PAVING THE PATH TO RECOVERY:
ONE YEAR ON FROM HURRICANE IAN
SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
After Hurricane Ian made landfall in September 2022, Fort Myers resident Judy Jones, alongside thousands of others in the southwest Florida community, launched into cleaning up the overwhelming chaos the storm left.
Like many others in the area, her home, where she has lived for thirty years, was devastated.
“I never thought that [my home] would get rebuilt, I thought it was going to be bulldozed.”
Judy
HURRICANE IAN
Today marks one year since Hurricane Ian hit the coast of Florida on September 28th, 2022.
The Category 4 storm brought 150 mph winds and a 12-foot storm surge, causing catastrophic flooding that tore through houses and infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of homes were flooded and without power and raging water carried boats and vehicles throughout the area. Over 35,000 houses in Lee County alone were ruined or significantly damaged, and 149 people died due to Ian’s devastating strength.
OUR WORK
Days after Hurricane Ian landed, All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) mobilized, activating our community-inspired, volunteer-powered disaster relief model to provide immediate and long-term assistance. Our Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) joined local crews on September 30th, completing debris and tree removal to give residents access to their homes the days following the storm. Conducting home assessments and connecting with state and federal agencies led AHAH to focus our work on vulnerable communities in Lee and Charlotte counties, experiencing the most difficulty recovering from the storm.
AHAH volunteer teams began working within households and neighborhoods to tackle the damage left by the flood water and wind. Team members carried out essential response tasks, including supporting over 100 homes by removing the mud, muck and silt caused by water inundation and removing the damaged construction-related materials in the home, such as drywall – known as mucking and gutting or “muck and guts”. This process is an essential first step in preparing a home for rebuild. Our team also provided mold sanitation on 70 homes – another essential response task that often follows muck and guts – to ensure the home is free of mold that often develops after water damage and is safe to occupy.
PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE
In October 2022, we first met Judy.
She recalls the impact of Hurricane Ian on her home and shares the incomprehensible experience of water inundating her house, with waves reaching the ceiling. Showcasing the resilience and determination similar to many survivors we have met, Judy set to work to repair her home. But the task felt insurmountable.
That’s when she met the All Hands and Hearts team.
“It was just me trying to drag things out to the street. I was so happy to see people working on my home.
Judy
I was here alone for a week and with no help. Then these guys showed up and they were a miracle.
I mean, my angels in purple shirts.
And every day was such a blessing of having each and every one of them. The rest of my life I can never repay in a thousand lifetimes what they have done for me.”
THE WORK CONTINUES
A year later, AHAH’s efforts in the region have shifted from supporting the immediate needs of impacted communities to long-term recovery. The focus of the work now is to make damaged homes functional and safe for living. Our work involves installing drywall, insulation, doors and flooring to begin the transition for Hurricane Ian survivors to live in their homes again. Alongside this work, our team has joined forces with Gladiolus Food Pantry in Harlem Heights, distributing food and meals to local community members.
At All Hands and Hearts, we know the path to recovery for disaster-impacted communities typically takes months, if not years. One year on since Hurricane Ian devastated this region, and it is evident there is still a clear need in the communities where we work. Continuing to focus on underserved neighborhoods, AHAH is committed to supporting their recovery and we have extended our operations until March 2024.
Through our Florida Hurricane Ian Relief program we have mobilized over 600 volunteers and spent over 30,000 hours working to help rebuild neighborhoods. Partnerships with other relief organizations, such as the Red Cross, have allowed more survivors to receive essential assistance with necessary repairs to their homes. Fifteen houses are on track to have repairs completed in November 2023, with three homes already finished. Working together with the resilient southwest Florida community, we have impacted over 400 lives. And the work continues.
Working alongside the communities and courageous survivors like Judy, we hope to guide them in finding renewal after disaster.
“You guys have saved my house, and it’s finally looking like a home again.”
Judy
Stay updated with our Florida Hurricane Relief program here.
Written by Kathryn Dyrek
