Support Beth's Family After Devastating Storm

Early last week weather predictions were warning of a storm developing in the Caribbean that would go on to become Hurricane Helene. Not unusual for this time of year, the hospital where our sister Beth works called staff in to stay at the hospital to ensure coverage during the storm. She packed a bag, put a bin of important documents in her car, and took a last look at her home to be sure she picked anything up off floor in case some water seeped in. She headed north over the Skyway and her husband Joe and son Joey headed south to stay with her in-laws.

As the storm headed north and strengthened it became clear that the combination of storm surge and high tide would push an unprecedented volume of water into the tiny fishing village where they’ve lived for the past eight years. Thursday afternoon as the wind picked up she received a heartbreaking photo: a tree fell on the boat Joe uses for income as a commercial fisherman (and their garage where his business is based). You know that local crab and fish dinner you get when you dine at a restaurant along the beach? Thank you, Joe. Then a few hours later, just before sunset, her neighbor posted a grainy video of their street, now a 4’ deep river of fast moving water.

Once the storm passed we went down as soon as we could for a first look and to make a plan. Their yard was filled with debris—from branches and building materials to trash that floated over from the marina. The 4’ water line on the outside of their house translated to about 2’ of water inside. Everything was soaked with or holding yellow-tinged water that smelled like a combination of dead fish, sewage, and oil. They lost so many irreplaceable things—family photos, Joey’s school artwork, childhood keepsakes—things we can’t help her get back. It’s heartbreaking.

But we’re not hopeless. There are things we can help with as she maps out the path to rebuild their life. They are renters, but they lost all of their furniture, rugs, electronics, and any clothes or items in drawers or on shelves lower than about 3’. We’re hoping to raise enough to take care of their immediate needs, and also have a bit left to get them started once they find a place to stay and need things like clothes, furniture, and kitchenware.

We’re starting with a $10,000 goal which feels like a big ask, but Beth is always jumping in to help others and now with Joe’s boat down they really need to lean on the generosity of others for a little while (which is so uncomfortable for them). We know they’ll need more than that, but we’re hoping it will help them cover rent and replacement of the essentials to get them started. And seeing that others see them and want to help will do so much to buoy their spirits as they go through the overwhelming process of cleanup and starting over.

——

For transparency: Beth lives in Cortez, Florida and we are Beth’s sisters (living in Clearwater and Seminole, FL, and San Francisco, CA).