Davie Hurricane Relief.org
A private effort to enhance communications before and after hurricanes and other emergency events
WILMA NEWS AND ARTICLES
Trapped In Recovery Limbo
Davie (November 1 @ 10:30 p.m.)- Right now, as you read this report, many Davie residents are living in cramped tents, cars, homes of friends and other temporary venues. They cannot afford motel rooms, if such places can be found. Some stay at Fox Trail Elementary in the Red Cross Shelter wondering where they will go next. Others seek alternatives that are scarce, and frustrating. Registering with FEMA means just registering for some, with explanations that relief is on the way...perhaps 15 or more days in the future. There are no temporary trailers provided by the government, at least not yet. As the weather turned to rain, clothing and personal effects are being drenched, and become moldy. Some people have lost their clothing collection. Prized possessions of neighbors are destroyed, as is the sense of their security. What little is left in the mobile homes broken apart by Wilma's fury is exposed to the elements, and decaying. Spirits are also deteriorating. There is a sense of disbelief that aid takes so long, but that reality is understandable.
There is only so much local government can do, despite dedicated efforts to marshal all reserves to provide recovery relief. According to the Miami-Herald on November 1, Davie officials estimate the cost to the Town and its residents following Wilma may be up to $100,000,000 or more. The newspaper reports 693 structures are unsafe in this municipality, 608 of which are mobile homes. Some single family homes are statistics too. As the financial costs of Wilma are calculated, the psychological tolls are beyond calculation. Most residents lost electric power, we all scrambled for gas, faced intersections and roads without signals, our jobs were in suspended animation as businesses struggled to open, schools were inaccessible and our communications were, in large part, cut off in the aftermath of the hurricane. Food was lost without refrigeration, and water and ice were sought like treasures by many. This is not the first time this year residents in Davie have been displaced...it happened after Hurricane Katrina pounded the area as a Category 1 storm just weeks ago. At that time, an estimated 200 people were forced from their homes. Davie and private relief organizations responded with amazing efforts, but the resources within their control are not limitless.
In Broward County, affordable housing was already at a minimum before the hurricanes passed. The problem is that as hard as government tries, it cannot fill the tremendous urgent needs as fast as help is needed. Hopefully, the estimated 600 trailers needed to ease this crisis will be here soon. Where they will be located is still an unanswered question. Until then, it is up to us to get our neighbors out of "recovery limbo."
If you have a home or place to live you can open up to those displaced, let us know. We can post your listings on line. If you have ideas on how these individuals can be helped, right now, please communicate your thoughts with all deliberate speed.
Send your e-mails to mac0202@bellsouth.net
Concern About Rain and Exposed Broken Homes
-The effects of Wilma threaten to worsen as poor weather approaches-
Davie (October 31 @7:45 p.m.)- The weather forecast for rain in the next two days, and possibly thunder showers, is worrying a lot of Davie residents this evening. The Sun-Sentinel reported a State Emergency Management Official urged residents to buy their own roof tarps if they cannot get them from the government. The paper reports retail stores have tarps in stock. With the anticipated arrival of rain and more humidity, already horrible living conditions for mobile home residents who had their homes destroyed may become completely unbearable. Many residents cannot live in their homes, and have chosen to live in small tents next to their property in Western Davie, just South of Interstate 595. While some are living in their cars, others are still housed at Fox Trail Elementary School off of Nob Hill Road, in Davie. With the ground likely to be wet, and water pouring into their leaking, and sometimes non-existent trailer roofs, the effects of Hurricane Wilma threaten to become substantially worse than they are in the cool, dry weather.
For many of these residents, it is impossible to get to the stores to buy the tarps. Some have no gas. Some have no resources to buy the tarps. Many need help putting the sheeting up over their exposed homes. If the State or Federal government is unable to rapidly furnish the tarps in large enough quantities, and if those who need them the most, and quickly, are unable to get them, then it is up to the rest of us to help secure the plastic and "blue roofs" and pull together as a community to distribute them.
Now is the time for local businesses and private interests to step in and buy as much plastic sheeting as possible, and distribute them throughout the mobile home communities. Not every mobile home needs the supplies, but many do. This task is one which can be achieved if we work together swiftly, and in a coordinated manner.
If you are interested in helping with this effort, please e-mail us at mac0202@bellsouth.net. No monetary donations will be accepted, but if you have purchased roof tarps, we will get them to those in need.
In the meantime, governmental roof tarp programs are underway. For more information and locations, contact:
Operation Blue Roof...Call 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) or Broward County at 954-831-4000
There is a media report that mobile homes with aluminum siding may not be eligible for this program unless they are "substantially reinforced." The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunctions with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is operating "Operation Blue Roof." More details on critically needed program is at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/, including locations currently listed by the Corps to obtain the protective covering in Broward County. The Miami Herald reported on its web site on November 1 that the Plantation application location for Operation Blue Roof is closed, with a new location opening in Lauderhill.
For examples of how desperate the need is, please see the photographs on this page and in our photo gallery.
Mobile Home Residents in Davie Need Roof Tarps, Food and FEMA
Davie, Florida (October 28, 2005 @ 11:12 a.m.)...Residents of Davie mobile homes are in desperate need of roof tarps, food and FEMA representatives. The FEMA Blue Team is needed to help secure destroyed roofing before it rains. Food banks need urgent supplies. These needs are not an exaggeration...they are urgent. Conditions in mobile home parks are dangerous and deteriorating. FEMA representatives need to visit the area to register those in need. Thousands are affected...please send help. This web site is available to facilitate communications. Davie needs attention...please...now.
E-mail us at mac0202@bellsouth.net
12:45 p.m.- The Town of Davie, at a special public meeting held at noon today at the Davie Police Department, considered two resolutions. The first is a resolution requesting Governor Bush to exercise his powers under Chapter 252 of the Florida Statutes to direct and compel the evacuation of all residents residing in mobile homes which are deemed to be uninhabitable in designated mobile home communities located within the Town of Davie. The second resolution requests the Governor to "provide all necessary provisions, including but not limited to food and adequate housing to all residents residing in mobile homes deemed to be uninhabitable in designated mobile home communities..."
The resolutions were prompted by the severe impact of Hurricane Wilma and the destruction it caused in the Town. There is widespread damage to "vital infrastructure" and damage to residences. Emergency services are in need of assistance from the State. Citing concerns about senior citizens, the disabled, marginal income families and the general population, the resolutions, to be sent to Tallahassee, are designed to insure the health, safety and welfare of the population of Davie. The resolutions urge help from the State and Federal Government food and temporary emergency housing. The resolutions seek attention and resources to speed up emergency relief and to secure commitments from the State and Federal officials in charge of disaster relief. Each resolution passed for immediate transmittal to Governor Bush.
The Town is actively working to get FEMA officials into Davie.
Residents Warned About Sewage Spills and Electrified Wires
10.28.05 @ 10:44 p.m.- Warnings about failed lift stations and the presence of raw sewage flooding certain residential street areas are being issued by some homeowners associations this evening. Due to the lack of electric, sewage lift stations throughout the Town of Davie have failed. Sewage is backing up, creating a very serious health risk. Residents are being warned to keep children and pets out of affected areas and to take off wet shoes before entering houses. They are also being warned to take off the "Clean Out" caps located near their houses to try to prevent a back up of raw sewage into their living quarters. In those communities where there are light poles downed by the hurricane, live and electrified wires may be exposed at ground level, especially after power is restored to communities and neighborhoods. Residents have been advised to report such problems and provide for their safety and the well being of their children and pets.
The Town of Davie Emergency Operations Center is aggressively working with the City of Sunrise and the Broward Emergency Operations Center to fix the sewage and downed lines problem.
UPDATE: As of 10.29.05, the City of Sunrise was dispatching mobile generator trucks to certain Davie lift stations. We thank all those involved in mobilizing this important relief effort.