Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 9-15-17

Action After Hurricane Irma
Mayor Gives Update On Progress After Hurricane
Volunteers Helping Hurricane Irma Victims Who Have No Electricity
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Although Hillsborough County did not endure a direct hit from Hurricane Irma, the storm left its mark. Now, resi- dents are contending with widespread power outages and massive cleanups.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn
released the following state- ment concerning the storm, “Our cleanup efforts are in full swing. We have crews through the city removing fallen trees and debris in the roadways, re- pairing inoperative traffic lights and going neighborhood by neighborhood looking to esti- mate and structural damages.
“We have reopened our recreation centers and our pools to give parents with chil- dren a place where the kids can be safe and supervised. Al- though we don’t control the power situation, I know the folks at TECO are working hard to restore power to our neigh- borhoods.
“It is important to remem- ber that even though we avoided a direct hit from Irma it is important to have a hurri- cane plan and a place to evacu- ate if necessary. The next time we may not be as lucky.”
Currently, more than 3 mil- lion homes and businesses re- main without power.
Since the storm, Mayor Buckhorn has visited various locations through the city sur- veying the damage.
Earlier this week, Mayor Buckhorn visited Robles Park
Mayor Bob Buckhorn is shown talking with one of the residents in Robles Park Public Housing Complex.
Mayor Buckhorn visited a church on Nebraska Avenue that suffered the loss of its steeple during the storm.
Public Housing Complex and spoke with many of the resi- dents. The electrical power has not been restored to the com- plex.
The city joined Metropoli- tan Ministries to help provide 500 meals to re residents af- fected by Hurricane Irma.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Although she had no electri- cal power at her residence, community activist Dianne Hart answered the call to assist residents in Robles Park. Tues- day, she learned that the com- munity of more than 1,800 residents was without electric- ity, therefore were unable to continue their daily tasks. Ms. Hart is chairperson of the East Tampa Business and Civic As- sociation.
Ms. Hart left her home and reached out to some of the people she has worked with over the years to offer assis- tance. At first, it was just a group of grassroots people who were offering whatever they had to assist those in need.
Ms. Connie Burton,
longtime community activist, used her food stamps to help feed others. “We knew that by this time, the people were tired of sandwiches and wanted a hot meal.”
With the leadership of Ms. Hart, Rev. Willie Dixon of COACH Foundation, and oth- ers, the volunteers and their limited resources served the residents hot meals that con- sisted of black beans, rice, chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, cornbread, and water.
After learning about the res- idents in Robles Park, the group learned that there were 300 residents in Belmont Heights Estates, an unknown number in Mobley Park and 400 residents in Central Court Apartments who also needed assistance. The volunteers trav- eled from one location to an- other sharing what they had.
On Wednesday, more groups, businesses, individuals joined them.
Ms. Hart and Rev. Dixon say once the word spread that so many residents were without power, so many agencies, busi- ness, organizations came for- ward. They credit: Pastor P. Tucker Johnson, of Christ of Calvary Church for opening its doors to serve the West Tampa community; Candi Lowe and her bus tour assisted the relief efforts; Jeannette Bradley of THAP 5508 assisted with the operation; Cheryl Howell of Hillsborough County Housing, Vanessa McCray of the City of Tampa Housing Dept.; An- nette Triplett of Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (HHI); Metropolitan Ministries; Mayor Bob Buckhorn; Sen- ator Darryl Rouson; Tampa Housing Authority, Church of Scientology; and Hillsborough County Fire Dept. delivered 800 boxes of food items.
“These people were actually
Ms. Dianne Hart joined several other volunteers to distribute food and clothing.
The residents were able to select food and clothing items for their families.
Several children were among those served over the past few days.
on site,” she said, and we’re grateful and thankful.”
On Thursday, Ms. Hart re- ceived a 53 ft. trailer full of ice that the volunteers would dis- tribute among the residents. She also learned that the residents in Sulphur Springs were with- out electrical power. She and the team of volunteers were on their way there to access the community and its needs.
Thursday morning, the Tampa Bay Lightning contacted the volunteers to let them know that they had partnered with several food preparers and would be delivering 2,000 meals to the victims today.
After serving the families with nourishing food, Ms. Hart assisted 10 families with filing forms with FEMA on Wednesday night. “Anyone who has been without power
for 2 days, can file a FEMA form and get $500,” she ex- plained.
Churches Reaching Out To Community
Some churches in the com- munity were coordinating their own efforts.
Exciting Faith Alive Church, Antonio Hawkins, Pastor, spearheaded a relief effort in Grant Park. They were distribut- ing hot pizza and water and opening the doors of the church until 4 p. m. on Friday and until noon on Saturday to allow resi- dents to briefly charge their mo- bile devices.
The church has a wake Fri- day evening and a funeral on Saturday, which will limit the times the doors will be open to the public. “They are welcome to joinusat10a.m.and4p.m.on Sunday,” he said.
PAGE 10-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2017