Hurricane Diaster Relief & Recovery
Donation protected
Relief Fund for Maggie, April, and Janet's Family in Panama City, Florida;
(Hurricane Michael Survivors)
We are reaching out to immediate/ extended family members, church family, personal friends, and work colleagues for financial help and support! We also desire your ongoing prayers and words of encouragement on behalf of our elderly and disabled mother, Annette Potter, our youngest sister Jamie with her four children: ages 1, 7, 12, and 13; and our brother, Jason, who lives in the city, but not in the home.
As most have heard now, Florida has been declared a state of emergency! Panama City, our little small home town, was hit very hard with the worst hurricane ever in the history of this city or area; rated a Category 4! Most of the city, businesses, and homes in the area, have been destroyed or severely damaged in the aftermath assessment.
Because of the debris, fallen trees, damaged power lines, damaged vehicles, and damaged matter all around, the roads have been recommended to be avoided and folks to stay inside their homes if possible if no safe shelter available. Those previously evacuated; asked not to return until safety risk are reduced, power back on, and roads are cleared for travel. Our family currently have need of basic necessities: food, water, clothing, and shelter.
When the hurricane hit, Mom and family were in a designated school shelter. However, that structure was damaged with the roof ripped away and water flooded into that building and could no longer shelter the people. My family therefore later returned to their house out of desperation with nowhere else to go. They found the house was damaged, with 1/2 the roof off, but still standing there to their disbelief! The damage is mostly on left side where the roof and attic material fell down exposing all three bedrooms with rain and debris directly in the house. The other side of the house, roof partially intact, but also at risk with water stains indicating more roof and debris will fall. House is also leaning to left side.
Now my Mom is hesitate to leave again, but because of the roof damage, mattresses soaked/ muddy, lack of clean water access, no plumbing facilities, no electrical power, or food, and possibly other unknown structural damage; and risks of mold or asbestos, she and her family are urged to leave as soon as safe to do so with available transportation. Without access to power they are unable to get news reports/ updates, so communication is very difficult at this time. Power expected to be out for several months due to the extensive city damage.
Mom is also still recovering and regaining her strength after recent surgery in late August and is struggling with multiple chronic health conditions. We are trying to help her process all this and understand why she must leave the house!
FYI: My Great-Grandmother, Maggie Jones built the family house in Panama City near 1950. How? I don't know, seems very close to post slavery era. She was a black women living in a very racist part of the country at that time. My mother has very sentimental attachments to the house in which she was raised. As a young teenager, she took care of her grandmother, who passed away in her presence.
It is our goal to help raise enough money to help temporarily relocate my mother to LA with my family; and my sister Jaime with her four children to Atlanta with my sister Janet; and to help my brother, Jason also get into a safe environment. We hope to fully repair and restore the house to meet safe standards and deem it insurable for the future. While the house has required much work and fix ups over the years, this house has stood the test of time; surviving and weathering numerous storms and threats from hurricanes/ tornados!
I was told the house has a good foundation and is made of very sturdy quality wood. I can also testify that our family home has been the only house left standing for many years on Wilson Avenue, I say, a miracle! We watched past neighbor's homes be destroyed and disappear one by one over the years, the residents left and never returned to rebuild.
We would be so grateful and appreciative for whatever you can donate to help us in this time of crisis in our family.
As soon as able, I will try to add updates of pictures of the house and damage to the house's interior, exterior; and the property surrounding it. And share photos of my family we are requesting help for.
God bless you,
Maggie Whitman
April Potter
Janet Potter
(Hurricane Michael Survivors)
We are reaching out to immediate/ extended family members, church family, personal friends, and work colleagues for financial help and support! We also desire your ongoing prayers and words of encouragement on behalf of our elderly and disabled mother, Annette Potter, our youngest sister Jamie with her four children: ages 1, 7, 12, and 13; and our brother, Jason, who lives in the city, but not in the home.
As most have heard now, Florida has been declared a state of emergency! Panama City, our little small home town, was hit very hard with the worst hurricane ever in the history of this city or area; rated a Category 4! Most of the city, businesses, and homes in the area, have been destroyed or severely damaged in the aftermath assessment.
Because of the debris, fallen trees, damaged power lines, damaged vehicles, and damaged matter all around, the roads have been recommended to be avoided and folks to stay inside their homes if possible if no safe shelter available. Those previously evacuated; asked not to return until safety risk are reduced, power back on, and roads are cleared for travel. Our family currently have need of basic necessities: food, water, clothing, and shelter.
When the hurricane hit, Mom and family were in a designated school shelter. However, that structure was damaged with the roof ripped away and water flooded into that building and could no longer shelter the people. My family therefore later returned to their house out of desperation with nowhere else to go. They found the house was damaged, with 1/2 the roof off, but still standing there to their disbelief! The damage is mostly on left side where the roof and attic material fell down exposing all three bedrooms with rain and debris directly in the house. The other side of the house, roof partially intact, but also at risk with water stains indicating more roof and debris will fall. House is also leaning to left side.
Now my Mom is hesitate to leave again, but because of the roof damage, mattresses soaked/ muddy, lack of clean water access, no plumbing facilities, no electrical power, or food, and possibly other unknown structural damage; and risks of mold or asbestos, she and her family are urged to leave as soon as safe to do so with available transportation. Without access to power they are unable to get news reports/ updates, so communication is very difficult at this time. Power expected to be out for several months due to the extensive city damage.
Mom is also still recovering and regaining her strength after recent surgery in late August and is struggling with multiple chronic health conditions. We are trying to help her process all this and understand why she must leave the house!
FYI: My Great-Grandmother, Maggie Jones built the family house in Panama City near 1950. How? I don't know, seems very close to post slavery era. She was a black women living in a very racist part of the country at that time. My mother has very sentimental attachments to the house in which she was raised. As a young teenager, she took care of her grandmother, who passed away in her presence.
It is our goal to help raise enough money to help temporarily relocate my mother to LA with my family; and my sister Jaime with her four children to Atlanta with my sister Janet; and to help my brother, Jason also get into a safe environment. We hope to fully repair and restore the house to meet safe standards and deem it insurable for the future. While the house has required much work and fix ups over the years, this house has stood the test of time; surviving and weathering numerous storms and threats from hurricanes/ tornados!
I was told the house has a good foundation and is made of very sturdy quality wood. I can also testify that our family home has been the only house left standing for many years on Wilson Avenue, I say, a miracle! We watched past neighbor's homes be destroyed and disappear one by one over the years, the residents left and never returned to rebuild.
We would be so grateful and appreciative for whatever you can donate to help us in this time of crisis in our family.
As soon as able, I will try to add updates of pictures of the house and damage to the house's interior, exterior; and the property surrounding it. And share photos of my family we are requesting help for.
God bless you,
Maggie Whitman
April Potter
Janet Potter
Organizer
Maggie Whitman
Organizer
Panama City, FL
