Local officials braced for Hurricane Ian — ordering evacuations in vulnerable areas and closing schools and government offices.
Many businesses locked up, too, as a precaution.
But instead of making the direct hit on the Tampa Bay region, as looked likely on hurricane path models, Hurricane Ian veered south, causing death and destruction.
While the communities of Fort Myers, Sanibel, Cape Coral and others reel from the losses, life in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area is back to normal routines.
But there are efforts to help being spearheaded.
Local government officials have pledged to send support to the regions hardest hit by Hurricane Ian.
Local groups also are stepping up.
Chris Casella, district governor election for Rotary District 6950, shared the group’s efforts, via an email to The Laker/Lutz News.
“As of this morning, every club president has received their flyers and directions for the Supply Drive. We encourage everyone to share the flyer to your social media and/or media outlets,” he said, in an Oct. 1 email.
Rotary District 6950 is collecting monetary donations and donations of items for those affected by Hurricane Ian. Visit Rotary6950.org/IanRelief for more information and to donate.
“A few emails that we received on people, ‘thinking outside the box,’” Casella wrote are these:
- Wendy Rosario, wife of Rotarian Tony Rosario, posted on her neighborhood social media site and set up a temporary collection spot at her home.
- Rotarian Mandy Williams plans on encouraging staff and clientele of her salon, Shear Joy Salon, to bring in supplies.
- Rotarian Kyymara Rose Scott is planning on opening her shop, Esthetics813, as a temporary drop site for her clientele and neighborhood.
The club has identified seven drop-off spots for donations, including these within or near The Laker/Lutz News coverage area:
- Maus Nissan of New Port Richey, 3939 U.S. 19, New Port Richey
- Maus Nissan of North Tampa, 11011 N. Florida Ave., Tampa
The Diocese of St. Petersburg also planned to collect donations at its 79 parishes and missions this month, to help people affected by natural disasters, including Hurricane Ian.
In a Sept. 30 letter sent to all parishes in the diocese, Bishop Gregory Parkes wrote: “Our hearts are moved with compassion for all those who suffered damage and destruction due to Hurricane Ian, especially the Diocese of Venice.”
There are all sorts of individuals stepping up, too.
In one social media post, a local woman was asking people to lend her gas cans, so she could fill them up and deliver them to people who are having to wait for hours to get gas to power their generators.
In her post, she assured those lending the gas cans that she would return them, if they labeled them with their name and address.
In coming weeks, other efforts to help are very likely to happen, if the communities, organizations and individuals within The Laker/Lutz News coverage area demonstrate their habitual practice of helping their neighbors.
Published October 05, 2022
