USF community mobilizes for Hurricane Helene recovery

By: Cassidy Delamarter, University Communications and Marketing

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the University of South Florida continues to demonstrate a powerful commitment to community - mobilizing students, faculty and staff across Tampa Bay. While there's much work to be done, many of these efforts began before the historic storm surge devastated parts of the region.

Fraternity & Sorority Life

As Hurricane Helene unleashed unprecedented flooding across Tampa Bay, many students, including brothers Tyler and Dillon Secor, found their homes gravely impacted.

Having never experienced a storm this destructive, the Secors saw their lifelong family home in St. Petersburg take on severe water damage for the first time.

"I've lived in St. Pete on the water my entire life, we've never moved from that house or ever needed to evacuate for a storm," Tyler said. "But this storm left us with at least two feet of water inside and I think every single one-story house in my family's neighborhood has been completely destroyed."

In the face of such widespread destruction, the Secor brothers noticed that many others, including fellow USF students and fraternity brothers, were also in need. By Sunday, they had organized nearly 50 of their Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers to assist families whose homes were flooded, helping with clean-up efforts and providing much-needed support.

Several other Greek chapters banded together to also help those in need. When Alpha Delta Pi President Kennedy Floyd learned that the home and neighborhood of her sorority advisor, Kathy Rodgers, was flooded, she immediately jumped into action.

"She was especially concerned about her elderly neighbors who were unprepared for the storm's impact," Floyd said. "Their family photos, furniture and so many precious belongings were destroyed. We spent two days assisting with the cleanup, and we're grateful to the men of Sigma Chi for lending their strength to move heavy appliances and furniture."

Rodgers graduated from USF in 1988 and has been advising her home chapter for the past eight years. She said she was touched by the teamwork and compassion shown by USF's Greek life in supporting her and her Davis Island community. "These young college students worked together to help several families on my street," Rodgers said. "I can't thank them enough for the time, effort and care that they not only showed me, but my neighborhood as well. Go Bulls!"

Student-Athletes

Nineteen student athletes from USF's track and field, softball and sailing teams joined forces with the University of Florida Gators Experience team to clean up Ben T Davis Beach, its parking lot and the sidewalk along the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Among them include members of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, International Student Athlete Council and Black Student Athlete Council.

The collaboration began when a group from UF reached out to USF, looking to connect with community partners in Tampa. The teams quickly agreed to work together and plan to collaborate again in future community efforts.

USF Community Emergency Response Team

The USF Community Emergency Response Team activated two days before Hurricane Helene moved into the region - partnering with the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center to help transport individuals to special needs shelters. The team, consisting of students, faculty and staff, has grown to nearly 100 volunteers.

"They are engaging with community members, listening to their stories and offering words of encouragement, ultimately helping to build a sense of connection among those facing challenges after the storm," said Elizabeth Dunn, director of CERT and instructor in the College of Public Health.

The team is playing a crucial role at six Comfort and Hygiene Support Stations, providing those affected by Hurricane Helene with resources, such as hygiene kits and meals. They're also assisting the Tampa Bay Health & Medical Preparedness Coalition to replenish resources and prepare cots, helping ensure the area is ready for future storms or emergencies.

"The whole experience has really shown just how hard our emergency management professionals are working around the clock preparing, responding and helping our community recover," said volunteer Katelyn Pike, who's studying psychology at USF. "It's one thing to hear that they are doing everything they can, but to really see it all in action is awesome. They care deeply about the residents and getting them back on their feet."

USF students, faculty and staff members interested in volunteering can sign up here or reach out to the team on Instagram at @USFCERT.

USF Medical Response Unit

The USF Medical Response Unit was deployed to the Erwin Special Needs Shelter, the largest special needs shelter in Hillsborough County. The team of 25 paramedics, emergency medical technicians and first responders spent more than two days caring for more than 120 people who evacuated ahead of Hurricane Helene.

"Outside of practicing medicine and helping people who having everything from seizures to cardiac emergencies, some of them sat with patients for nearly an hour just holding their hands and reassuring them throughout the storm," said Austin Jared, emergency medical services commander of the unit. "I was overwhelmingly impressed with the care they provided."

Jacob Jepperson, a USF biomedical sciences student and certified EMT, worked 30 hours on the night shift. As a type 1 diabetic himself, he used his personal experience to help evacuees properly manage their blood sugar. Jepperson also helped patients change needles on their insulin after they became damaged during the process of evacuating to the shelter.

Facilities crew work around the clock to reopen USF campuses

Staff members from all three USF campuses and USF Health worked long hours to prepare the university's facilities in advance of Hurricane Helene and to assist with clean-up efforts to ensure USF could safely reopen as quickly as possible.

As the floodwaters from the hurricane receded Friday morning, much of the USF St. Petersburg campus was covered in storm debris. Though the campus was impacted by floodwaters, almost all buildings escaped significant damages from the storm.

Facilities Services members - from buildings and grounds to custodial and mailroom - teamed up following the hurricane, removing more than 40 tons of debris and sand. They were assisted by team members of USF's Housing and Residential Education, who assessed the residence halls for damage.

"These crews worked long hours, doing hard, physical labor cleaning up debris, some of it pretty smelly, in the Florida heat and humidity. If it wasn't for their dedication to our campus, we would likely still be closed," said Kevin Sullivan, emergency manager at USF St. Petersburg.

Thanks to their incredible effort, all campuses were able to welcome students back before the start of Monday's classes.

USF provides resources for impacted students and employees

Even though classes and normal business operations have resumed, university leaders recognize that some members of the USF community are still experiencing substantial impacts from the hurricane.

For students experiencing academic, financial or personal challenges as a result of the storm, resources can be found here.

For employees, USF Human Resources has compiled a list of resources available here. Faculty who need additional support can contact Vice Provost Steven Tauber at [email protected].

Opportunities for members of the USF community to give back, support, and volunteer for Hurricane Helene relief can be found in our Disaster Relief Resources.

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