Return To Everglades City

A return to Everglades City 2 weeks after Irma with much needed Cleaning supplies.

Cleaning supplies delivered to Everglades City

Capt. Rafael Rios

After leaving Everglades city I kept thinking about how fortunate we are and despite all the destruction, the people of Everglades City were so thankful. Their lives are turned upside down and yet they are smiling. I was absolutely moved by the character and consideration expressed by the people of this ravaged town. I would offer cases of water and bags of clothes and house after house they would only take what they needed. Instead of grabbing a case of water people would only take a few bottles. Instead of grabbing a bag of clothes they would only grab a shirt. People who have absolutely nothing left still showed more humanity than most. Helping those in need by delivering all of your donations was the least I could do.

While we were assisting people handing out the obvious necessities we asked if there was anything they needed that we didn’t have and anything else we could do to help. The response was the same across the town. They were in desperate need of cleaning supplies. Unfortunately when a city is left without power the sewage system is also down. With the water rising and ripping through homes people were left with inches of bacteria ridden mud in their homes. The danger doesn’t only inhabit the physical noticeable mud but bacteria becomes airborne, mold begins to settle, and before you know it people start developing respiratory infections. In some cases residents have lost limbs due to infection and in the most unfortunate case a life.

We were going to do our best to help in any way possible. Once we got back home I took to Facebook to spread the word. We were taking donations of bleach, gloves, Peroxide, and any other cleaning supplies that people wanted to donate. O'neill's marina also put out a plea for donations. They set up a collection site and the message was well received. People were donating and in times like these when all you see is violence and bad news on tv, we are reminded that there are still good people in this world. Communities are helping each other and no one was forced to do so. People are helping out of the goodness in their hearts. William Trippett, who played a pivotal part in this entire operation, reached out to family and friends who were generous enough to donate cases of peroxide to help the cause.

At 5:00am Friday September 22, William and myself were once again on the road heading back to Everglades city with a truck and trailer full of cleaning supplies. When we drove through the town things looked worse. More homes were being gutted so the streets were lined with mounds of debris. Homes were “red tagged” meaning they were condemned. We handed out supplies to everyone we saw. Everyone was working hard and you could see what a great caring community this was. I spoke to residents about the recovery and despite the obvious disaster everyone seemed optimistic that they will once again have their quaint fishing paradise back to normal.

William Trippett Delivering cleaning supplies to the residents of Everglades City

Captain Rafael Rios

I came across a few men who were hispanic, so I spoke to them in Spanish. They asked me where i was from and I told them I was from Puerto Rico. They stopped me and asked why I was there. They appreciated everything but told me I should be helping my family and people in Puerto Rico. I was shocked by such unselfishness. Here they were standing in a town destroyed by Irma worrying about others. After that I thought how amazingly thoughtful people could be. Then I was having a conversation with an officer who was telling me the Mayor had plans to pay it forward. He showed me a semi truck full of water. The Mayor said he appreciated everything we’ve done for their small town, FEMA, Publix, Walmart, and the Red Cross had stepped in and they have more than enough water. Just when I thought I couldn’t see a more unselfish act, I was speechless. He was sending that semi to Tampa so the water could be delivered to Puerto Rico!

Cases and cases of water

Captain Rafael Rios

I didn’t even know how to react or what to say. It had been days since I heard from my family in Puerto Rico and I could barely fight back all the emotions.

Everything we experience happens for a reason. I believe if you do things from the goodness of your heart good things will be returned to you. I want to thank everyone again for all that you have done. In a situation like this every little bit helps and you all have made a difference in so many lives.

Anheuser-Busch canned water for the American Red Cross