United Way details recovery group's plans for unmet needs

The Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) convened its 13th meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, to advance coordinated recovery work for Hernando County residents affected by disasters. The meeting, held at Hernando County Emergency Management, 18900 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, focused on clarifying how unmet needs are identified and addressed and on mapping local resources to strengthen case management.

Organizers published the meeting agenda and downloadable meeting materials online, making the group's topics and next steps available for public review. Agenda items included an unmet-needs request protocol, a recap of November’s Crisis Care Workshop, updates from LTRG subcommittees, resource mapping efforts, and next steps for disaster case management. The posted materials are intended to document procedures and help coordinate services for individuals and families still requiring support after emergencies.

Angie Bonfardino serves as chair of the LTRG. The event page included a contact email for community members who want participation details or to engage with recovery work. The group’s documentation of subcommittee activities and resource maps aims to reduce overlap among providers, identify remaining gaps in assistance, and streamline referrals to case managers.

For residents, the practical effects are concrete: clearer protocols for requesting unmet-needs assistance can speed access to aid, while updated resource maps can help case managers connect households with available services. Public availability of meeting materials also creates an opportunity for local oversight and for organizations or volunteers to pinpoint where additional resources are needed.

The meeting represents an operational step in the county’s ongoing recovery apparatus rather than a policy shift. Still, it underscores the role of coordinated local planning in ensuring that federal, state, nonprofit and volunteer efforts reach the households most affected by disasters. Transparency in agendas and downloadable documents gives residents and civic groups the information needed to follow progress and to press for accountability where gaps persist.

Residents seeking to review materials or request participation details can find the meeting page and downloads online. Continued engagement with the LTRG will determine whether the protocols and resource maps discussed on Jan. 12 translate into faster, more effective assistance for Hernando County families in recovery.