Two Military Vets Lead a Convoy of Relief, from the Ruskin-Apollo Beach Community and bring much needed HOPE,to the devastation in the Panhandle.

10/18/2018

Hurricane Michael roared ashore on that dreadful Wednesday near the Florida Panhandle, one of the most intense hurricanes to ever hit the United States. With winds as high as 155 mph, the Category 4 storm, which some would argue was a 5; slammed coastal towns in the area, leveling buildings and structures, flooding streets and leaving a trail of destruction. One veteran storm chaser said that Panama City was so badly damaged it looked like it had been struck by a bomb.

The storm had moved toward Georgia and Alabama by the evening, the first Category 3 hurricane to hit Georgia since 1898. Though its strength had decreased, the risk of damage from high winds and heavy rains remained across wide swaths of the Southeast.

  Before the sun went down and the skies turned midnight blue, those in the path of Hurricane Michael shared glimpses of what some say is the worst hurricane damage they’ve seen. 

Here are 2 photos that capture the awe such a powerful storm brings.

Image result for Hurricane MICHAEL damage wednesday

 

Related imageCarol Ralph walks through downed trees blocking her heavily damaged neighborhood just after Hurricane Michael passed through in Panama City, Fla., Wednesday.

That’s where this story begins. Heather Botts a  Marine Veteran  and Owner of Frontline Cleaning Services , located in Ruskin, Fl took the lead as she did last year when Hurricane Irma left her scar all up and down Florida;  and got together with  Crystal Pepkowski , Heather Barr and Army Veteran Lauren Krontz  to head up a Hurricane Michael Relief Drive.  

 Heather Botts began posting on her Social Media account that she was collecting basic survival needs supplies, with a detailed list and would be setting up drop off points in several area business and locations around town. That is when Crystal Pepkowski , Heather Barr and Lauren Krontz followed suit and as they say the rest is history. 

 These amazing woman inspired others to pitch in and do what they can and then it just snowballed into a lot of the Ruskin/Apollo Beach Community citizens an businesses  reaching out to offer there help with donations.   

 These girls were working day and night running around town picking up  all these donations as well as buying supplies from local retailers, with donations from several other community donors all while juggling there busy and  daily lives of motherhood.  They filled there cars making rounds around town day and night to fill there 2 car garage when it just started overflowing.                                      

They knew they could not fit all in the little cargo trailer they had planned on using, so Heather Botts once again put a plea out on Social Media for help looking for a vehicle to pull the large load  to the Panhandle, when another amazing community member in the Ruskin/Apollo Beach community stepped up an made a donation to rent them a UHaul Box Truck.   

                        

The Ruskin/Apollo Beach area is an amazing community, full of some of  the most giving and amazing citizens.  There is  lots of fishing and outdoor activities right here on the banks of Tampa Bay.  There are several Captians that Charter Fishing trips right here in the Ruskin/Apollo Beach  area.  

Heather and her husband Jamark a skilled Brazilian jiu jitsu Instructor are leading the convoy with friends Crystal Pepkowski  and Lauren Krontz headed to the Panhandle to bring some much needed HOPE to those who need it the most with a goal in mind, they want to help the ones in the Rural Areas of Michael’s path in an attempt to bring much needed relief to those that are not close to Points Of Distribution(POD).  

 They are asking for help in finding these individuals that are totally cutoff from modern society and dont really have a way to get to a POD or no family or neighbors to help them.  The un populated areas if you will. 

 If you are one of these individuals, or you know of someone who is, feel free to leave a comment in the comment section below this article or join our Facebook Group and you can post there. Another option is to Like and Follow our Riders Of The Storm Recovery Resources Page and you can make a post their. Be safe out there Rider’s Of The Storm,  HOPE is on the way!

                                            

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4 thoughts on “Two Military Vets Lead a Convoy of Relief, from the Ruskin-Apollo Beach Community and bring much needed HOPE,to the devastation in the Panhandle.

  1. Hello I took the eye of the hurricane right over my home in Marianna. My neighborhood was the hardest hit with 100 year old oak trees uprooted a d mostly all homes has tree damage cars as well. We are still without power. Our roads still have tons of debris & power lines all over. We are expected to be 2 more weeks without power. Thank you for your Support! I am familiar with this area if you need any help. My home is open as I have a generator and water but its liveable. Roof is Tarped. You are welcome to stay here if you need a place while you bless us all. God bless. Linda Offhaus. We are panhandlestrong because of folks like you.

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