After hurricanes hit, Operation Airdrop volunteers fly resources to places FEMA can’t (or won’t)
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This post was written and reported by Darlena Cunha, through our Daily Kos freelance program. A week after Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, many people in the area have gone into starvation mode, according to Leah Tedder, a nurse on theAfter hurricanes hit, Operation Airdrop volunteers fly resources to places FEMA can’t (or won’t)
This post was written and reported by Darlena Cunha, through our Daily Kos freelance program. A week after Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, many people in the area have gone into starvation mode, according to Leah Tedder, a nurse on the ground. Without water and food, with their hospitals damaged and unable to take in patients, with roads blocked by the remains of torn-up houses and trees, the residents of Panama City, Mexico Beach, Marianna and so many other regions were left alone in the dark. “Our hospital looked like a war zone, with beds in the hallways and transfers coming, our day staff were exhausted and our nurses tired and weary,” Tedder posted publicly on Facebook, as she continued to help Dr. Naba Zabih operate his free pop-up clinic in Panama City. “I had a patient last night that was just found yesterday in his trailer. He was severely dehydrated to the point he may need more intervention for his kidneys to function. He said he didn’t have food or anything to drink and could not get up.” FEMA is there. Donald Trump visited, along with Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott, and they passed out some water bottles. But residents and region officials alike say aid isn’t reaching them. At least not fast enough. “Can you imagine having a baby in diapers and suddenly there are no more diapers? And there is no way to wash clothes?” said Erin Porter, the marketing manager for Gainesville Regional Airport, which partnered with Operation Airdrop to fill in gaps where the federal government is falling short. Operation Airdrop started as a loose conglomerate of pilots gathered together by Doug Jackson. After Hurricane Harvey, he started flying supplies in his own plane, and he put out a call on aviation forums and Facebook for other volunteer pilots. He started with 75; today the number stands at 750. Pilots can sign up, register and submit their email addresses to get a brief when storms like Michael come through, leaving infrastructure in tatters in their wake. Then the pilots go to work. Read more