D & S Brennan Beat Irma '17

I am struggling right now with knowing that very dear friends lost everything in this mess with no expected help from FEMA for 7-10 days, and with other friends going home to just lost power and a few branches in their yard, some whining about it. I am seeing everyone's reactions to this so differently. Reach out to those who desperately need it now. Those who got slammed in this will NOT, I repeat, NOT, be getting helped any time soon by FEMA. Insurance companies, well, same thing-could take several days to weeks! I believe the best we can do right now is communicate with those in need directly if we can, with help. I know that everyone is heading back right now and the roads are clogged. But if you are close, help your neighbors. Shelter them. Help them store and pack up their items from their destroyed homes as quickly as possible. PODS is going to be busy!! Help put up tarps. Protect from looters. Those of us who live far away, perhaps we can set up Go Fund Me pages, or wire money. Send checks, gift cards, food cards. Utilize email addresses also to send e-gifts. These people may not have a mailbox. See about an address at a FedEx/Kinko you can use to send these items to. Saying "I am sorry" isn't enough in this horrible situation when property is destroyed. People have to get back to living, but how, when their home is gone?

Yes, they do need our prayers and continued support. My heart is broken right now. But please, reach out and see what you can do to help NOW!! Not everyone survived Irma unscathed with just a few nicks and scratches. FEMA is going to be slow to help in the coming days and weeks. The Red Cross can only extend vouchers for a few days at hotels, or not at all. Money will run out. Property will be looted. It rains constantly in the southeast, too. Further destruction will continue.

I am praying like crazy, so many miles away, in Arizona. Dan Brennan and Sandy Chipre Esposito Brennan, you know Paul and I would be there in a heartbeat. We are still seeing what we can do about that. In the meantime, if there are mutual friends of these two precious people, all I can ask is this. If you can reach out to them and assist physically and monetarily, it would mean the world to them, and do your heart good. They lost their home, and I do not want them to lose their spirit. And they are both too proud to accept, ask or infer. Tough tushee, guys! You've Got A Friend!!

Please be assured, all funds will go directly to their bank account. I know how people are with the sites-they trust them as far as they can spit. Do NOT for a minute believe that FEMA, the Red Cross and other agencies are just flocking to anyones aid. People have to GO and seek out help. They have no clothes, no food, no home, no car in some cases, no way to prepare and dress each day for their jobs, can't be expected to live with family and friends forever (Fish and Visitors Stink After Three Days!), and are so stressed out and do not know where to even start! These guys are handicapped. They need a  POD, guys to help them pack up FAST before rains and looters start, and this is a monumental job. And  FEMA ain't gonna be there folks! They will get to them when they can is all. Dan & Sandy live on a pensioners income. Both of their prescription costs each month take up A LOT of their money. And to boot, they will still be required to pay lot rent, HOA fees and mortgage. How do I know all this? I have known Sandy for 36 years. I know things. I even know her cup size (don't ask!) .They are very private folk and are most likely going to kill me now. But what a noble way to die.