Habitat for Humanity - Hurricane Michael Response

As of September 2019, Habitat affiliates have performed 2,345 interventions to support survivors of Hurricane Michael, which include: non-food items, information assistance, clean up assistance, debris removal, financial assistance, emergency repairs, damage and habitability assessments, technical expertise and assistance and 27 permanent repairs/ new home builds. Many of these interventions are in coordination with community partners, all working together to help families rebuild their homes and their lives.

Featured in the attached report are Edna and her family, one story of many that illustrates how Habitat is partnering with other community organizations. Habitat for Humanity of Bay County helped Edna repair her roof that had been severely damaged when a telephone pole fell on it. In addition, Habitat partnered with All Hands and Hearts to repair the water damage on the interior of the home.

However, many residents are still living in damaged homes, trailers or tents. Even when they have the money for repairs, they face a shortage of construction workers to carry out the recovery. Progress has been made over the past year, but long-term recovery is a slow process. Your donations will help Habitat work alongside more families as they recover and seek to move into safe, decent, affordable places to live.

• One Year Report, Hurricanes Michael and Florence (PDF)
  

Update on Recovery Efforts:

Full recovery remains challenging after Hurricane Michael devastated much of the Florida Panhandle, along with areas in Georgia and southern Virginia. Many of the affected communities lack the government resources to mount a quick recovery. Local Habitat for Humanity organizations operating in the region partnered with public and private agencies to assess the damage and develop short- and long-term reocvery plans. In the immediate aftermath, Habitat for Humanity International deployed Disaster Corps volunteers and Mobil Response Units to complement and supplement skills and expertise on the ground. 

Habitat's early recovery phase was guided by our Pathways to Permanence framework that works with families from the start to help them through the long-term process of moving into safe, affordable, permanent homes after a disaster. Three affiliates in Florida responded to early recovery efforts, helping with clean up and assisting families with insurance claims and other immediate services in the first three months. After the immediate response and cleanup, we moved into the next phase of our recovery strategies. 

Two affiliates in Florida remain engaged in the long-term reponse with Habitat for Humanity International. Bay County Habitat for Humanity and Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity are the two affiliates. In Bay County, new estimates show that Hurricane Michael destroyed 1 in 5 homes - 20 percent of the housing stock. Housing shortages are extreme throughout the areas, and both affilaites are focusing on new construction and rapid repairs in collaborate with public- and private-sector partners and other nonprofit organizations. 

To date, Bay County Habitat for Humanity has completed six new homes, 45 repairs and 45 rehabs. Chipola Area Habitat for Humanity has completed seven new homes, 12 repairs, and one rehab. 

For additional information, please see the attached report (including photos) for Habitat for Humanity International's response to both Hurricane Michael and Florence.

• Recovering After Hurricanes Florence and Michael (PDF)