Disaster Relief
Hurricane Ian Update
EPCAR and its staff would like to extend Prayers for all Floridians and Realtors who have been affected by Hurricane Ian. We have created this page for you to use, share with those in our industry and the community at-large.
Here are the links to the applications for assistance:
Florida Realtors Disaster Relief
Individual Application Brokerage application
Florida Realtors: Hurricane Ian Resources
Donate to the Disaster Relief Fund
To File a Missing Persons Report
Florida Housing Disaster Relief
Polk County Emergency Home Page
Waiver to Speed Flood Relief to Homeowners
Self-Employed Are Eligible for Unemployment Aid
Struggling Fla. Homeowners Can Get Mortgage Help
For those affected by the storm to request clean up:
Crisis Clean Up Hotline: Ian: (800) 451-1954
Samaritan’s Purse contact information for homeowners:
Fort Myers, FL: Homeowner Phone: 239-944-0119
Englewood, FL: Homeowner Phone: 941-290-8527
Punta Gorda, FL: Homeowner Phone: 941-290-8648
For Volunteers looking to help in affected areas:
To volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse sign up at : https://link.edgepilot.com/s/49e385a5/99KI6wruMU6UXcHVx6Ac4Q?u=http://www.spvolunteer.org/
To volunteer with Crisis Clean up see below & attached FAQ
Hurricane Ian Clean-up
Frequently Asked Questions
What work is involved? The work orders have come in from private citizens needing relief from the property damage caused by the hurricane. The work is generally debris removal, tarping roofs, removing trees or mucking out flooded houses. This is a FREE service to the recipients.
How do I register to Volunteer? {Click here}
Where do I go to help?
Volunteers: Campground: Lee County Sports Complex
14100 6 mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Crew Chiefs: Command Center: 1928 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral FL 33991
What dates will teams be working? Saturdays & Sundays every weekend in October
When do I need to arrive? The campsite is open on Friday. The service work begins on Saturday morning at sunrise. One designated crew chief should check into the command center on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
What supplies do I need? You need food, water, camping gear, work clothes and toiletries. The campsite has bathrooms and showers. You can also book your own hotel room or rent an RV. There is no water or electric hookups for the RVs.
What if I don’t have a work team? No problem, come to the campground we’ll team you up with other amazing volunteers.
What supplies are provided? The command center is equipped with the gear to complete the work orders: chainsaws, sleds, gloves, masks, helmets, crow bars, t-shirts, blue tarps, hammers, nails, duct tape, etc.
What are the age restrictions? Because of the rigors of the work we need volunteers to be at least 14 years old.
What are the work hours? Saturday all day. Sunday until 6pm. If you can only work a few hours, great, go for it!
How do the “teams” work? Upon arrival at the campground a crew chief checks into the Command Center to receive specific instructions, and gather supplies then meets up with his/her crew. Crew members should take on the following roles: safety director, hydration monitor, maps co-pilot, recorder, equipment coordinator, emotional/spiritual support. Everyone takes a role and contributes to the team.
What are the common hazards of hurricane clean-up? The work involved is rigorous and potentially dangerous. Potential risks include: Dehydration, contaminated flood water, mold, downed power lines, fire ants, mosquitos, sharp metal objects, hazardous debris, stress, injury, etc.
Can I help from home? Yes, you can be a great help by becoming a Crisiscleanup.org volunteer to take incoming phone calls from homeowners seeking help. If interested, please email Robyn Fields at RobynFields5@aol.com Subject: "Crisis Cleanup"
Further questions?
Email/Text Kent Nelson - veteransrealty@gmail.com 786-299-2733
Email/Text Brad Westover – bpwestover@gmail.com 561-644-1109
Email/Text Kurt Scherer – kscherer5@gmail.com 352-219-1317
Are there other Command Centers? YES!
Ft Myers Area Sarasota Area Naples Area
1928 Chiquita Blvd S 1303 Forrest Nelson Blvd 4935 23rd Ct SW
Cape Coral, FL 33991 Port Charlotte, FL 33952 Naples, FL 34116
Volunteer Check-in Locations (Campsites)
Ft. Myers: Lee County Sports Complex - 14100 6 mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912
Sarasota: TBD – Info coming 10/6/22
Naples: TBD – Info coming 10/6/22