Tidal Basin’s Senior Project Manager Chris Mewes (right) joined Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo (center) and other community leaders for the grand opening. Courtesy, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay
A year after hurricane Ian’s historic damage across Florida, the nonprofit Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay has unveiled a state-of-the-art hurricane response distribution center, fulfilling its promise to the people of the greater Tampa area. The 5,000-square-foot facility offers many necessities for the community in the wake of storms: drywall, plumbing and roofing materials, tools, response vehicles, trailers, and generators. Community and business leaders gathered on September 28th for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate this rapid-response center. Those in attendance included Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo, ToolBANK CEO Patty Russart, Tidal Basin Senior Project Manager Chris Mewes, and Rebuilding Together Executive Director Jose Garcia. The hurricane response center will act as a ready hub after disasters, a beacon of hope for those directly affected.
Such is the new conception of disaster response: a center that can support the weight of a community in need and distribute the help and supplies quickly enough to make a difference in rebuilding homes and lives. And it’s working. Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay and sister organization Rebuilding Together Central Florida have already rebuilt 606 homes, are actively reconstructing 74 more, and have enlisted the help of over 5,000 volunteers to get the streets and cities of southwest and central Florida back online.
The community response has been overwhelming, like for Tampa native Berta Quiles, whose home was left roofless after hurricane Ian. “[Rebuilding Together) helped me, and I have proof right behind me,” she said. “I have a brand-new roof over my head, and I feel safe…if it wasn’t for them helping us out, I don’t know if I could be saying that next year because we still have hurricanes coming every year.” These words resonate with the larger community and its leaders, who gathered to commemorate and promise such an outcome to every Floridian similarly affected by the harsh winds and floods of hurricane season.
“The work is not completed but we will continue doing the work until we see every family impacted by this storm back in their houses while we also deal with another one, which is Idalia,” said Executive Director Jose Garcia during the ceremony. The threat of hurricanes does not stop – we can either wait for the legislature to do something, or we can mobilize as a community through efforts such as this to help in post-disaster response and recovery.
We leave you with the spirit of Fall in the two wonderful seasonal drawings below by artist Lisa B. They certainly capture the fun and spirit of Fall!
Artist: Lisa B.
Artist: Lisa B.
See you on the trail,
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 10-9-23
