Zoe Warner
•6/9/2026
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—A Charlotte County man is pulling out of the Elevate Florida program after months of what he calls transparency issues.
Joseph Anderson was approved for Elevate Florida in early 2026 and thought his Port Charlotte home would get long-overdue upgrades to protect his family during hurricane season. While his home has never flooded, he doesn't know how many more hurricane seasons he'll get through before it does.
"We thought this was great, you know, and we were ready to commit funds from our retirements to the project, but the further it went, and we have no idea how much we're going to have to even commit," Anderson said.
Nearly six months later, Anderson said he's done everything on his end but is now pulling out of the program after several delays in receiving a quote and plan for elevating his home.
"The program has never given me any solid figures, never given me any solid figures, so you know, I'm supposed to commit funds, but we have no idea how much, you know, it's very frustrating," Anderson said.
Anderson currently pays $3,800 for his home's flood insurance. He said with this program, he was told he'd have to comply with FEMA's rules, which could run him anywhere between what he pays now and $12,000 to protect his home.
Anderson said his story is not to bash the program but to spread awareness so this doesn't happen to another homeowner in the future. With him pulling out of Elevate Florida, he's putting all his trust in storm shutters and sandbags.
"I can't afford the alternative, you know. And if, if we get flooded, well, we'll start over. I mean, that's all," Anderson said. "We're doing the best we can with what we have, you know, our resources aren't limitless."
Anderson believes the program could work with the right oversight.
"I think it could be a good program. I think they just, somebody needs to get in there, some auditor or something needs to get in there and get a hold of this thing, and say, look, here's the problems," Anderson said.
WINK News reached out to Elevate Florida asking about the status of Anderson's case and whether the flood insurance premium increase is normal for participants in the program.
