FLORIDA RELIEF HURRICANE MICHAEL RESPONSE UPDATE (December 2018)
CURRENT ACTIVITIES (RESPONSE STAGE) ● Chainsaw work: debris removal of blocking, hazardous or potentially hazardous trees and limbs ● Debris removal: exterior, non vegetative debris removal within 50 feet of home ● Residential flood cleanup: assessment, mucking and gutting, personal item salvage, and mold sanitation DISASTER PROFILE Hurricane Michael slammed into Mexico Beach, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained wind speeds of 155 mph - only 2 mph shy of a Category 5. With record-breaking wind speeds, Michael is both the strongest storm to make landfall in the continental US (since Hurricane Andrew in 1992), and is the strongest storm to ever hit the Florida Panhandle. Tracking across the Southeastern United States, winds plunged 1.4 million residents into complete darkness in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Communities across the region are devastated, and multiple towns in the Panhandle are destroyed beyond recognition. The overall death toll stands at 45 (35 in Florida alone). OUR WORK Assessing the immense and widespread destruction of the storm, our team identified a need for tree work, debris removal, mucking and gutting, and mold sanitation. Prioritizing the most vulnerable populations, we have deployed chainsaw and gutting teams to primarily rural communities in Bay and Calhoun Counties. The majority of our efforts are focused just outside of Youngstown, FL.
Pictured above, our teams taking every opportunity to train and emphasis the importance of safety. Our Florida response has become a training ground for empowering new and experienced sawyers to develop and learn new skills.
OUR IMPACT
223
PEOPLE ASSISTED
34
JOBS COMPLETED
56
VOLUNTEERS
432
VOLUNTEER DAYS
HOMEOWNER HIGHLIGHTS “Our experience working at Scott’s property was so much more than removing a few trees and debris. Everyone on site made a genuine connection with him. Getting to know Scott was a real pleasure. The first tree I ever cut down was at Scott’s and he saved a piece of it for me..” Scott and his dog Marble were forced to shelter for 6 hours in their garage as high winds whipped around his trailer. Having lived in the Panhandle for the last ten years, Scott had experienced his fair share of bad storms. Hurricane Michael proved to be something else entirely. Check out Scott’s entire story on our website.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Abby Neace began her journey with All Hands and Hearts a little over a year ago after taking a break from her job to volunteer for a few months. Her first program was in the Florida Keys in 2017, since then she has been on a total of six different programs! Abby joined our Hurricane Michael program as a volunteer in early November. “Quitting my job was the best decision and signing up to volunteer last October has set me on a path that has been beyond fulfilling and gratifying” Sign-up on our website to volunteer today!
OUR MISSION To effectively and efficiently address the immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters. By listening to local people, and deploying a unique model of engaging volunteers to enable direct impact, we rebuild safe, resilient schools, homes and other community infrastructure.
OUR FLORIDA PARTNERS
4 YEARS IN A ROW! Only 13% of charities have received at least 4 consecutive 4-star ratings. This means All Hands and Hearts outperforms most of the other 1.5 million charities in America in operational and financial efficiency.
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For additional information: Hana Wilder, Partnership Manager hana.w@allhandsandhearts.org or (774) 762-3180 www.allhandsandhearts.org