Hurricane Helene Response
Moving to Alabama hasn’t diminished my desire to respond to hurricanes in Florida. In fact, with a more flexible schedule now that I’m no longer teaching, I can deploy with just 24 hours’ notice and stay as long as needed. Watching the weather reports and seeing another storm headed for Florida’s Big Bend region filled me with dread. My heart sank as I prayed, “Not again, Lord!” This same area—particularly Perry, Florida, in Taylor County—had already been devastated by Hurricane Idalia in August 2023 and Hurricane Debby the year before. And now, just two months later, yet another major hurricane was on its way. My first response was prayer: “Lord, prepare this community. And if it’s Your will, send me.”
Why me? Because Dunkin will open hearts, and I will bring the message of Jesus.
I began preparing to deploy, knowing conditions could vary widely. My packing list included essentials like a battery-powered fan, air mattress, bug spray, sleeping bag, and even a crate and cot for Dunkin. On September 30, just four days after the storm made landfall, we got the call—and God had already made a way.
Our prayer team had been interceding even before the storm hit, specifically for housing, which is often our biggest challenge. Finding a place to sleep is often our biggest challenge during hurricane response efforts. Hotel rooms are usually unavailable, filled with displaced homeowners or other emergency workers. Even sleeping arrangements at The Salvation Army’s base camp can be limited. But this time, God provided abundantly! Not only did Dunkin and I have a small bunk room at the base camp in Live Oak, Florida, but a generous couple in Perry, Florida, also offered us a room in their home.
We stayed in the area for seven days, visiting the towns of Live Oak, White Springs, Jasper, Cross City, Keaton Beach, and Perry. During these visits, we partnered with The Salvation Army canteen trucks, which were serving hot meals to the affected communities. As people waited in line for food, Dunkin and I engaged with them, standing nearby and inviting conversation.
Dunkin’s wagging tail was an irresistible icebreaker. People naturally gravitated toward him, and from the simple act of petting his head, conversations began to flow. Many shared their exhaustion, their losses, and their concerns—when their power would be restored, or how they would rebuild. My role was to listen, offer compassion, and share moments of prayer. It was a blessing to remind them they were not alone, that God saw their needs and would provide for them.
After seven days in the Big Bend region, I thought our mission was complete. But then I received an email from a Salvation Army lieutenant at a base camp in Georgia: “I’d love to chat with you about coming to see us in Douglas, GA, to visit with the community and our crews.”
The next morning, Dunkin and I set off on the four-hour drive west to Douglas, Georgia, where we continued our mission. After completing our time there, we returned home on October 10, weary but grateful. However, our rest was short-lived. Just six days later, Hurricane Milton struck Florida’s west coast near Tampa, and we were back on the road once again.