By Sarah Kruger | Executive Director, Fuel Relief Fund
The last time we updated you, it was on our responnse to Hurricane Florence in September. So much has happened since then, but for this report, we're going to focus on one thing: Hurricane Michael.
Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle on October 10th, 2018 as a Category 4 storm with 155 mile per hour maximum sustained winds, making it the most powerful storm in this regard to make landfall in the US since 1992. In most cases, a hurricane of this magnitude would develop progressively over time, giving residents in its path an opportunity to prepare or evacuate. Unfortunately, Hurricane Michael developed into a tropical depression over the Caribbean Sea and, within just 48 hours, transformed into a Category 4, crashing against the Florida coast with little warning. Catastrophic storm surge and powerful winds left a trail of destruction across four states with over 4 million people affected. An estimated 1.2 million people lost power and fuel supply was dangerously low in the hardest hit areas.
Fuel Relief Fund (FRF) deployed a team of volunteer responders to Florida on October 11th. On October 12th, Ted Honcharik, the founder of Fuel Relief Fund, described the scene on the ground and the emotional experience of being part of the team:
"I have been very fortunate to help hundreds of thousands of people around the world after major disasters strike by providing free fuel, but this disaster may be one of the toughest ones I have responded to so far. Growing up in Florida may have a little bit to do with it too.
Every tall tree is snapped in half or has crashed through someone’s home. Some people have completely lost everything they own. Power lines and poles are down everywhere. It is unbelievable that more people did not die.This town is in complete darkness. Not only are the people suffering from the lack of electricity, but also running water. Unable to use the their toilets, take a shower or wash is already starting to make the situation that much worse. Jobs are lost, some forever, people are running out of cash, and who knows when children will return to schools. So many people are in need of help.
What we see on our 70 inch TVs screens can never convey the sheer magnitude of the destruction or how people's lives will be changed forever.
Yesterday, the day after Micheal hit the panhandle of Florida, Fuel Relief Fund arrived and spent the day until dark providing fuel to all the first responders that needed it. We had to help the city staff, fire, and police and their families first, so they can continue helping others. It was amazing how many people came by from the general public hoping to also receive free fuel only to be told they had to wait until the morning, but everyone completely understood we needed to help the first responders first, and so many simply said God Bless you and see you in the morning.
I have been hugged many times over the years by both men and women for what we do, but yesterday was the first time I’ve been hugged by men working for a city. One of these men is a city commissioner and as he hugged me, he started to cry and couldn’t stop. That was a tough one for me. And a tough one to write now.
It is times like these that I find myself being very fortunate to be able to witness firsthand, thousands of people coming together helping each other with food, water, shelter, a helping hand and/or a simple hug."
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Over the course of four days, FRF gave away almost 9,000 gallons of fuel to 1145 families impacted by Hurricane Michael as well as to hundreds of first responders from around the country. From surveys taken in the field, we found out that the fuel we provided would go to help close to 14,000 individual people.
To learn more about our Hurricane Michael deployment and see photos and videos from the team on the ground, you can view our Story Map here.
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Until our next report, FRF wishes you the best. Happy holidays to you and yours!
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