Response Updates

Convoy of Hope Responds to Hurricane Michael

USA Reported by Convoy of Hope

December 6, 2018 | 8:25 a.m.

Families and communities throughout the Florida Panhandle are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Michael, which struck nearly two months ago. To date, Convoy of Hope has provided more than 240,000 individuals with food, water, and other relief supplies.

With the help of more than 1,500 volunteers who have given nearly 10,000 hours of their time, Convoy has distributed more than 4.5 million pounds of relief supplies to those affected by Hurricane Michael.

“Moving forward, we’ll continue to work with partners who want to participate in distribution and are planning to work in this capacity well into the new year,” says Senior Director of U.S. Disaster Response Stacy Lamb.

In addition to the tangible supplies Convoy of Hope has been distributing, we’re moving into the next phase of our response. This includes teaching local churches and partners how to help individuals in their communities navigate the often-complicated process of applying for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds.

Following a disaster, FEMA provides funds for individuals to replace their homes and or stay in a hotel until their home is habitable. Our experienced personnel have become well adept at navigating the FEMA process after years of helping individuals and communities cope with the aftermath of disasters. By equipping our partners with the knowledge they need to navigate this process, we’re actively participating in the long-term recovery of those affected by Hurricane Michael.

November 13, 2018 | 1:30 p.m.

It’s been more than a month since Hurricane Michael made landfall and devastated communities across Florida’s Panhandle. As residents continue to recover from their losses, Convoy of Hope’s response teams remain on the ground to ensure survivors have the supplies they need to ease the burdens they now face. Thanks to our partners and volunteers, thousands of people are still being served.

  • 169,712 individuals served
  • 4,511,825 pounds of product shipped to Florida
  • 1,432 volunteers engaged
  • 9,046 volunteer hours earned

November 6, 2018 | 2 p.m.

MARIANNA, FL — Convoy of Hope staff and volunteers are still engaged in our response to Hurricane Michael. Food, water, and other supplies continue to make their way into the hands of those affected from our central distribution hub in Marianna, Florida. 

An important part of every Convoy disaster strategy is responding to those who are often overlooked in rural areas. Our team continues to deliver supplies and resources to churches and partners in outlying towns, who then pass them on to their communities.

  • 147,213 individuals served
  • 4,460,225 pounds of product shipped to Florida
  • 1,331 volunteers engaged

October 26, 2018 | 10:15 a.m.

Convoy of Hope staff and volunteers continue to serve those in the Florida Panhandle affected by Hurricane Michael. More than two weeks after the Category 4 storm, our Disaster Services team still is actively supplying individuals with food, water, and other relief supplies.

Our 15,000-square-foot warehouse space in Marianna, Florida, is stocked with supplies, which we will keep distributing to surrounding communities in need of aid. To date, more than 114,000 individuals have been served through our response.

Amber — a resident of Sneads, Florida, and mother of four — came through our distribution site to receive help. “We’re without a job, without power, all my food is spoiled,” she explained. “Everything’s just gone.”

With her work closed by the storm, Amber was unable to provide for her family. She expressed her gratitude for the help Convoy provided. “They [Convoy] don’t have to do this. Nobody has to. This is how you know that there are people out there who care.”

The help we gave Amber and her family was only possible because of our indispensable partners and volunteers. Nearly 4 million pounds of donated product have been shipped to Florida from our World Distribution Center, and more than 1,000 volunteers have given almost 6,500 hours of their time to care for those affected by Michael.

October 19, 2018 | 12:45 p.m.

MARIANNA, FL — Thanks to you, more than 97,000 people affected by Hurricane Michael have received supplies from Convoy of Hope since the start of our response. Throughout the Florida Panhandle, 3 million pounds of supplies have been delivered to our central hub and are quickly making their way to families who are still reeling from the Category 4 storm.

Each day, roughly 600 cars pass through our distribution site in Marianna. In addition to our central point of distribution, volunteers and team members have served 30 communities via mobile distribution.

Convoy could not do this work without the volunteers, churches, and partner organizations who work right alongside us. To date, more than 688 volunteers have given nearly 4,000 hours of their time to provide help and hope to hurricane survivors.

October 18, 2018 | 2:45 p.m.

Convoy of Hope continues to meet the needs of those in Florida affected by Hurricane Michael. The distribution site at our more permanent location is up and running, and a steady stream of cars passes through each hour. So far, more than 1.6 million pounds of food, water, and supplies have been delivered to our distribution hub. These supplies will continue to make their way into the hands of those in need. As of today, Convoy of Hope — alongside 580 volunteers — has served more than 47,000 individuals.

October 16, 2018 | 12:25 p.m.

MARIANNA, FL — Convoy of Hope is responding in full force to help communities affected by Hurricane Michael. Since the storm made landfall, we’ve distributed more than 300,000 pounds of product to 15,000 individuals from our central distribution hub in Marianna, Florida.

Using a drive-thru distribution, Convoy team members and volunteers are serving families and individuals with water, food, ice, hygiene kits, and other disaster relief supplies. Mobile distribution has also begun, and we’ve delivered supplies in 18 surrounding communities.

We are currently moving our distribution hub in Marianna from Walmart to Rivertown Community Church. The move allows Convoy to set up a more permanent location and will provide us with 15,000 square feet of warehouse space for product.

October 14, 2018 | 3:30 p.m.

MARIANNA, FL — As the search for those still missing continues, Convoy of Hope is bringing relief to people affected by Hurricane Michael. Convoy of Hope’s central hub is currently set up in Marianna, Florida, and relief supplies are quickly moving to the hands of those in need. Convoy has distributed relief supplies in nine cities so far, including Panama City, Mexico Beach, Grand Ridge, and Sneads.

More than 200 volunteers have delivered food, water, and other relief supplies to survivors. As of yesterday, 9,000 individuals had been served. On Saturday, 22 tractor-trailer loads delivered to the site — possibly a new Convoy record. In addition to the nearly 2,000 cars that passed through our central distribution hub, Convoy of Hope loaded dozens of police patrol cars with supplies, which were delivered to devastated neighborhoods. Distribution of relief supplies is scheduled to continue for the coming days.

October 12, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.

MARIANNA, FL — Convoy of Hope is positioned and ready to serve the communities in and around Marianna, Florida. The distribution site in Marianna opened today, and we handed out food, baby products, brooms, hygiene kits, flood buckets, tarps, and trash cans to those affected by the storm. Throughout the day, volunteers bagged and distributed supplies to those in need.

Convoy will also begin mobile distribution to help outlying communities and individuals who are unable to drive to our central distribution hub. Up to 50 additional truckloads of supplies are en route to help Convoy’s Disaster Services teams and provide supplies to those affected by the storm.

October 10, 2018 | 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, Convoy of Hope team members and supplies made their way toward Florida where Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 4 storm. With 155 mph winds and heavy rainfall, Michael has already destroyed homes, flattened trees, and flooded neighborhoods.

Hurricane Michael is the strongest storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in more than 100 years, making the damage difficult to forecast. It’s estimated hundreds of thousands of people are already without power, and many more will be in need of assistance in the coming days.

With equipment, supplies, and staff being deployed from several locations in the United States, the Convoy of Hope Disaster Services team will soon converge on the area and begin serving those affected by the storm.

October 9, 2018 | 5:30 p.m.

Convoy of Hope is deploying to Florida ahead of Hurricane Michael. The Category 3 hurricane is predicted to hit the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday with life-threatening storm surge, heavy rainfall, and damaging winds.

Two truck loads of supplies are currently on their way, from Convoy’s World Distribution Center in Springfield, Missouri, and team members are already in Florida ahead of the storm. Additional disaster response team members will move in on the heels of the storm and will set up a central distribution site as soon as the storm clears the area. The site will have food, water, hygiene kits, and other disaster relief supplies.

“The predicted storm surge in combination with damaging winds could cause catastrophic destruction and mass power outages. Convoy of Hope is prepared to provide emergency resources immediately following the disaster,” says Jeff Nene, Convoy of Hope’s National Spokesperson.

Hurricane Michael is predicted to move inland across the Southeastern U.S. with additional rainfall in areas affected by Hurricane Florence. Reports show the Carolinas may see 3 to 6 inches of rain, which could cause additional flash flooding to the hardest hit areas. Convoy of Hope still has a Disaster Services team in North Carolina that will continue to help those affected by Hurricane Florence.

Multiple disasters reveal the complexities of disaster response. As the Hurricane Michael response begins, Convoy of Hope continues to serve those affected by both Hurricane Florence in the Carolinas and the tsunami in Indonesia.

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