Day 19: Hurricane Ian Updates

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Dear Friend,

As you are aware, Hurricane Ian was considered one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S., with max wind speeds of 155 mph. Ian caused catastrophic damage with losses currently estimated to reach $67 billion dollars. Damage was mostly from flooding, particularly impacting the cities of Fort Myers Beach and Naples, FL. Sections of Fort Myers were overwhelmed with a 15-foot storm surge, raging floodwaters and winds after the historic storm touched down as a high-level Category 4. Millions were left without power and water in the storm's wake, and many residents were forced to take refuge on their roofs or succumbed to drowning. In total, Hurricane Ian has caused at least 130 fatalities. 

Video: Fort Myers resident, Melinda Meyers on the the impact of Hurricane Ian on her home and how you can help residents devastated by the storm.

Inspiritus deployed a team to Fort Myers and plans to be on location for 8 weeks. We have been coordinating with local and state officials, as well as our partners to bring much needed help to impacted residents in and around the Fort Myers area, including the communities of Royal Woods, Harlem Heights, Pine Island and Little Gasparilla Island.  

Staff and volunteers have setup intake centers and have deployed assessment teams into these communities to determine the extent of support that will be need to help survivors on their path to thriving. Our teams are coordinating and providing Social & Emotional Support, Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, Chainsaw and Heavy Equipment services for the most vulnerable homeowners. Responders are seeing that the majority of survivors are highly vulnerable senior citizens who are especially overwhelmed and at severe risk now due to the catastrophic damages to their homes and lives. These seniors have low to modest income and exhibit high levels of both financial and emotional support needs due to underinsurance or resistance from their insurance companies.

There is an urgent need for assistance to continue the work of helping the individuals and families whose homes and lives were devastated. These families continue to be at risk as they remain exposed to life-threatening mold and severe damages in their homes. As we continue our response efforts in Florida, we will keep you updated on ways you can help.

WHAT WE ARE DOING (Day 19 Update)

  • Capacity Building: Inspiritus staff are partnering with local emergency and city/county officials to build local disaster response capacity, providing expert disaster response advisement. While staff are actively supporting operations in Fort Myers, they are also actively providing advisement to leaders in other towns and counties to help them assess and manage the people and resources they need. Towards the end of our Response, Inspiritus staff will advise and support the development of Long-Term Recovery planning and committees.

  • Assistance Hotline (FL): To better serve homeowners impacted by Hurricane Ian in the Fort Myers and surrounding areas, a hotline number has been setup to receive requests from impacted homeowners for assistance and aid.

  • Volunteer Housing: Inspiritus has setup volunteer housing at Anthem Church - Fort Myers, with the capacity to accommodate for 50-80 overnight volunteers daily.

  • Spontaneous & Network Volunteer Management: We are directly coordinating and managing Spontaneous Volunteers and volunteers from our Partner Network. This collaborative Network includes volunteer teams and leads partnering with Inspiritus from local and national faith groups and partners. Passionate solo volunteers are an essential part of this network as well. More volunteers are needed to ensure all homes receive help. Join us!

  • Home Assessments, Heavy Equipment, Debris Removal, Muck & Gut, Roof Tarping and Mold Sanitation: Volunteers are conducting home assessments and are providing Muck & Gut, Debris Removal, Roof Tarping and Mold Sanitation work for local residents’ homes where it's safe to enter. Teams are also being deployed to areas needing chainsaw and heavy equipment support.

  • Water Purification: Inspiritus volunteers are providing locals with access to clean water thanks to WaterStep, who donated Water on Wheels Carts (WOW Carts) to help communities that have lost access to safe drinking water due to disaster damages.

"...I marvel at those who answer the call and who give their all to ensure that individuals and families devastated by disaster have a fighting chance of moving from surviving to thriving." (Inspiritus' CEO, John Moeller, in his tribute to Volunteers)

HOW YOU CAN HELP

DONATE

Donate to Inspiritus: The more funding we raise, the longer our teams can stay on the ground continuing to help homeowners impacted by the Hurricane. Your support will provide free debris removal, muck & gut services and water purification to help families affected by the storm, especially those who can't recover without help.

VOLUNTEER

This work would not be possible without hundreds of HEROIC volunteers, including those who have driven in locally, as well as Team Leads who have come in from around the country and are living in Fort Myers, FL at our local Volunteer Housing Camp.

Prayerfully consider joining us in Fort Myers, FL now through November 23. We especially need Team Leads to guide volunteer groups with Muck & Gut and Debris Removal, but all hands are welcome, and all skills can be helpful. Please call the Volunteer Hotline at (239) 560-1554 or visit www.WeInspirit.org/drvolunteers to learn more.

SURVIVOR STORIES

We take extra care to lift-up the voices and stories of both survivors and helpers of each Response we go on. We invite you to follow us on your favorite platform below and learn more about the people impacted by this storm and how neighbors and strangers alike, can make a difference.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareinspiritus/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/weareinspiritus

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/inspiritus-inc

Twitter: https://twitter.com/weareinspiritus

OUR PARTNERS

Inspiritus is grateful for the individuals, congregations, and corporate teams from within the following organizations, for your help in this disaster:

This disaster relief effort is only possible because of the support (donations, volunteers, and/or professional expertise) provided from partners and supporters. Your generosity and compassion is making a difference.

Locally, we are collaborating extensively with local community partners, including a diverse range of local churches and businesses. Many of whom are providing care for our volunteers. Local partners are also sending their own volunteers to join us and shadow our disaster relief teams, in order to learn how to be prepared for the next storm and how to build local capacity and readiness. These local partners and volunteers are likely to develop to be key leaders in the Long-Term Recovery process, and Inspiritus is committed to empowering them.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation donated a truckload of much needed supplies (generators, fans, shop-vacs, tools, batteries, etc.) to help empower storm survivors in Fort Myers, FL.

Governor Ron DeSantis and his family came to witness the work on the ground and thank partners like ToolBank USA who has provided our team with the tools needed for a successful Response. Inspiritus' Construction Management Lead, Kevin Burgess, shown updating the Governor on the needs of impacted homeowners.

Anthem Church - Fort Myers has been providing their facility to house volunteers and to support our relief operations. The Sunday School kids tended to the hearts of volunteers with hand-written thank you notes.

Please continue to join us in prayer for those families impacted, and for the strength of the volunteers serving on the ground now. Thank you for your support!



Sincerely,
Virginia Spencer
Chief Development Officer
Inspiritus

#SurvivingToThriving #HurricaneIan #DisasterRelief