October 2, 2024
By Michele Miller
What’s What New Port Richey
Where to start?
No doubt that’s been the thought of many in the wake of the horrible Hurricane Helene that blew by our coastline, spinning the Gulf of Mexico into homes and businesses and blazing a path of incomprehensible destruction into Georgia, Tennessee, and Western North Carolina.
I am at a loss for words. So please bear with me.
Trying to capture the scope of the wrath of a storm that left a trail of “Biblical devastation” is not unlike trying to capture the wide expanse of the Grand Canyon in a photograph.
It can’t be done.
Mere words fall short- especially when you are sitting on the better side of luck this time around.
Our home is located more miles from the coast than our unfortunate neighbors. We are none the worse for wear even though we know a “tick to the right” might have landed us in a similar boat.
Here, in the aftermath, we try to step up in ways we can, inspired by survivor’s guilt, a pay it forward mindset and the true grit of others who ask, “What do you need?” or say “I can do this or that.” Then hop to it.
It is one of human nature’s bright spots to strive for resilience in a way that makes you understand how your town, city, county or state comes to earn the surname “Strong.”
We are on it.
It plays out in a community that comes together in real time and on our mobile devices as we scroll through the love/hate relationship so many of us have with social media platforms.
It was there I turned at 2 a.m. while Helene was on her way to landfall in Big Bend to discover that the flood waters had poured over US 19. That people were trapped and calling for rescue. That first responders and some local residents with boats and jeeps were hopping to it as real-time heroes.
The aftermath brought an onslaught of support beyond what’s coming from local and federal organizations (see “Help After Helene” below for more on that).
Good deeds galore floating to the surface as the flood receded. Too many, I’m happy to say, to give proper due here.
(Story Continues below)
But I’ll venture to name a few examples….
In two-days time administrators and staff some seven Pasco County Schools planned and pulled off a huge Hurricane Relief event at Gulf High for families. They served up spaghetti and snacks and gave away food, clothing, household cleaning products hygiene items that had been donated by the community.
The African American Club of Pasco brought in food trucks for a day for anyone in need of a hot meal and a little break.
The Rotary Club of Holiday and volunteers began collecting donations at the Collaboratory in downtown New Port Richey where it was reported that “volunteers served more than 600 meals to people in need on Sunday alone.”
As I write this they are still at it and recruiting more to help.
Local restaurants and food truck operators posted about giving out free meals to first responders and the lineman working round-the-clock to restore power. Some local restaurants started a Hurricane Relief tab that others could donate to to provide meals for the displaced and discouraged.
Just come on by.
There are others who are still venturing into neighborhoods of their own accord to feed members of the community who’s homes and lives are in shambles.
It’s just a drop in the bucket representing the good work that’s going on. The work that still needs to be done. Especially when you consider the countless who are answering the calls that come on a daily basis to help clear out someone’s flood soaked home, slice Sheetrock, stack up fallen yard debris and deliver it to the dump, do loads of laundry, drop off a meal or clothing or a spare generator.
Offer a lift to wherever.
It is the better part of ourselves and, our neighbors, our community – too vast to capture in a photograph or in an essay as we collaboratively negotiate the early days of building back our community.
We’ve got this. We’re hopping to it.
Now Onward.
Peace. Michele
Read more Onward Columns | Notes From the Edit here
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