Local

Food, assistance coming to residents of Lake County devastated by Hurricane Ian

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — Relief is coming to people living in the devastated area of northeast Lake County.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Much of the community of Astor remains underwater, and several neighborhoods on the Saint Johns River started taking on a lot of water on Saturday. Many of the homes are surrounded.

Without a boat or a high-water vehicle, if people want to get out, they need to wade through snake- and alligator-infested waters.

READ: ‘Washed away in an instant’: 62-year-old Daytona Beach Shores restaurant swept away by Hurricane Ian

Lake Support and Emergency Recovery Team, or LASER, showed Channel 9 some of the hardest-hit areas. The nonprofit has been delivering food and water for those who can’t get out of their neighborhoods.

The nearby food and water station set up by LASER, the county and Kroger has been a godsend for some residents.

READ: Fort Myers man rode out Hurricane Ian on boat

“Anything is helpful, especially water,” Astor resident Lloyd Winfield said. “All the wells are pretty much inundated right now.”

Residents in Lake County are also now eligible to apply for assistance from FEMA for things like temporary housing and basic home repairs.

READ: Neighbors in Need: How to help Floridians who lost it all after Hurricane Ian

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Jeff Deal

Jeff Deal, WFTV.com

I joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in 2006.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.