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It’s been a few weeks since Hurricane Ian made its destructive path through Florida, and the sting remains just as strong.
Krista Remington, assistant professor of public administration, just returned from the Fort Myers area as part of a study she is conducting on the value of social capital in a disaster. It focuses on what’s called “zero responders” — people who are first on the scene before fire engines and ambulances arrive.
“The destruction is unreal.
Neighbors and small associations and community-based organizations are working tirelessly together to pull people out of the floodwaters, search the rubble and provide food and shelter to those in need. Many of these efforts took place outside of formal government channels and before the availability of assistance from larger non-profit organizations.
Remington grew up in Arcadia in DeSoto County, which suffered severe damage during Hurricane Charley in 2004. She was without power for a month and had friends whose homes were torn apart with them inside — causing them lasting PTSD. This experience inspired Remington to pursue a career in disaster research. She stayed connected to the region through various channels and saw the power of “neighbor helping neighbor” on social media.
“What I saw was so many people saying, ‘I’m stuck in my home with flooding, the waters are rising and I don’t know what to do,’ and then I saw someone saying, ‘I’ve got a boat, I’m on my way.’ We saw a lot of that happen, and it was more in my experience as a disaster researcher than in other years,” Remington said. “I think what we’re seeing after COVID-19 is more self-reliance by communities than by government. People have integrated into these smaller units, which is encouraging because that’s something that’s been lost in our culture in the US.”
Damage caused by Hurricane Ian
Disaster Recovery Center located in the Fort Myers area
A tree uprooted during Hurricane Ian
While in Fort Myers, Remington met with state officials, FEMA personnel and local nonprofit leaders to discuss how they can leverage social connections and build greater synergy between them and locally-led efforts by local volunteers. As the study continues, she will conduct social network analysis using special software that identifies what people posted online and when, as well as information gathered during focus groups with individuals affected by Hurricane Ian.
She visited a FEMA disaster recovery center and spoke with first responders who served their community on the job while dealing with personal loss and the destruction of their own homes. It’s an aspect that also strikes a chord, as Remington’s husband is a firefighter/EMS worker who, like other first responders, had to leave his family before the hurricane and prepare for the unknown.
Remington also distributed emergency supplies, such as food, drinks and cleaning supplies, to the Fort Myers Police Department through the Tampa-based nonprofit Peacekeeper Initiative, on which she serves on the board of directors. It was founded by one of her former students and offers peer support from first responders to other first responders. This was the group’s second visit to the area, having previously donated tarps, gasoline for generators and other basic supplies.
“We rely on first responders when disasters strike our community, but we often forget that they are also victims of the disaster. It is inspiring to witness how these men and women serve their community despite their own loss,” said Remington.
There are many USF students who were also negatively impacted by Hurricane Ian. To support them in this time of need, click here.
USF Health is also collecting donations to support relief efforts on the ground. You can learn more about their efforts here.
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