RIVERVIEW, FL: The FYRE Foundation helped local Hillsborough County residents recover from back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton on September 26 and October 9, 2024. Recovery efforts continued through October 19th and anticipated to last the next several weeks. FYRE volunteers and Scouts delivered emergency water, ice, large tarps, generators, fuel, containerized flood and field sanitation kits, and adult and youth hygiene kits to nearly 1,000 residents in desperate need. Likewise, FYRE volunteers wielded chainsaws and hauled brush to clear downed trees around roads, homes, and driveways to enable disaster recovery activities and access to homes.
The timing, track, and effects of these hurricanes on Hillsborough County were unprecedented. Residents in low-lying Evacuation Zones A & B plus all residents in mobile homes were ordered to evacuate, but many people were unable to evacuate due to limited means. They were devastated by flooding from the hurricane force winds and numerous tornadoes. The torrential rains from the storm brought high flood surge around the coast and those along the many rivers in the area were flooded (again) when upstream water was released to relieve pressure on the reservoirs. Many of the residential dwellings along the rivers suffered multiple catastrophic damages from felled trees, electrical fires, blown-off roofs, overflowing septic systems around the residences and common areas for children, flooding, and contaminated debris. Trees fell on homes and vehicles and blocked roads.
FYRE volunteers enabled the Redeemer Church to help local residents in Riverview, FL recover within a 10-mile radius of the church. Various Disaster Recovery (DR) supplies were provided by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) Mission to North America (MNA) DR Committee. FYRE received cash donations and met several acute needs on the spot. Additionally, FYRE partnered with the PINEAPPLE EXPRESS Task Force Tampa, Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, American Legion Alafia Post 148, Hillsborough County Emergency Management, Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT), Florida National Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to track incoming local resident DR requirements, logistics requirements, and coordination of volunteer labor, supplies, and services. FYRE volunteers gathered truckloads of supplies, delivered to individual homes, and created neighborhood points of distribution.
As of 19 October 2024, the mission was not complete. Help FYRE fortify families and recover from this devastation by going to the FYRE Foundation website and providing a cash donation. Your tax-deductible donation will purchase relief supplies for immediate needs, sustain programs to help families rebuild, and replenish expended operating cash used during the emergency reallocated from other programs.
FYRE is a registered nonprofit corporation in the State of Florida in good standing. FYRE is a certified 501(c)(3) charitable organization by the IRS, is compliant with Section 170 of 26 U.S. Code (USC) Internal Revenue Code, is certified by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to be able to solicit and receive charitable donations to help those in need, and has a Silver Transparency Rating by Candid GuideStar.
Here are great examples of our FYRE volunteers and Scouts, many are youth whom the FYRE Foundation charters through Scouting America program activities to develop the next generation of servant leaders for this nation.
You can get involved and be part of the FYRE team. Contact the FYRE Foundation today for more information.
