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Public response light after Wilma
State warns volunteers to stay out of hurricane damaged areas
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005 |
PINELLAS COUNTY - The phones aren't ringing at the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross after Hurricane Wilma as they did with hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
"We did not receive near the response on calls from people wanting to volunteer or give a financial donation," said Tim Teachan, spokesman for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Teachan said Red Cross officials were attributing the lack of response to the fact that Wilma was a slow moving storm, allowing organizations such as the National Guard, FEMA, Florida emergency response teams, as well as the Red Cross, plenty of time to prepare.
Another reason for the lack of public response could be that Wilma was the eighth hurricane to make landfall in Florida in the past 15 months, Teachan said.
"Each time we respond (to a hurricane) we get better at it," he said. "We have learned to wait and see as much as we can to find out where the storm is going to go and the damage potential, its intensity," he said.
The Red Cross has more than 100 shelters open on the west and east coast, he said. The Red Cross is serving the evacuees three meals a day.
Ten volunteers from Tampa Bay have gone to south Florida to assist. Teachan said the Tampa Bay Chapter would send 20 Red Cross Disaster Response Specialists to the area next week to provide direct and immediate assistance.
"Wilma has affected a lot of people," he said. "There are large pockets of no electricity. We're working with our disaster relief partners to make people as comfortable as we can," he said.
Teachan said the Red Cross takes all disasters seriously and gears up in a measured way to make sure it can provide services quickly and efficiently as possible.
"If you look at this on a person-to-person basis, this could be devastating to a family whose house have been destroyed," he said.
The Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, Volunteer Florida, issued a statement on Wednesday asking potential hurricane relief volunteers to exercise patience in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Wilma.
"Volunteers should avoid entering affected areas at this time, unless trained and deployed by an experienced disaster relief organization," state officials said.
Potential dangers to volunteers who are not specially trained by experienced disaster relief organizations, such as The Salvation Army or the America Red Cross, are many, the statement said.
"While the urge to provide immediate assistance in disaster areas is understandable, safety has to come first," said Volunteer Florida CEO Wendy Spencer. "Until conditions on the ground are deemed safe, a financial gift to the relief organization of your choice is the very best way to assist in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Wilma."
As of Wednesday afternoon, the State Emergency Response Team was reporting eight hurricane-related deaths in south Florida. Three people died in Collier County; one in St. Johns County; two deaths attributed to Hurricane Wilma occurred in Miami-Dade County and two in Broward County.
Twenty seven shelters were open, housing 3,328 evacuees and 420 special needs evacuees. SERT reported that as of Wednesday evening, 2,659,024 customers were without electricity.
Points of Distribution for ice water and shelf-stable meals were being established, according to a SERT report.
Media reports from south Florida have told of people waiting in long lines for food and water. Gas shortages to fuel generators for those without electricity also were listed among the problems being experienced by people in areas impacted by Hurricane Wilma.
The media also reported complaints about slow response from state and federal officials in getting supplies to people in need.
In Wednesday press conference, Gov. Jeb Bush said he understood the frustration, but he also said people should have been better prepared.
"People had ample time to prepare. It isn't that hard to get 72 hours worth of food and water," Bush said in a televised press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
How to help
The Florida Hurricane Relief Fund is accepting donations to assist Florida's neediest families with recovery. To make a donation to the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund, visit www.flahurricanefund.org or call (800) 825-3786. All donations are tax-deductible.To make a contribution to the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross, visit www.redcrosstbc.org or call (877) 741-1444.
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Article published on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2005
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