All Hands and Hearts Update

Hurricane Michael Disaster Response and Recovery Fund
October 15, 2018

All Hands and Hearts

Current Situation
Hurricane Michael slammed into Mexico Beach, Florida as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum wind speeds of 155 mph. Downgraded to a tropical storm, it has now finally gone out to sea. More than 1,400,000 residents were plunged into complete darkness as power failed in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Search and rescue continues now in Florida. Gales of winds and walls of water splintered homes in Florida rendering families immediately homeless and swept their lives away. Now our Hurricane Michael Rapid Response team is jumping into action and is preparing to get boots on the ground to determine where we can help.

Based on years of experience, we believe we can best serve these affected communities with mucking and gutting, mold sanitation, debris removal, and debris clearing.

MUCKING AND GUTTING
Flooding requires the removal of mud, muck, silt, and other materials from a home as a result of water inundation. Gutting then follows to remove drywall, insulation, flooring and other damaged interior materials.

MOLD SANITATION
Hot, humid conditions allow mold to grow on internal surfaces. It’s critical, to avoid long-term health issues, to sanitize homes using chemicals and equipment such as: moisture meters, dehumidifiers, fans, and air scrubbers to suppress mold and mildew growth.

DEBRIS REMOVAL
Water damage requires the removal of damaged personal items, appliances, fixtures, and other items that are not structural components of the home. It is truly painful for families to literally throw away their life’s possessions. Our volunteers provide critical help to homeowners, working side by side with them, to patiently and thoughtfully sort through their possessions.

DEBRIS CLEARING
The high winds, caused by hurricanes, leave communities littered with fallen trees and debris that must be cut away and removed. Local, State and Federal officials cannot provide support to individual families to remove fallen or dangerous trees from their properties, Our experienced volunteer “sawyers” provide vital support using chainsaws to remove obstacles caused by unsafe or fallen trees .

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