Birmingham, AL volunteers with Minuteman Disaster Response plan to deploy in the wake of Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm, that is causing panic throughout Florida with life-threatening storm surges, tornado warnings, winds and flooding.
Florida (September 28, 2022) — On Wednesday afternoon, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida with winds up to 150 mph. As a dangerous Category 4 storm, it ranks as the fourth strongest hurricane to hit Florida, comparing to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Katrina. Within a short time of the storm’s landfall, storm surges and winds have already taken a heavy toll on streets, buildings and vehicles across the coastal cities.
The National Hurricane Center declared this storm as catastrophic and ordered the evacuations of millions of residents. Hurricane Ian will continue moving north to North Carolina until Sunday, expected to cause power-outages, damage and flooding along the way.
Many cities are now flooded from heavy rainfall and covered with debris, leaving locals in desperate need of rescue. The power-outages have affected more than 1.5 million residents and will continue to increase as the storm travels. Shelters throughout the state are seeing an influx of people seeking safety as the devastation of the storm is underway. People will need immediate assistance once the storm passes and waters subside, which is why our team plans to be on site as soon as possible.
During our deployment, the MDR team will begin work on homes damaged from floodwaters and winds alongside first responders and relief efforts. As the storm wreaks havoc on the state of Florida, we are preparing our volunteers to support victims in the most effective ways while sharing hope.
To find out more about Minuteman Disaster Response and how the organization supports communities impacted by natural disasters, visit https://www.minutemanresponse.org/ and check them out on Twitter (@MinutemanTeam), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
