How You Can Help Floridians Suffering From Hurricane Charley [instructions from FL Gov Jeb Bush]

State of Florida Web Site - Hurricane Charley Resources ^ | Aug 15, 2004 | summer

[summer]

www.floridadisaster.org


Hello FR posters,

Thank you for your posts to me, and yes, I am OK. After we called FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA, the power went back on in an hour.

I am writing this note to let you know I saw Gov Jeb Bush on tv today, and he explained how people can help those Floridians suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.

His comments were also published HERE in the NYT, and this is what he said:

The Republican governor urged people who wanted to help storm victims to donate money to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army rather than sending food, clothing and other supplies.

"I would urge people to provide financial support if they want to act on their compassion or act on their heart," he said.

The state's official web site has a lot of contact information in a large red box at the top of the homepage for these organizations: www.myflorida.com

Here is an excerpt of other comments by Gov. Jeb Bush, as reported in the above NYT article:

...."We are here to help you," he replied.

"There's no science that can exactly say where a hurricane will go," he said.

"This is God's way of telling us that he's almighty and we're mortal," said the governor, standing on Marion Street in Punta Gorda, a strip of small restaurants and stores with brick sidewalks and ornamental street lights, now littered with debris.

..."We live in paradise," he said. "This is kind of the bad side to that."

He said the devastation was worse than that of Hurricane Andrew, which raged through Florida in 1992, because its damage was spread over a wider area, from the southwest coast at Punta Gorda to the Atlantic coast at Daytona Beach.

[Gov] Bush said that while it was too early for a damage estimate, the cost would be "in the billions of dollars, adding, "If you count the number of roofs that need to be fixed, it's in the thousands."

...The National Guard had dispatched 1,500 troops to Charlotte County and neighboring areas by Saturday morning and planned to have 5,000 helping with damage assessment and search-and-rescue missions by evening, Gov. Bush said.

... In his news conference, Governor Bush pointed out that residents of many of the damaged trailer parks had been urged to evacuate.

"I've always worried about hurricane amnesia and you have to go through one and experience it to realize that it is going to happen," Gov. Bush said. " To the extent that it didn't, that's part of the reason there is going to be tragedy here today."

The local tv and radio newscasters are repeating Gov Bush's remarks, encouraging financial help to the Red Cross or Salvation Army. This will go to the people who have suffered, and is preferred to sending clothing or food because of the logistics of handling supplies. Right now some post offices are badly damaged.

Thanks for your help and prayers. A lot of people have lost their homes and businesses.

Sincerely,

summer

[summer]

the fact that the answering machine was working is good

A good point to remember. Hope all your loved ones are well, nicmarlo.

[nicmarlo]

And the same to you and yours, summer

[summer]

Pinging all the generous FR posters in NY, CA and TX.

[summer]

Thanks. What was most frightening is having the power go out, and seeing everything around being closed. That was tough. You sort of feel like what you've got is all you've got, and frankly, that was still a better place to be in than many other people. I really feel sorry for those people who lost their homes and businesses.

[oceanview]

forget the red cross, is there some regional salvation army apparatus in florida (or that part of florida) that has a website or an address or something?

[summer]

Yes. I will post it for you.

[oceanview]

well, the salvation army USA site at least has a "specific use" field when you make a donation, so you can indicate hurricane charlie.

[summer]

CLICK HERE for contact info OR:

Make an online donation by clicking "DONATIONS" on the sidebar.

Thanks for asking, oceanview.

[Miss Marple]

hanks for the ping, summer. I will be sending some money to the Salvation Army. Governor Jeb and President W are on top of this, as I knew they would be.

[squarebarb]

Prayers for my elderly Aunt and Uncle Marcia and Leonard Lieurance whose house was in the path of the storm in Port Charlotte. They evacuated but I believe will have lost their house.

[summer]

Oh my. So sorry to hear that, squarebarb.

[PogySailor]

No problems here. We have had more heavy weather today than we got from Charley. This afternoon we took all our bottled water and canned food to a collection point for aid to the people south of us.

[summer]

Also - re my post about Salvation Army - see their press release #6 below:

....Financial donations to help with the relief efforts can be sent to any local Salvation Army, earmarked “Disaster Relief” or on line at www.salvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800 SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

For information on Salvation Army relief efforts call 1-800 996-ARMY (2769).

[summer]

Tell them to file a claim with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.

[summer]

Thanks for your post and help, Miss Marple. Re this:

Governor Jeb and President W are on top of this, as I knew they would be.

You are correct, but, a political analyst I just saw on Keith O's COUNTDOWN on MSNBC TV actually tried to sping this against Gov Bush and GW just now. I am so furious that he had no clue what he was talking about that I am going to have to write an editorial now. I will ping you to it.

[NautiNurse]

Glad to hear you are safe. No problems here--just sore and exhausted from all of the storm prep and evacuation. Was back in the house by 5:45pm yesterday.

Good summary of how all of us in the Tampa Bay area are feeling today:
We know we dodged the bullet, but we also know someone else took a bullet in our place. I have volunteered to assist with the storm recovery.

Oh my--didn't know anything about McGreevey until this afternoon due to storm. Yowser!

[summer]

sping = spin

[summer]

I have volunteered to assist with the storm recovery.

I want to volunteer too, but I have a lot to do first. Thanks for your entire post; I am glad you're OK, NautiNurse.

[oceanview]

on its way, their link is the same at the salvationarmyusa site - but you can specifiy the target for your donation there.

[squarebarb]

Were are waiting for information from various cousins. We are a big family (25 first cousins on my dad's side) and we can pull together, we can go down and help them rebuild if need be. We don't forget our old folks.

And I certainly will send a donation to Salvation Army. Thanks, Summer.