Convoy of Hope, CU prepare to help with Hurricane Ian

Sara Karnes, Springfield News-Leader
·3 min read

Peanut butter, energy bars, baby kits, bottled water and more were packed by folks with Convoy of Hope earlier this week as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Florida and groups from Missouri prepare to help.

Convoy of Hope packed groceries and rallied vehicles in preparation of being deployed to the southeastern part of the country most likely Thursday, if not by Wednesday night, said spokesman Ethan Forhetz Tuesday.

Hurricane Ian had grown to near-Category 5 strength, blasting 155 mph winds and prompting mandatory evacuation orders for 2.5 million Floridians – although for those who have not yet fled it could be too late to leave, according to USA Today reporting Wednesday.

Among the packages gathered to take are cleaning supplies, Forhetz said.

"It looks like it's going to be a major flooding event," Forhetz said. "The water gets into your house and then it's there for a little while, and then it quickly moves out, but you're left with the mess and the residue left behind. So, people need help getting that cleaned up so they can begin to get back on their feet."

City Utilities is also sending two electric line crews and support staff to the Florida area who along with other responding line crews, will be in position to assist in power restoration efforts after the storm impacts Florida, according to spokesman Joel Alexander.

"Because of changes in the weather pattern and timing, our crews are leaving overnight to stage with other line crews responding to the request for assistance," Alexander said via email. "During electric system restoration events requesting mutual-aid assistance, CU responds to assist if possible."

Storm spectators view the rough surf off the south jetty at Jetty Park on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Fort Pierce, Fla., as wind and rain bands from Hurricane Ian begin to pound the Treasure Coast.
Storm spectators view the rough surf off the south jetty at Jetty Park on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Fort Pierce, Fla., as wind and rain bands from Hurricane Ian begin to pound the Treasure Coast.

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The last major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. was last year’s Hurricane Ida, which was a Category 4, according to Convoy of Hope. The last major hurricane to make landfall specifically in Florida was Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018.

As with previous deployments, Forhetz said about 20 vehicles will be driven to the disaster site. They are equipped to allow members of Convoy of Hope to be self-sufficient once they arrive.

"We have our own bunk quarters, our own showers, bathrooms, our own kitchen, our own food so that we're not a drain on a community that's already been hit hard," Forhetz said. "We don't want to use up hotel rooms that people who lost their houses need to live in or stop at restaurants and eat food that locals who can't cook their own food need to live on."

More than 250,000 homes and businesses in South Florida already were dark Wednesday, according to the tracking website poweroutage.us. Power outages should be expected statewide, Florida Power & Light warned.

AccuWeather projected landfall will occur sometime this afternoon south of Venice and north of Fort Myers. At 11 a.m., the storm's center was located 45 miles west-northwest of Naples. Ian will slam much of the state with life-threatening storm surge, catastrophic winds and flooding, the National Hurricane Center said.

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Ian was expected to weaken after landfall, the hurricane center said, but the storm could remain near hurricane strength when it moves over the Florida East coast on Thursday. And could still hold its power as it approaches the northeastern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts late Friday.

Here's how to help people impacted by Hurricane Ian

Convoy of Hope provides info regarding Hurricane Ian and ways to help online.

"The best way to help, honestly, is financial," Forhetz said. "We can take your $1 and stretch it to $5 and we can make a bigger difference with the money that you're able to give to us."

Stay up to date on Convoy of Hope's deployments on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

USA Today contributed to this report.

Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Convoy of Hope, City Utilities prepare to help with Hurricane Ian