After The Storm: Useful Phone Numbers
August 16, 2004
Lee County Storm Information Hotline
239-477-1900 or 888-231-5320
FPL
1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243)
LCEC
239-656-2300
Emergency Management
Charlotte County: (941) 505-4620 **this number may not be working because of the storm***
Collier County: (239) 774-8444
DeSoto County (863) 993-4831
Glades County (863)946-6020
Lee County (239) 477-3600 - Emergencies only, instead call the hotline for questions 239-477-1900
Hendry County (863) 675-5392
Hardee County (863)773-6373
FHP - Roads: 800-342-3557
I-75 IS OPEN
Insurance Questions
800-342-2762
Tourist & Convention Bureau Hotline
888-849-4085
State of Florida Emergency Information 24-hour hotline (FEIL): 1-800-342-3557
Department of Insurance: 1-800-22-STORM (1-800-227-8676)
Attorney General's Price Gouging Hotline : 1-800-646-0444
Agricultural and Consumer Services: 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352)
FEMA - 800-621-3362
You can help the victims of Hurricane Charley and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575
From The Associated Press
STATEWIDE: The state's Emergency Operations Center was open and extra Florida Highway Patrol troopers and Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents were available to be sent to counties in need. Officials say 4,372 Florida National Guard troops, 112 National Guard ground vehicles and 10 helicopters have been deployed. About 645 state law enforcement officers have also been deployed.
DISASTER AREAS: Federal officials declared 25 of Florida's 67 counties as disaster areas, eligible for aid: Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, St. Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia.
CURFEWS: Mandatory curfews were in effect in Osceola, and DeSoto counties from sunset to sunrise, in Hardee County from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and in Charlotte County from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Lee County set a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., except in Fort Myers, where it was set from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Orange County asked residents to stay off the roads from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m.
SHELTERS: About 2,390 people stayed in 20 shelters in 11 counties: Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Lee, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia.
HOSPITALS: Charlotte Regional and Gulf Coast Hospital were closed. The following hospitals are operating emergency department services: Highlands Regional, Fawcett Memorial Hospital, Bon Secours-St. Joseph and Lake Wales Hospital.
SCHOOLS: Hardee and Charlotte schools are closed until at least Aug. 27. Polk and DeSoto schools closed through Aug. 20. Lee County closed schools through Wednesday. Osceola, Orange, Seminole and Volusia schools closed Monday and Tuesday. In Sarasota, two schools without power will be closed Monday. Florida Gulf Coast University was closed until Tuesday. The main campus of Daytona Beach Community College was closed Monday, and students were encouraged to register online. The University of Central Florida campus reopened Monday, and Sunday's scheduled check-in for student housing was postponed until Tuesday. Edison Community College delayed registration until power is restored. Students at the Oviedo campus of Seminole Community College were asked to register online or at the Sanford campus.
TRANSPORTATION: No airports are closed, though Punta Gorda is operating only during daylight hours. Amtrak limited Florida service to Jacksonville and Sanford Monday and Tuesday. Bridges to Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island closed.
WATER: Residents were advised to boil water in several communities, including Arcadia, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda.
POWER: About 890,000 people are without power Monday. Outages affect 360,306 Progress Energy customers and 339,000 FPL customers. Power has been restored to 1.3 million residents. Progress Energy expects to restore power in Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties by Sunday and Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties by Aug. 25. Florida Power & Light hopes to restore power to Brevard by Monday; Flagler and Englewood on Tuesday; Collier and most of Daytona by Wednesday; Sanford, Deltona, most of Fort Myers and the rest of Daytona by Thursday and the rest of Fort Myers on Friday. Power restoration estimates in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Arcadia are still unavailable, FPL said.
SPORTS: Saturday's Tampa Bay Bucs-Cincinnati Bengals preseason game was to be played Monday night.
THEME PARKS: All major theme parks are open in Orlando and Tampa.
CITRUS INDUSTRY: Charley devastated Florida's citrus growers, especially in DeSoto, Hardee and Polk counties. Less damage in Charlotte, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The counties account for 35 percent of Florida's citrus acreage. Damage assessment is expected Monday.
HOTLINES: Here are some phone numbers for statewide hotlines:
Florida Emergency Information Line: 800-342-3557.
American Red Cross: 1-866-GET-INFO (for information) and 800-GIVE-NOW (for donations).
Attorney General's price gouging hot line: 800-646-0444.
Florida Power and Light: 800-4-OUTAGE.
Elder Services: 800-963-5337.
FEMA Disaster Assistance: 800-621-3362.
State Volunteer and Donations: 1-800-354-3571.
Agricultural and Consumer Services: 800-435-7352.
Department of Insurance: 800-227-8676.