Rebuilding in DeSoto County

Our communities have long been vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and, more recently, increasingly higher temperatures and the pandemic. Disasters have the potential to significantly impact all aspects of our lives, including our homes.

In August 2024, the DeSoto County Historical Society, DeSoto County Emergency Management, and DeSoto County Library partnered to put together an exhibit of visuals, mementos, and recollections of the impact of Hurricane Charley on its 20th anniversary. Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 storm, took the infamous right turn up the Peace River Valley and, with its accompanying tornadoes, caused uncharacteristic levels of destruction. Fast forward to today, other hurricanes, like Ian, have caused extensive damage since Charley. 

From a catastrophic storm to an unpaid bill for a family working to make ends meet, people routinely face unforeseen challenges that affect their well-being. 

Understanding that disaster takes many forms, The Patterson Foundation works to create outcomes that strengthen communities recovering from challenging circumstances and share existing community resources related to community engagement in disaster preparedness, recovery, and resiliency.

FloridaCommerce's Rebuild Florida: Community Outreach Event on September 21
Rebuild Florida is having an application intake event in DeSoto County at the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Boys & Girls Club on September 21, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for homeowners who still need assistance with home damages related to Hurricane Ian. Outreach representatives will be available to share program materials, help residents with the Rebuild Florida Housing Assessment, and answer questions related to the program. The Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program is a cost-free grant for households that experienced damage to their homes due to Hurricane Ian. This program is part of the Community Development Block Grant for Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR). It may provide up to $100,000 to eligible homeowners for the repairs or reconstruction of hurricane-related damages that have not been repaired.

Community organizations are invited to join and host an information booth. If interested, complete the Community Partnership Signup Form here to be added as a vendor for the event. This will be a great opportunity to share information about your organization's resources and gain exposure.

Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB) knows that making a difference in a community requires you to be in the community—together with residents and neighbors. With an investment from the Selby Foundation, the organization has mobilized its DeSoto-based team more efficiently to reach clients with homes in desperate need of repairs, rehabs, and disaster recovery services in the wake of hurricanes and other storms. The $37,920 grant helped to purchase a vehicle to transport supplies, tools, and hurricane kits and to conduct home assessments and projects with greater ease across DeSoto County. The support has further empowered RTTB's staff to keep neighbors in need housed in safe, healthy, habitable, and affordable homes for years to come.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County's Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund gives generous donors the opportunity to support long-term, long-range programs to sustain human service agencies serving people in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. To help our region recover with resilience, The Patterson Foundation strengthened the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund through catalytic funding and matching donations.

Season of Sharing 
Season of Sharing is a time-tested and trusted resource that inspires our caring community to donate to help families in Florida's Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties regain stability following a crisis. Powered by a partnership between the Herald-Tribune Media Group and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Season of Sharing provides individuals and families with the critical assistance they need to get back on their feet, covering emergency expenses like medical bills, rent, child care, and transportation. Each year, The Patterson Foundation provides unique matching opportunities to spark further displays of generosity from community donors throughout Season of Sharing by strengthening the impact of their gifts.

Understanding the realities and dangers disasters pose can create opportunities to thrive beyond their effects. People, organizations, and communities are diligently examining this complex topic locally and worldwide, yielding compelling models, data, and learnings that can inform the Suncoast's response to its challenges.