Hurricane Idalia help update, Citrus County, Florida
American Red Cross: 1-800-733-2767
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency: 1-800-621-3362; Speech/Hearing Impaired: 1-800-462-7585
Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) State Assistance Information Line (SAIL): 1-800-342-3557
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Assistance: 1-386-719-5590
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Center: 1-800-659-2955
Free Wi-Fi Access
Free Wi-Fi access available at all Citrus County Library System locations, including the Coastal Region (located at 8619 W. Crystal St., Crystal River) and Homosassa (4100 S. Grandmarch Ave., off W. Grover Cleveland Blvd.) branches. Signal can be used inside during regular library hours or picked up in the parking lot during off hours. For more information about library services, call (352) 746-9077.
Fort Island Gulf Beach Closure
Fort Island Gulf Beach, boat launch, boardwalk, fishing pier, and restrooms all sustained damage during Hurricane Idalia. Recent storm conditions have delayed efforts to repair the safe-swim area. Therefore, swimming is not permitted at this time. The beach will reopen as soon as weather conditions allow staff and contractors to install new bouys.
Restroom facilities remain closed further notice. The septic system must be pumped and inspected before reopening. The boat ramp, fishing pier, and boardwalk will also remain closed. Please do not attempt to enter the area until recovery efforts are complete. For more information, call (352) 527-7540.
Debris Removal
Pickups began within unincorporated Citrus County (not within the city limits of Crystal River or Inverness) on Tuesday, September 5, and will continue until all storm debris is accounted for.
Residents are asked to stage debris (not including everyday household trash) in the right-of-way for pick up, separating vegetative debris, construction & demolition debris, appliances, and electronics. Avoid stacking or leaning – placing debris near or on trees, poles, or other structures makes removal difficult.
Although the debris removal companies are currently only picking up on public rights-of-way, Citrus County is coordinating with state and federal partners to ensure that assistance is available for all of its communities and residents. For more information about debris pickup, call (352) 527-5477.
Here's a link to a video explaining the process, a guide to how to sort debris and a link to our Debris Collection Dashboard where you can monitor pick-up in your area: https://www.citrusbocc.com/alert_detail.php.
Citrus County Self-Haul Debris Removal
Standard landfill fees apply for self-haul debris. Some items (such as furniture, carpet, padding, mattresses, scrap metal, etc.) are always free per the landfill's residential fee schedule. For more information, call (352) 527-7670 or email landfillinfo@citrusbocc.com.
Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)
Citrus County s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will be located at the West Citrus Community Center (8940 W. Veterans Drive in Homosassa). It will open on Tuesday, September 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and remain open through at least Sunday, September 24. More dates and times will be announced.
At the DRC, individuals can apply for assistance, check the status of a FEMA application, find housing and rental assistance information, get referrals to other agencies, learn about Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, and more.
Citrus County Transit
Citrus County Transit is offering free transportation for residents from their location to the DRC (by appointment only). Call (352) 527-7630 to schedule a pickup.
Emergency Shelter
The American Red Cross opened an emergency shelter for those displaced by the storm on Monday, September 11, located at The Bin Spot (1520 S. Suncoast Blvd. in Homosassa). The shelter offers meals, beds, and showers, and can provide resources for navigating the recovery process. Citrus County would like to thank Ken Zarrillo, founder and CEO of Wholesalez.com, for donating the much-needed shelter space.
Permitting
Immediate repairs may be required to protect the integrity of some storm-damaged structures and property. Citrus County has initiated a temporary 72-hour grace period for emergency repairs which require a permit. For more information, call (352) 527-5310.
Volunteer Information
Citrus County is actively seeking volunteers to assist with cleanup efforts in the impacted coastal areas. Sign up to volunteer here: https://tinyurl.com/Idalia-Recovery-Volunteer-Form. For more information, contact ncvc@citrusbocc.com.
Donations
Donations for human and residential needs can be accepted by the United Way of Citrus County. For more information, email at madelyn.russell@citrusunitedway.org
The Citrus County Chamber of Commerce is accepting donations to be allocated for local business needs. For more information, email at s.worthington@outlook.com.
About Hurricane Idalia
Idalia made landfall near Keaton Beach at 7:45 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30, as a Category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds close to 125 mph. 73 residents of Citrus County were rescued from flood-prone areas on the west side of the count, as a result of the 7-foot storm surge from Hurricane Idalia. On Thursday morning, August 31, the federal government declared Citrus County a disaster area, which accelerated the process of helping storm-affected residents recover from the storm.
Old Homosassa Post Office, 10780 W. Yulee Dr., Homosassa, FL temporarily closed for repairs
The Old Homosassa Post Office, located at 10780 W. Yulee Dr. in Homosassa, Florida 34487, is temporarily closed for repairs after Hurricane Idalia. Residents of Old Homosassa are asked to please pick up their mail at the Homosassa Springs Post Office, located at 4610 S. Suncoast Blvd. in Homosassa, Florida 34446, until further notice.
Second Sunday Sunset Drum Circle will temporarily be held at Liberty Park in Inverness
Due to damages from Hurrican Idalia, the "Second Sunday Sunset Drum Circle," normally held at Fort Island Gulf Beach in Crystal River, Florida, has temporarily changed its monthly location (as of Sept. 10, 2023 at 6:00 pm) to Liberty Park, located at 368 N. Apopka Dr. in, Inverness, Florida, until the beach reopens. Attendees are asked to bring a chair, an umbrella that attaches to a chair if you'd like shade, non-alcoholic beverages, and bug spray, along with your dancing feet, drums or shakers and other small percussion instruments; no smoking, alcohol, dogs or politics, please! This is a free community drum circle. If it is raining at start time, the drum circle will be canceled. For more information, visit
the Citrus County Drum Circle Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/922465731107196 or call Charlotte at (352) 344-8009.