging to the State of Florida), one trailer, and two pieces of heavy equipment with an estimated value over $1,000,000.

Crime

Florida theft ring arrests made; group heisted 19 RVs/campers used for Hurricane Ian relief

WGCU Staff

Four people, two of them from Naples, involved in a theft ring that preyed on the campers being used for Hurricane Ian victims were arrested Wednesday by the Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement officials.

Members of Cal Fire Pilot Rock 6 crew, out of Crestline, Calif., clear mud off the side of the road in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hilary, Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in Yucaipa, Calif. Scientists figure a natural El Nino, human-caused climate change, a stubborn heat dome over the nation’s midsection and other factors cooked up Hilary’s record-breaking slosh into California and Nevada.

Weather

How a mix of natural and human-caused factors cooked up Tropical Storm Hilary’s soggy mess

The Associated Press

A natural El Nino, human-caused climate change, a stubborn heat dome over the nation’s midsection and other factors cooked up Tropical Storm Hilary’s record-breaking slosh into California and Nevada, scientists figure.

Hurricane Recovery

Fort Myers Beach suspends $100 fee for temporary structure permits until further notice

WGCU Staff

In June 2023, the Town Council passed Ordinance 23-05 for placement of temporary structures that some residential and commercial owners are using, including FEMA and FDEM temporary structures.

Hurricane Recovery

Permit required on FMB for placement of temporary structures

In June 2023, the Town Council passed Ordinance 23-05 for placement of temporary structures that some residential and commercial owners are using, including FEMA and FDEM temporary structures.

Destroyed homes on Matlacha Island, Fla. on Monday after Hurricane Ian ravaged the area.

Hurricane Recovery

Brace yourself Floridians, the promised insurance relief isn't expected soon, could get worse

Danya Harpster

The cost of homeowners insurance in Florida has increased 100 percent over the last few years