FLORIDA RELIEF HURRICANE MICHAEL RESPONSE UPDATE (January 2019)
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.
From left to right: volunteer Bill moves logs out to the road in his bobcat, volunteer Abby cleans up after a full muck and gut, team leader Ashley removes a large tree off of a homeowner’s car.
OUR IMPACT
331
PEOPLE ASSISTED
56
110
JOBS COMPLETED
VOLUNTEERS
1,104
VOLUNTEER DAYS
HIGHLIGHTS This last month, our team mucked and gutted the Veteran's Foreign War (VFW) Community Center in Panama City. The roof of the center had blown off during Hurricane Michael, compromising the interior of the facility to mold growth. More than just a community center, this VFW post has become a second home to vets in the area. "It's good to have some places that help out the entire community and it's not just one homeowner, it's something that means a lot to a lot of people. So, if we can help in any way, it means a lot to our organization." Emily Wilmoth (Volunteer Relations Coordinator)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
“This is an AMAZING program filled with wonderful, generous people! I was amazed at how well organized, skilled, professional, and thoughtful all of the staff and volunteers were. Growing up, I visited the Panhandle most summers so I have a very strong attachment to the area. AHAH made it very easy for me to become empowered so that I could give back to the area that gave my family and I so many happy memories over the years.” - volunteer
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.
@ALLHANDSANDHEARTS
@ALLHANDSANDHEARTS
@ALLHANDSHEARTS
For additional information: Hana Wilder, Partnership Manager hana.w@allhandsandhearts.org or (774) 762-3180 www.allhandsandhearts.org