CharlotteCounty Emergency Refuge Sites

Red Cross shelters open 24 hours a day:

  • L.A.AingerMiddle School - Closed
  • CulturalCenter of CharlotteCounty - 2280 Aaron St.map
  • NorthPortHigh School
  • San Pedro Catholic Church on US 41 in North Port
  • United MethodChurch in Englewood at Dearborn/River Rd
List of all Red Cross Shelters in Florida
Many local churches are also accepting donations and distributing necessary items for disaster relief.
Public Transportation is available from 3 locations to shelters. A bus/van is running every 30 minutes from 9am-6pm. You can pickup a bus/van at these locations:
  • Charlotte Town Center Mall parking lot - Murdock
  • Winn-Dixie parking lot at Kings Hwy and Rampart Blvd.in Port Charlotte
  • Old Punta Gorda Mall (at northbound US 41 on Taylor St) map
Citizens not able to get to these stations should call 941-697-9550 to arrange other pick up alternatives. For those with special needs, there will be a transportation staging area to both the Robards Arena and L. A. Ainger shelters. Pick-up staging area is located at the old Home Depot parking lot, Toledo Blade Blvd. and U. S. 41. SPECIAL NEEDS VICTIMS ONLY. Victims are to make sure they bring all medication and 3 days worth of clothing.
Anyone who needs a ride to pick-up area can get a ride with Dial-A-Ride and Sunshine Ride Bus between 8am & 4pm. 941-505-4637.

Special Needs Shelter Transportation Option

For those with special needs, there will be a transportation staging area to both the Robarts Arena (in Sarasota) and L.A. Ainger shelters. The pick-up staging area is located at the old Home Depot parking lot, Toledo Blade Blvd. and US 41. This pick-up area is for special needs victims only.
These shelters provide medical care, food, and shelter. Victims are to make sure they bring all of their medication and three days worth of clothing. Anyone who needs a ride to the pick-up area can get a ride with Dial-A-Ride and Sunshine Ride Bus between 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The number to call is 941-505-4637.

Disaster Recovery Center/Distribution Stations Update

Do not bring debris to the DisasterRecoveryCenter on Harold Avenue.
The following drive-thru distribution stations (formerly known as comfort stations) offer water, meals-ready-to-eat (MRE’s) and ice:
  • The distribution station location at the Charlotte County Administration has been moved (grouped together) with the comfort station located at the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall.
  • The distribution station located at the Old Punta Gorda Mall (old Publix shopping center), 115 Tamiami Trail, remains open. (left lane going northbound on 41 before the bridge)map
  • The distribution station at the King’s Highway Winn-Dixie, King’s Highway and Rampart, remains open. Use the King’s Highway entrance.
  • CharlotteCountySportsPark (old Ranger's Stadium) at 2300 El Jobean Road (S.R. 776)map
The following comfort stations offer a cooling station only:
  • The comfort station at TringaliPark and RecreationCenter remains open as a cooling station only.map

Salvation Army & Red Cross mobile feeding units

The Salvation Army & Red Cross are providing mobile feeding units dawn to dusk. The units are prepared to provide meals three times a day throughout the County. Fixed feeding sites are at the following locations:
  • MeadowPark Elementary on Lakeview Blvd. in Port CharlotteCounty
  • Port CharlotteMiddle School on Toledo Blade Blvd. in Port CharlotteCounty
  • DeepCreekElementary School on Harborview Rd in Port Charlotte
  • Highway 41 South and Harbor Blvd.
  • Highway 41 and Henry St. during daylight hours

Showers

Franz Ross Park Branch YMCA offering showers for the public. Located at 19333 Quesada Ave, Port Charlotte 941-629-0909, and 941-629-9662.
Point Spa & Fitness on Placida Road across from LemonBayHigh School is offering their shower facilities for emergency service personnel. They are open 5am-8pm. Please bring towel and toiletries if possible. Contact Faye at 475-3334.
HeronCreekMiddle Schoolon Price Boulevard in NorthPort. 6:30am to 8:30am and 4:30pm to 8:30pm.
NorthPortHigh School Gym on Price Boulevard in NorthPort. 6:30pm to 9pm.
The above information is changing constantly. We are updating this information as it is passed-on to us.
During an Emergency, this information will be updated in real-time by Emergency Management.
Click on the Refuge Site Name for detailed information including maps and directions.
Refuge Site Name / Address / Status / Info Last
Updated
Charlotte Harbor School / 22450 Hancock Ave,
Port Charlotte / Closed / 2/3/04 6:23:51 PM
Charlotte Senior High Schools / 1250 Cooper Street,
Punta Gorda / Closed / 1/26/04 4:39:11 PM
First Presbyterian Church of P.C. / 2230 Hariet St.,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Friendship United Methodist Church / 12275 Paramount Dr.,
TropicalGulf Acres / Closed
L.A. Ainger Middle School / 245 Cougar Way,
Englewood / Closed / 3:00:00 AM
Lemon Bay High School / 2201 Placida Rd,
Englewood / Closed
Liberty Elementary School / 370 Atwater Street,
Port Charlotte / Open / 8/12/04 7:25:26 PM
Maple Leaf Est. Clubhouse Bldgs (2) / 2100 King's Hwy.,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Meadow Park Elementary School / 3131 Lakeview Blvd. NW,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Murdock Middle School / 17325 Mariner Way,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Myakka River Elementary School / 12650 Wilmington Blvd,
Englewood / Closed
Neil Armstrong Elementary School / 22100 Breezeswept Ave,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Peace River Elementary School / 22400 Hancock Ave,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Pilgrim United Church of Christ / 24515 Rampart Blvd.,
Port Charlotte / Near Capacity / 8/13/04 2:31:27 PM
Port Charlotte Cultural Center Conference Center / 2290 Aaron St.,
Port Charlotte / Open / 3:00:00 AM
Port Charlotte High School / 18200 Toledo Blade Blvd,
Port Charltote / Closed
Port Charlotte Middle School / 23000 Midway Blvd,
Port Charlotte / Open / 8/12/04 7:25:13 PM
Punta Gorda Middle Schools / 825 Carmalita Street,
Punta Gorda / Closed / 1/26/04 4:37:23 PM
Redeemer Lutheran Church / 6970 Mineola Rd,
WestCharlotte County / Closed / 3/20/03 4:14:22 PM
Sallie Jones Elementary School / 1221 Cooper Street,
Punta Gorda / Closed / 1/26/04 4:41:52 PM
St. James Episcopal Church / 1365 Viscaya Drive,
Port Charlotte / Closed
Ventura Lakes Clubhouse Building / 27110 N. Jones Loop Road,
Punta Gorda / Open / 8/12/04 11:46:14 PM
Vineland Elementary School / 467 Boundary Blvd,
Englewood / Closed
NOTE: None of these Refuge Sites are sanctioned by the American Red Cross. These locations will by opened as County-run shelters. Do not depend on a particular Refuge Site being open. Refuge Sites may or may not be opened depending on the size of the storm and the predicted landfall area. CharlotteCounty has no Refuge Sites if we have a Category 3 or higher storm affecting the area.
Transportation Dependant
If you are Transportation Dependant, call our office at 505-4620 to request an application for special needs assistance.