8 Ways to Help After Irma

8 Ways to Help After Irma: Clean, Dirty, Blessed, or Born to Serve

On September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma created a whirlwind of chaos for Collier County. Governor Rick Scott took his position behind the podium, and he created a sense of calm for many, in the face of hasty evacuations or limited shelter-in-place preparations. As someone who couldn’t afford to be offline – I’m on several deadlines for various projects working for clients in other parts of the world not affected by a natural disaster and depending on me for their paycheck – I booked a hotel in New Orleans, packed a bag, and in a fit of tears and tantrums, forced my husband to drive me three states away. We had just returned from Key West that Monday, and finding ourselves in the midst of another journey, I couldn’t imagine weathering any storm without Simon’s positive strength and support. He calmed my fears and kept me focused on the present moment. The other side of the hurricane was uncertain, but he told me my home would always be in his arms, and that’s where I was and where I’ll stay for as long as he’ll hold me.

We returned on Wednesday to find out that while we would be severely inconvenienced through the power outages, house and pool cage damages, and gas shortages, an inconvenience would be the maximum level we’d need to face.

Parts of our county are devastated. Places we visit often are devastated.

The Island Cafe in Everglades City is where I drafted the middle grade novel my mother and I co-authored. On a boat tour out of Everglades City is where I tested the new camera my hubby gave me as a gift. The Captain’s Table? “Toured” a room for research during one of the Everglades Seafood Festivals. Farewell and good luck party for my friend? On the porch with two delicious, locally baked cakes, lots of hugs, and so many smiles…

…and I can’t even wait to get back to the Keys and start supporting their economy again. Cheeca, Hawks Cay, La Concha… Lorelei, The Commodore’s Boathouse, Jack Flats, Sandbar Sports Grill, Joe’s Tap Room… Irish Kevin’s!

In a former Forbes article, according “to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), more than 40% of businesses never reopen after a disaster, and for those that do, only 29% were still operating after two years. And guess what likely becomes of those that lost their information technology for nine days or more after a disaster? Bankruptcy within a year.”

Many people will never return to the lives they once led.

That, to me, is terrifying. Starting over is terrifying. Uncertain futures where new goals and dreams have to be created is terrifying.

So how can I help?

I’ve compiled a list of eight ways to get involved – clean, dirty, blessed, or born to serve…

On the clean side:

1. Stay active on social media to Like, Share, and Comment on posts where reliable people are seeking assistance or offering aid.

2. Donate money. The government will help, but the devastation was wide-spread throughout several states and funds are disbursed to those who have access to request the money and bank accounts to receive it. Not sure where to donate? Support a Go Fund Me campaign, like this one: https://www.gofundme.com/886c9-marco-island-hurricane-irma-fund.

Get a little dirty:

1. You could be like Captain Mike Merritt. He posted on Facebook that he’s almost loaded! “Got 3 generators, fans, grills, charcoal, electric cords, shovels, wheel barrows, bleach, gas, tarps, flashlights, batteries, etc. All from Rocky’s Ace Hardware in Wellington. Taking my Bobcat and grapple to help with clean up. Going to Costco to purchase more food and supplies. Heading to Everglades City/Chokoloskee/Plantation. Spent about $7000 so far. I want to thank all that have pitched in to help this community and made this possible! I plan on keeping this help going until they are back on their feet so if you want to help out let me know.”

2. See this post from Sean Maki (I saw it shared by Carol Foss): “Many of you do not know Everglades City it’s a town over on the west coast of Florida near Naples they got run over pretty bad by the hurricane some houses are filled with two inches of mud and saltwater. We are looking for labor to help clean this up and it would be great if there was a baseball team, soccer, wrestling, or a Boy Scout Pack or the like that would be willing to spend either Friday and or Saturday helping these families who have essentially lost all. If you know any coaches or Scout Pack Leaders or anybody in a leadership position that could reach out to their group to see if they could lend a hand please do so. I would also appreciate it if you could share this post to your friends in the south Florida area East Coast and West Coast. Call or text me… if you can help we can provide transportation over there as well if need be. We will be meeting each morning at the everglades city fire department.”

Blessed:

1. Do you have cash at a gas station that accepts only cash? Pay for yours and someone else’s. If they thank you, ask them to pay it forward one day.

2. Does your refrigerator have an ice maker? Do you have electricity and water? Do you live locally? Put your ice in Ziploc bags and deliver to people who don’t have electricity, as many stores are still recovering and selling out of ice quickly.

Born to serve:

1. You could be like Lisa Stevens, who posted this on Facebook (I saw it shared by Camden Smith): “Does anyone need anything today? I have a full tank of gas, I can fit a small village in my car, whatever you need and deliver it to you! If you need gas or a generator or food, I can go hunt for it for you. If you want me to go check your property, take pics and video and send to you because you’ve evacuated and get you the scoop I can. I’m in Cape Coral for a couple days because of the gas shortages and power outages in Naples. I’m enough of a risk taker to use at least a half a tank of gas today and I have faith that I can find more! Let me know how I can help!”

2. If you can help support Captain Ron Hagerman of Captain Ron’s Awesome Everglades Adventures in any way, if you know any media outlets, if you can post his press release on your blogs, if you can share his story… please do so.

Press Release from
Captain Ron Hagerman of Captain Ron’s Awesome Everglades Adventures

Disasters like Hurricanes Irma and Harvey are stunning examples of the raw power and force of Mother Nature; something no one human or organization is prepared to face alone. Knowing the need for relief on Marco Island would be great as Hurricane Irma tracked its way towards the southeast seaboard, long-time resident of Marco Island, Capt. Ron Hagerman of Capt. Ron’s Awesome Everglades Adventures, jumped into action. “I was in Texas doing rescues for Hurricane Harvey when I had to leave to prep for this one. I took what I learned there and improved on it with the best group of men and women. I knew too many were going to stay on the island so we prepared in advance for the worst,” Hagerman said. Thus, the birth of the Marco Patriots: a group of volunteer civilians who banded together in time of great need to help the citizens of Marco Island.

The efforts of the Marco Patriots were established and organized by Hagerman and others. The group began a Zello channel to institute a communication line. This was quickly followed by a Facebook group to share information. At its peak, the Zello channel held over 300 members and the Facebook page over 7000. Marco Patriots “command”, Mark Melican worked to collect contact information from all residents who decided to stay in their homes for the storm. Through these lines of communication, Melican and others were able to organize hurricane preparations first. This included volunteers going to the homes of others requesting supplies (plywood, tarps, concrete screws, etc.) to secure their homes. It also included following up with reported elderly residents who needed assistance in preparations. As the list of residents grew, the Marco Patriots established a database system to track addresses, number of occupants, medical needs, those without proper supplies and contact information. Addresses were mapped using the app, Google Maps. First responder volunteers set up “location sharing” within the app to allow the Marco Patriots command and administrative team to monitor their whereabouts throughout the storm and emergency calls. Marco Police and Fire Departments both reached out to the Marco Patriots for access to their database, maps and first responder GPS procedures. Information was also shared with the Cajun Navy in the event of the lead Marco Patriots group members losing communications. Fortunately, all members were able to remain connected via Zello during the entire storm.

As the preparations wound down and the storm began to come onshore, the Marco Patriots utilized the Zello channel to remain in contact. Those of the team who were not physically on Marco were able to provide real-time updates to all listening such as, when the eye of the storm was hitting, when the storm surge was incoming and when it was safe to start doing wellness checks on the registered elderly or infirm. The level of knowledge and compassion displayed by Marco Patriots members during this time of crisis was immeasurable. During the eye of the storm, Patriot member Erin Milchman could be heard saying over Zello that her roof was going to give and location was no longer safe. Patriots immediately rushed to her aid by locating the closest occupied house where she and her family could take shelter. Erin and family were able to evacuate and get to the house of Tony “Smudge” Smith safely before the back half of the storm hit. Additional recommendations were shared for residents to get to higher ground where possible as the predicted 10-15’ storm surge was thought to be approaching. Although flooding on the Island did occur, residents were lucky the waters did not come as high as predicted.

In the aftermath of the storm, rescue and well checks immediately began. Within minutes of the worst of the storm passing, Marco Patriot first responders in conjuction with Command and Administrative team were able to begin wellness checks on residents marked “critical” in the database (those with extreme medical needs, elderly alone, etc). The Marco Patriots First Responders team included: Capt. Ron Hagerman, Matthew Melican, Steve Camposano, Tony “Smudge” Smith, Uncle Jeff (need real name), Joey Waves (need real name), Josh Eiler, John Rossi and Capt. Steve (last name), Kerri G. Command and Administration team include Mark Melican, Erin Milchman, Kate Weaver Younger, April Greeson & Kayley Whitworth.

Prior to the storm, the Marco Patriots database contained 198 registered addresses accounting for 458 residents. Within 24 hours, 110 properties and the safety of 278 residents were checked. Additional checks were completed by numerous other volunteers as requests poured in from friends and family registered on the Facebook page and Zello channel. Within 48 hours, volunteers were also able to field numerous “well house” checks letting out of town evacuees and residents know about the conditions of their homes as they continued to work on wellness checks for residents.

Despite the risk of personal danger, fuel and supply shortages and the current climate of “every man for himself,” the residents of Marco Island banded together in a time of need. Bernie Melican shared with other Marco Patriots on the Facebook page: “The people who conceived, organized, and operated Marco Patriots are the living embodiment of why and how this country was founded. Just as citizens stood shoulder to shoulder on Lexington Green, this group saw a need to band together and fight a common foe. Ergo, they called themselves “Patriots”. They contributed their own supplies, vehicles, equipment, resources, and talent for the common good. There were no expectations of reward or any fear of failure. These citizens stood tall.”

As emergency rescue calls on Marco Island subsided, the focus of the group shifted on September 12 to organizing supplies for the residents of Everglades City and Chokoloskee, two locations removed from the city and in need after the storm. Due to their location in the Everglades and flooding in the area and surrounding cities, supplies such as food, water, diapers, and gas were in short supply. Despite still needing many of these items themselves, Marco Island residents once again banded together to help their fellow men and women. Donations of water arrived within minutes of the call for help and gas was collected by siphoning from water craft not being used. Capt. Ron worked with the Marco Police Department to obtain a curfew exemption and made two separate trips to Chokoloskee bringing supplies to those in need. “When a man is willing to eat an MRE [Meal: Ready-to-Eat] you know he needs food. I was compelled to go back a second time with more supplies as soon as possible,” Hagerman said.

The sentiment expressed by so many of the page can best be summarized by the words of Mark King to all Marco Patriots: “You guys are absolutely amazing, and stepped up to a plate that most people would never even stand near. As a long time local, I would like to personally thank each and everyone involved, and send my prayers/love to everyone still on Marco continuing to bust their butts to provide information.”

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These are just some of the ways I’ve noticed people helping people. The world needs more love, and a natural disaster is a sad way to achieve that, but it is uplifting to know that so many are out there doing even a little bit to help steady the chaos and rebuild the community.

Do you know other ways to help? I’m sure there are waaaay more than eight! Post a comment and share what you know. Thanks!!!

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As always, thanks for taking the time to read my blog! Thanks for finding me.

xox ~ Risa

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8 Ways to Help After Irma: https://marisacleveland.wordpress.com/2017/09/14/8-ways-to-help-after-irma/#Hurricane #Irma #MarcoIsland #Everglades #Naples #KeyWest #CollierCounty