ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Following the deadly impacts of Hurricane Ian across the southwestern Florida region, including the Tampa Bay area, many people are still in need of essential items.
Multiple counties have set up points of distribution, also known as PODs, to provide food, water and ice. Some will also have Starlink receivers to provide cellular service, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis' office.
Below is where you can find the locations of PODs in each county listed.
Sarasota County
Supplies at each POD in Sarasota County will be available while they last, officials say.
Waters and Meals-Ready-to-Eat will begin distribution at 8 a.m. Monday.
All PODs are subject to closure depending if grocery stores reopen in certain areas, the county said on its website.
- Hyundai of Venice, 200 Jacaranda Blvd. - Venice
- Englewood Center Plaza, 200 S. Indiana Ave. - Englewood
- Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Rd. - Sarasota
- Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave. - Venice
- San Pedro Catholic Church, 14380 Tamiami Trail - North Port
- Sarasota County Croquet Club, 1400 Lucaya Ave. - Venice
DeSoto County
Fuel will be provided at the POD located at S. Orange Avenue and Court Street, DeSoto County said on its website. There will be 10 gallons of gas limit for cars and 15 gallons of gas limit for trucks. Only credit or debits card will be taken.
PODs will have more than 4,000 cases of water and MREs have already been distributed, the county said.
- DeSoto County Department of Emergency Management, 2200 Northeast Roan St. - Arcadia
- Nocatee Elementary School, 4846 SW Shores - Arcadia
- Save A Lot, 1325 E. Oak St. - Arcadia
- Highway 70 near the Peace River Campground and 2nd Bunker
- Highway 72 near Owens Road
Lee County
Lee County officials, along with their federal partners, are opening up PODs -- or points of distribution. They're places where people who've been affected by Hurricane Ian can get food and water.
There are eight PODs set up, with more opening up as county officials get more supplies.
The PODs are open for distribution from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily.
Below are the eight locations in Lee County
- Old Bonita Library at 26876 Pine Avenue
- Kelly Road Soccer Complex at 10750 Kelly Road
- Cape Coral Sport Complex at 1410 Sports Blvd.
- Cape Coral Leonard St. at 4820 Leonard Street
- Estero High School Ball field Park at 9100 Williams Rd.
- North Fort Myers Recreation Center at 2000 N. Recreation Park Way
- Fleamaster Flea Market at 4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.
- Veterans Park Recreation Center at 55 Homestead Road S.
Highlands County
Highlands County officials are opening PODs for people impacted by the storm. Here are the details from the county.
Lake Placid Save A Lot parking lot, 70 Plaza Avenue: Food, water and ice. To get there, turn onto CR 621 East from U.S. 27. Then follow posted directions and flagmen through the POD, then exit on US 27.
South Florida State College in Avon Park, 600 W. College Drive: Food, water and ice. It opened at noon. Drivers should take U.S. 27 to College Drive. Follow the messages and flagmen through the POD, then exit onto College Drive.
The county is setting up two more PODs and is waiting for goods to arrive and will announce locations when they are ready.