About this episode

This episode discusses the Lasting Manatee program and its role in hurricane recovery for families in Manatee County.

The 2024 storms may have passed, but for many families across Manatee County, recovery is still very real. This episode is about Lasting Manatee, Manatee County’s long-term hurricane recovery program funded through Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding and Odugo Ohizu is here to tell us all about it. We break down what the program is, who it’s designed to help, and why this funding matters so much for residents still trying to rebuild after Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. This conversation talks about the real challenges families face after disaster strikes, the complexity of recovery, and the work happening behind the scenes to help residents rebuild safely and with dignity. We discuss: What Lasting Manatee actually does Who may qualify for assistance The types of housing recovery support available Common mistakes applicants should avoid Why disaster recovery is a multi-year process How data, outreach, and community partnerships shape recovery efforts What residents should do now if they think they may qualify If you or someone you know was impacted by the 2024 storms, this episode is an important guide to understanding the resources…

People in this episode

Guest: Odugo Ohizu

Topics covered

• hurricane recovery
• disaster assistance
• community support
• funding programs
• housing recovery
• long-term recovery

Keywords

• CDBG-DR
• disaster recovery
• Lasting Manatee
• hurricane assistance
• community partnerships
• housing support
• rebuilding
• storm recovery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Manatee County, Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery

Places: Manatee County

More episodes of Chambers, Changes & Conversations - the official podcast of Manatee County Government

• Episode 39: Oyster Restoration Project · June 8, 2026 · 43 min
• Ep. 38: CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) & Com. Mike Rahn & Jodie Fiske · June 2, 2026 · 34 min
• Ep. 37: Christine Olson, T.I.F.F.- To Inform Families First, & Matt Myers · May 27, 2026 · 39 min
• Ep. 34: Jodie Fiske & Kevin Guthrie, FDEM Director · April 23, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Ep 33: Deputy County Administrator Courtney De Pol · March 23, 2026 · 53 min
• Ep. 32 Board Chair Tal Siddique · March 18, 2026 · 43 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Chambers, Changes & Conversations - the official podcast of Manatee County Government podcast page.