FEMA distributes food, water in Polk Co.

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People who are worn out from Hurricane Irma are getting help in Polk County.

On Friday, FEMA starting handing out free food and water at 11 different sites around the county, including Victory Church.

A long line of cars formed at 8 a.m., and continued throughout the day. Many of the people who came still don’t have electricity.

“I got a few things in the cabinet but pretty much everything in the refrigerator is pretty much spoiled now,”  Dennis Mohler told FOX 13 as he was driving away with his FEMA package.

Each car got two boxes of food, and two cases of water. Cars were allowed to go through a second time if they wanted.

The food came from FEMA, but the elbow grease was all volunteer. Gavin Keim was one of the youngest volunteers.

“I have been telling them God bless them, and they have been telling me the same thing back,” he said.

The Polk County Government says the Points of Distribution (PODs) throughout the county will operate on varied schedules Saturday and Sunday.

Residents in need of water and food are able to get two cases of water and one case of Meal, Ready-to-Eat, commonly known as MRE, per visit. The MRE is a water-activated self-contained complete meal.

POD locations open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are:

• Davenport – Market Square Park, Market St. & 17/92
• Dundee – Community Center, 603 Lake Marie Drive
• Fort Meade – Fort Meade Park, 1205 NE Ninth Street
• Frostproof – First Baptist Church, 96 West B. Street
• Haines City – Lake Eva Aquatic Center, 220 Third Street South
• Lakeland – Victory Church, 1401 Griffin Road
• Lake Wales – 1750 Longleaf Blvd.

POD locations open 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are:
• Mulberry – Civic Center, 901 NE Fifth Street
• Poinciana – Community Center, 395 S. Marigold

Polk City POD will be open Saturday from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. It is located at:
• Polk City – 124 E Palmetto Lane

For updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/polkcountygovfl/posts/?ref=page_internal