After spending another week in Bay County Florida, we want to turn our focus (if possible) to the relief aspect of the mission, as well as recovery. This mission is what will help people get needed supplies before the cold season arrives. We would like to do a massive month-long blanket, hygiene, clothing and food operation that will help thousands get the very basics of normal life in-hand before the rapidly approaching Winter (and holidays) arrive.
Hurricane Michael hit the Florida "Panhandle" as a high Category 4 hurricane. The citizens in the area were left without the basic necessities such as food, clean water, clean clothes and hygiene. Many people are coming home to find nothing but ruins and are struggling to reclaim their normal lives. Some are even living in now leaky, unsafe structures because as they told us: they have nowhere else to go. There are many women and children here who don't feel safe in their areas.
We can continue to be a source (following our previous projects) that people have come to rely on and trust. Many people know our faces and we know their stories. From churches to schools, homes and businesses: many lives were turned upside down and now could use a helping hand in getting the basic necessities to get back on their feet somewhat before winter. Our team of veterans would love to continue being the face of our donors for the next few weeks: getting families ready for colder days.
The long term impact that we will have will be the people being able to return to a closer to normal life after such a devastating event. The hurricane that hit them was one of the strongest they've ever seen and people lost a lot of personal property and homes. They will need help for months if not years to come to rebuild. The only way they can rebuild is for teams to come in and clear out all of the hazards that to this day lay in streets, on/ in homes and in schools and businesses.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).