Chat group keeps Tampa Bay Latino families informed, including during hurricanes
As Hurricane Idalia approached Florida, Ana Lamb sent a WhatsApp message to the 800 people in the Apoyo para la Comunidad chat group.
“For those who are wondering about shelters in Hillsborough County, they’ve advised evacuations for Zone A,” she wrote in Spanish, adding a video explaining how people can figure out what evacuation zone they live in.
“Let’s stay tuned for the authorities’ next steps,” Lamb added. “We are with you! Life and health are the most important things now.”
The online WhatsApp community for Tampa Bay area residents was established during the pandemic in 2020 and has become a key source of information in Spanish for Hispanic families and immigrants. Many in the group are farmworkers from Central America and Mexico. Some of them lack proper documentation and fear reaching out to authorities to get information.
That fear has become more pronounced after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill in May that is considered to be among the nation’s toughest crackdowns on illegal immigration. The law took effect on July 1. It requires private employers with 25 or more employees to use the federal electronic system E-Verify to check the immigration status of workers. It also allocates $12 million for the relocation of migrants outside Florida and imposes fines and felony charges on anyone “knowingly” transporting people without legal status into the state.
Lamb, a Mexican advocate from Wimauma, said the WhatsApp messaging group is meant to help people share trusted information and feel more confident about accessing it. In the past few days, members of the group have discussed finding shelters and shared updates about road closures, flooding and power outages.
“Residents living near the Alafia River should seek safe places,” Lamb posted on Tuesday. “The water levels are rising!”
Velia, another user, responded: “Yes! And also keep an eye on the power. Mine went out 20 minutes ago! I’m on 672, between Wimauma and Riverview.”
Lamb and her volunteers take pride in providing reliable information and a sense of comfort. Interactions flow naturally in the group, she said, due to the trust and commitment among its members.
Other Spanish sources also keep the Hispanic community informed. Hillsborough County publishes a hurricane guide in Spanish. Residents can visit HCFLGov.net, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select their preferred language. The City of Tampa offers an emergency text messaging service in Spanish; residents can subscribe by texting TAMPALISTA to 888-777. Pinellas, Hernando and Pasco counties also provide real-time information with operators ready to connect residents to a Spanish-speaking interpreter.
Jorge Calixto, 39, a Mexican migrant now living in Gibsonton, likes to use the WhatsApp community to get and share information. He posted a video alerting people to flooded areas in Gibsonton just a few hours after Idalia’s landfall.
Last year, Calixto traveled north to avoid Hurricane Ian. This time, he chose to stay at home with his younger sister and parents. Calixto felt sharing useful information was a civic duty to his community.
“If you have the ability to do it, many people will be thankful to see it,” he said. “Thank God nothing happened, but we were worried.”
