Hello. This special edition of My Blog is focused on the recent devastation that hurricanes Helene and Milton wreaked upon communities all along the west coast of Florida and beyond. I joined my fellow Rotarians and many other volunteers in and around our area to help victims recover from the aftermath. I can tell you, first hand, that the damage to property and people's lives is heartbreakingly extensive.
Paula and I survived and recovered from two historic wildfires while we lived in Southern California, and I understand how life changing this kind of disaster can be. I truly empathize with the victims' sense of despair following these storms. During the relief work, I saw houses that had been lifted from their foundations, furniture, appliances, and personal possessions scattered helter-skelter in soaking wet heaps throughout the interior. Water, mud, and debris covering every inch of floors and cabinets. People not only lost just about everything from the flooding inside their homes, but they also lost their cars, trucks, and other vehicles.
The good news is that hundreds of good Samaritans have banded together to provide help in clearing debris, clean-up, and temporary repairs. They have also coordinated the distribution of food, water, supplies, and other essential emergency assistance. Some have taken victims into their homes for temporary shelter. The extent of the catastrophe is overwhelming. Official services from utilities and government organizations are stretched beyond their capacity to keep up, but they're making progress.
The distressing news is that recovery for many of the victims will take weeks or even months. Many are not in a position to ever recover without ongoing assistance. Much of the worst damage occurred along coastal areas where a large number of the dwellings are older, including several vintage trailer parks, and most of these were not insured. The majority of these homes belonged to elderly and low-income residents.
I know from personal experience that, following the commendable burst of sympathetic volunteer help after a natural disaster, people tend to return to their normal lives before many of the victims have recovered. I don't say this as a criticism. We all have our own lives to live. But I know that after we return to our daily lives, the victims will continue to struggle to regain some sense of normalcy and - it will take time.
I wanted to do more, but I also need to return to my life. So, I've decided that one way I can continue to help is to contribute to the people and organizations who, as a way of life, focus on helping others.
From now until the end of the year, I am going donate the proceeds from sales of my newest novel, I Am Everett, to the ongoing effort to help the victims of the Helene and Milton hurricanes. My royalty payments will be donated to worthy organizations through my Rotary club, the Holiday Rotary Club. You can find more information about our Rotary club on Facebook.
This will only be significant if all my
friends and their friends purchase a copy of the book. I urge you
to use email or social media or any other means of communication
with people you know to spread the word that purchasing the novel,
I Am Everett, on Amazon.com will result in a contribution to the
hurricane relief effort here in Florida. I will post my earnings
reports each month so that everyone can see what progress we're
making.
You can click here to purchase the book on Amazon - buy now.
I hope you will join me in this effort to help so many people who are genuinely in need of our assistance.
Thank you!