TAMPA, Fla. — Video and photos from the several counties in the Tampa Bay area show the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian when it hit the coast of Florida.
Lee, Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties are among the hardest hit, with widespread damage.
High speed winds and flooding have caused untold destruction in Fort Myers Beach in Lee County in particular. Video from the beach shows it was "leveled" by the storm.
Below are a list resources and help for residents in these counties.
Lee County
Residents in Lee County can call to get a welfare check at 239-477-1000. The Sheriff's Department is requesting that you call 911 for emergencies only.
Sarasota County
Residents in Sarasota are asked to continue to call the Sarasota County Sheriff's non-emergency number at 941-861-5800 for welfare checks. They are taking calls as quickly as they can, according to the county's Facebook page.
Manatee County
County officials said at around 1 p.m., crews have cleared the backlog of 911 calls and are now able to respond in real-time. See the Facebook post below for vital information on brush and trash collection, boiling water and other concerns.
Charlotte County
Earlier Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke from the Charlotte County Emergency Management headquarters. There was also widespread damage in the country.
Charlotte County has set up an emergency call center number. Please call 941-743-1320 for assistance.
FEMA Assistance
Thursday morning, President Biden approved a federal disaster declaration for counties in Florida. This allows for residents in those counties to seek FEMA assistance.
The counties include Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, and Sarasota.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance here. They can also call 800-621-FEMA (3362), or use the FEMA App.
