People line up for hours for FEMA hurricane assistance in Port Charlotte

Hurricane Ian has left many people in need of assistance in various forms. One of the organizations offering help is FEMA, and it is drawing lines in Port Charlotte.

Vinette Burks, from Port Charlotte, was one of the people who lined up to get help from FEMA.

Burks and her son evacuated before Ian made it to Southwest Florida, but when she returned, she found an orange note on her building saying it was unsafe to enter.

“I have to be out of the apartment, totally, before Monday,” said Burks.

On top of losing her home, all of the windows of Burks’ car were blown out by the storm. She is thankful that she has her son to lean on.

“I like to be on my own. You know, I worked until I was 81 years old, so I’m a very, very, very independent person,” Burks said.

Burks hopes she can get help from FEMA, and she is not alone.

Marian Brumley, from Rotunda West, also stood in line on Friday to seek help from the federal organization.

“We were just listening to the storm, and all of sudden, I hear this loud noise, and I went in a looked, and the ceiling had fallen in on my bed,” said Brumley.

Brumley said she waited for more than four hours to speak with someone from FEMA with the hope they would cover what her insurance won’t.

“It just tore my house apart. I was ready to pack up and leave,” said Brumley, who also said she wasn’t leaving. “This is my home now.”

Brumley, Burks, and everyone else who stood in the sun to speak with FEMA, are ready to make their houses home again.

You can also apply for FEMA aid by visiting their website.