BRANDON, Fla. — Florida survivors of Hurricane Ian can learn how to salvage storm-damaged household treasures from preservation specialists visiting six Disaster Recovery Centers over the next two weeks.
Among the heirlooms that might be saved are photos, artwork, quilts, important documents and other irreplaceable mementos. Specialists trained by the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) will provide advice and show survivors how to handle, dry, and clean their damaged items on their own.
HENTF experts will be available to assist survivors for two weeks at Disaster Recovery Centers. Here’s the schedule:
LEE COUNTY
Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 11. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 20. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Lake Kennedy Center, 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, Fort Myers, FL 33901
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 11. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 20. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Shannon Staub Public Library, 4675 Career Lane, North Port, FL 34289
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 11. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 20. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
COLLIER COUNTY
Veteran’s Community Park, 1895 Veteran’s Park Drive, Naples, FL 34109
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 11. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 20. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
Tringali Rec Center, 3450 North Access Road, Englewood, FL 34224
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 11. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 20. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
MANATEE COUNTY
John Marble Park, 3675 53rd Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34203
- Saturday, Nov. 5 – Friday, Nov. 11. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 20. Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution co-sponsor the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, a partnership of 62 national service organizations and federal agencies. HENTF was created to protect cultural heritage from the damaging effects of natural disasters and other emergencies.
If you don’t want to wait for the demonstrations or cannot attend, guidance and resources are available at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/save-family-treasures.