UPDATE 10/14/2024

Hurricane Milton Recovery Resources for Valerie’s House Families

We know the road to recovery takes time, and some families may still need support after Hurricane Milton. Below are helpful resources that may assist you during this time.

FEMA Individual Assistance

FEMA Individual Assistance is available for individuals and households with uninsured or underinsured expenses or serious needs. Even those with insurance are encouraged to apply.

Eligible Areas

This assistance is available in:
Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia Counties, and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.

How to Apply for Assistance

  • Online: DisasterAssistance.gov

  • FEMA Mobile App: Available on app stores

  • Phone: Call 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET

Staying Connected with FEMA

  • Update your contact information: FEMA may need to contact you for virtual home inspections or additional details.

  • Use direct deposit: Request direct deposits to your financial institution and notify FEMA of any changes to your banking details.

  • Mail delivery: FEMA checks cannot be forwarded. If your home is inaccessible, consider requesting the postal service to hold your mail.

Disaster Nutrition Assistance

For families needing food support after Hurricane Milton, disaster nutrition programs are available. These programs ensure access to essential food resources for those impacted.

At Valerie’s House, we are committed to being here for our families throughout this recovery process. Please reach out if you need additional assistance or emotional support. We are in this together.

UPDATE 10/10/2024

Valerie's House Family, How Are You?

We’ve been thinking of you and hoping that you, your family, and your home weathered Hurricane Milton safely. While we all feel blessed that the impact wasn’t as severe as Hurricane Ian, our hearts are with those to the north of us who are picking up the pieces today.

Here’s a quick update on how our locations fared during the storm:

🌟 Charlotte County (Punta Gorda): Our team shared that the Punta Gorda Home came within inches of taking on water but stayed completely dry! While the Jed Shed did get about 18 inches of water, the good news is that our new floor is intact and just needs cleaning, with drywall replacement needed. A large tree branch came down, but it landed safely on the ground without hitting any of the structures.

🌟 Fort Myers Family is Forever Home: Angela captured photos, and we’re happy to report the home stood strong through the storm.

🌟 Naples: Our team checked on the Naples location, and we’re thankful to share it’s in good shape, though still without power.

Many of our Valerie’s House staff members are returning to SWFL after evacuating and will be assessing their own homes for damage. While we count our blessings, we are standing with those facing more severe damage.
Please continue to stay safe, and feel free to reach out if you need anything. We’re here for you! 💙

City of Fort Myers Hurricane Milton Response

As our community recovers from Hurricane Milton, the City of Fort Myers has taken critical steps to ensure the safety and support of residents during the aftermath. Below is the latest update on the city’s response efforts and available resources.

City Operations Update:

The City of Fort Myers offices, including Parks and Recreation facilities, are closed for normal operations today, October 10th. Employees serving in emergency roles are continuing their duties to assist the community, and city offices will reopen tomorrow, October 11th.

Waste Collection Suspended:

Residential and commercial solid waste collections are suspended until Monday, October 14th. Trash collection will resume on that date, but horticulture, recycling, and bulk collection are suspended until further notice as the city focuses on storm cleanup. Stay tuned for updates on when regular collections will resume.

Post-Storm Response Hubs:

The City of Fort Myers has set up several locations as post-storm response hubs to assist residents. These hubs will provide information about open facilities, available resources, and FEMA Individual Assistance. Residents are welcome to visit these locations on October 11th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., where water will also be available. The response hubs include:

  • Alliance for the Arts – 10091 McGregor Blvd

  • Stars Complex – 2980 Edison Ave

  • Saint Hilary’s Church – 5011 McGregor Blvd

  • Apostolic Revival Center – 2100 Barden Street

  • Jesus Christ Outreach Center – 4050 Ballard Rd

  • Winn Dixie Plaza – 10580 Colonial Blvd

Stay Updated:

For ongoing recovery information and updates, residents are encouraged to visit www.cityftmyers.com/recover and monitor the City of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Police Department, and Fort Myers Fire Department social media channels.

Immediate Resources for Families

Healthy Start

  • Diapers and Formula
    Contact: Amanda at amanda@healthystartswfl.com

United Way 211

  • Connect to a variety of resources
    Dial 211 or call 239-433-3900 if you have trouble reaching 211.

Lee Health and Emergency Resources

Lee County Government Quick Links

FEMA Disaster Assistance

If you are a homeowner or renter with uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Milton, visit https://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 to determine eligibility for assistance.

Lee County Human & Veteran Services

Lee County offers resources for those in need of assistance after the storm, including help for veterans and other human services. You can explore more here or connect to services.

We Are Here to Help

At Valerie's House, we remain committed to providing support to our families during this challenging time. We will keep updating our Hurricane Milton Resources page with valuable information. Please check back frequently for new updates.

If you notice a link that is no longer working or a resource that’s unavailable, feel free to reach out to us so we can make the necessary updates.

Stay safe, and do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance.

With love,
The Valerie's House Team

 Valerie's House Closure: 10/07 - 10/11

Dear Valerie's House Families,

For the safety of our families and staff, we want to inform you that all Valerie's House locations in Southwest Florida will be closed from October 7th to October 11th, 2024. This includes our Naples location, the Fort Myers Family is Forever Home, and the Charlotte County location in Punta Gorda.

During this time, there will be no group sessions, counseling services, or virtual groups available. We encourage you to visit our dedicated webpage for updates: Hurricane Milton Resources. We will be sharing updates from all of our locations, along with resources available in various parts of Southwest Florida.

Safety remains our top priority for our families, our staff, and the entire Southwest Florida community. This closure also allows our staff the opportunity to make their own preparations, evacuate, or be with their families.

Please be safe and know that we are with you during this time.

Warm regards,
The Valerie’s House Team

Please Share:

If you need an emergency shelter, here are the open Lee County shelters as of Tuesday 10/8:

Open Now:

  • Island Coast High School - 2125 DeNavarra Pkwy, Cape Coral

  • Estero Recreation Center - 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero

  • Dunbar High School - 30 Edison Ave, Fort Myers

  • Hertz Arena - 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero

  • Gateway High School - 13820 Griffin Dr, Fort Myers

  • Oak Hammock Middle School - 5321 Tice St, Fort Myers

  • Tortuga Elementary - 1711 Gunnery Rd. N, Lehigh Acres

  • Treeline Elementary - 10900 Treeline Ave, Fort Myers

  • Varsity Lakes Middle School - 801 Gunnery Rd. N, Lehigh Acres

Opening at Noon Today:

  • Alico Arena (FGCU) - 12181 FGCU Lake Pkwy E, Fort Myers

  • Harns Marsh Elementary - 1800 Unice Ave, Lehigh Acres

  • Harns Marsh Middle - 1820 Unice Ave, Lehigh Acres

  • East Lee County High School - 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave, Lehigh Acres

For Lee County shelters: Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene (leegov.com)

For Charlotte County shelters: Shelter Listing | Charlotte County, FL (charlottecountyfl.gov)

For Collier County shelters: Emergency Management | Collier County, FL (colliercountyfl.gov)

Reminder: We’re updating resources for our families here: Hurricane Milton Updates & Resources | Valerie’s House — Valerie's House (valerieshouse.org)

We’re checking in with you this Tuesday morning ahead of Hurricane Milton.

As a reminder, all Valerie’s House locations in Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and Naples are closed this week to make sure our families and staff remain safe and prepared ahead of the storm.

🌪 Important Local Resources: Whether you’re in Charlotte, Lee, or Collier counties, here are some important county-specific websites where you can find the latest info on evacuation orders, shelters, and other valuable resources:

County Emergency Management Websites:

📞 United Way 211: You can also call 211 for assistance. The United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is available 24/7 to connect you with resources and information.

We’re continuing to update the Hurricane Milton Resources page on our website with valuable information and resources for our families.

Please check back regularly for updates. Stay safe and take care of yourselves. We’ll continue to share more updates and resources as they become available.

With love,

The Valerie's House Team

Hurricane updates for residents of the City of Fort Myers can be found here: Hurricane Center | Fort Myers, FL - Official Website (cityftmyers.com)

For families in Collier County, shelter information and emergency orders can be found here: Emergency Management | Collier County, FL (colliercountyfl.gov)

For families in Charlotte County, please refer to the Charlotte County Emergency Management website for important information, including emergency orders and shelter listings: Emergency Management | Charlotte County, FL (charlottecountyfl.gov)

As of Monday, 10/07/2024, there are three shelters that will be open in Lee County:

  • Estero Recreation Center - 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero

  • Dunbar High School - 30 Edison Ave, Fort Myers

  • Island Coast High School - 2125 DeNavarra Pkwy, Cape Coral 

Please visit the Lee County Public Shelter page for the most accurate and up to date information concerning shelters: Public Shelters (leegov.com)

Updated List of School Closures SWFL schools affected due to Milton (winknews.com)

Updated List of Sandbag Locations Free sandbag locations ahead of Milton (winknews.com)

Collier County Evacuation Zones What is My Evacuation Zone? (arcgis.com)

Lee County Evacuation Zones Lee Prepares (arcgis.com)