How To Attack A Hurricane
#HurricaneIrma hit Florida as a Category 4 storm the morning of Sept. 10, ripping off roofs, flooding coastal cities, and knocking out power to more than 6.8 million people. Here’s what happened next.
Along with C3L Associates Alex Rohlwing and Raymond Bechard, I arrived in Florida on September 12, just as the state began to assess its necessary response to the disaster. These photos tell some of the story of our time there. We gathered a massive amount of information for future disaster response planning and strategies. You’ll be able to obtain this information soon at AnthonyCoggiola.com.
Beginning in Asheville, NC, we loaded “Beastie” with disaster relief supplies.
Alex and I about to jump into Beastie and get on the road.
Lacking supplies or electrical power in the wake of Hurricane Irma, Georgia National Guard and State Police blocked highway access to several Georgia towns.
With the moon watching us, we strapped down clothing and other supplies for the first stop on our trip, Jacksonville.
As the sun began to rise, the roads remained eerily empty.
First stop, Trinity Rescue Mission, to drop off the supplies for homeless moms and their children.
This is why we do what we do.
The sun climbing higher, we unloaded donated supplies for Trinity Rescue Mission.
Next stop: serving breakfast (with hair nets) at Jacksonville’s Clara White Mission.
Clara White Mission’s CEO is my dear friend, Ju’Coby Pittman, one of Florida’s most compassionate and devoted community leaders.
Clara White Mission began in 1904 by Eartha White, one of America’s greatest humanitarians.
Our next stop was the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. Read more about it here.
Evidence of local farm damage, flooding and recovery were everywhere.
Our response planning often took place in Mexican restaurants with lots of Post-It-Notes and Nachos.
After a successful deployment, Raymond Bechard (left), Alex Rohlwing (Right) and I (the Beastie Boys) began the trip home. Ray to Connecticut, Alex to Washington, D.C., and me back to Asheville.
On to the next one . . .