NAPLES, Fla. — Naples is now home to a new FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), ready to help residents recover from Hurricane Milton. FOX 4 asked FEMA why they are in Collier County when the areas hardest hit by the two recent hurricanes are so far north of here.
Watch Community Correspondent Austin Schargorodski’s report here…

FEMA Opens Naples Recovery Center to Help Those Displaced by Hurricane Milton

A steady stream of people came Thursday, meeting with FEMA and SBA agents to discuss their recovery needs. Sam Roberts said he came because the insulation and ducts under his house were flooded by a storm surge just two years after he lost his home to Hurricane Ian.

“If I can’t get it out because it’s full of water, it will be unhealthy for me to stay there with the risk of black mold and other things like that,” Roberts said.

Austin Schargorodski

Fortunately, Roberts said coming to the DRC was a crucial step. “FEMA will probably be enough to cover the insulation, which is what they gave me. But if that’s no longer the case, I might go to the SBA,” Roberts said.

While Naples suffered some coastal wave damage, most of Milton’s impact was in the northern counties. FOX 4 asked FEMA spokesperson Troy York why they opened the center in Naples.

“A lot of folds in counties north of here, let’s say Charlotte County for example, may have had to leave Charlotte County because of damage to their homes. Because alternative housing is, you know, everyone needs it and so few have it, they had to move further away – a lot of them came this way,” York explained.

Austin Schargorodski

At this center, people can apply for disaster assistance, get loan assistance, and access resources from FEMA and other agencies. York notes that many prefer face-to-face options over online options.

“It’s easy for them to be guided by the person they’re talking to who has experience in these areas and can help them get into the appropriate programs,” York said.

Austin Schargorodski

To speed up the process, York suggests bringing identification, proof of residency and loss records. This center will be open every day from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except Sundays, until further notice.