Okeechobee County 4-H     

  Cooperative Extension Service

458 U.S. Highway 98 N.

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2303

Adam Cletzer, Student Assistant  Acletzer@ifas.ufl.edu  

For  release: August 20, 2004   

Storm ravaged communities receive support

The storm-ravaged communities of Arcadia and Wauchula that were hit hard by Hurricane Charlie more than a week ago have received an outpouring of support by the truckload from Okeechobee County, but normalcy for the towns’ residents has yet to arrive.

Several relief operations are underway in Okeechobee County to help victims and their animals during the coming weeks.  There are many ways you can help.

The Okeechobee County Cooperative Extension office staff has been in Sebring, Arcadia and Wauchula since Monday August 16, helping gather and deliver supplies as well as feeding volunteers. 

The Extension office in Okeechobee will continue to serve as a depot for supplies to be sent to the distribution centers at the Desoto and Hardee County Cooperative Extension offices.  “They are in need of just about anything you can imagine,” Okeechobee County Extension Director Pat Miller said. “If you can bring supplies by the Extension office, we will find a way to get them where they’re needed.”

The Extension service is helping to fill in the gaps in relief between organizations that provide only for people, or only for pets, Miller said.  Supplies ranging from bottled water, MREs and toiletries to livestock and horse feed, fencing material and veterinary medicine are still greatly needed.

Walpole Feed & Supply has set up the Hurricane Charlie Disaster Relief Fund. Anyone can donate money to the fund and an Extension agent will purchase supplies of greatest need and transport them to areas affected by Charlie. To help, contact Walpole Feed & Supply at (863) 763-6905.

Tractor Supply Company of Okeechobee will also continue to store supplies to be delivered to Arcadia and Wauchula. You can purchase an item and leave it there under the Okeechobee County Extension Office’s name, and an Extension agent will see that it makes it to a needy family.

For more information about Hurricane Charlie relief efforts, contact the Okeechobee County Extension Office at (863) 763-6469, or visit our Web site, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu 

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The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A. Arrington,  Dean.  This page is maintained by  Dan Culbert