Southern Ohio Amateur Radio Association Family of Hurricane Michael One of Our Own “Hams Helping Hams”
Eddie Jenkins, N8URU Lawrence County, Ohio ARES, EC and his wife, Annabelle Jenkins, KB8TGI were contacted by a Southern Ohio Amateur Radio Association (SOARA) member, Tyrone Jenkins “TJ” N8XZR of Wheelersburg, Ohio concerning his sister, Kari and brother-in-law Jeromy Daniels, KC8LUB located in hurricane Michael stricken, Lynn Haven, FL. Lynn Haven is located just north of where hurricane Michael made landfall.
The following was taken from Tyrone Jenkins’s “TJ” N8XZR Facebook Page.
“Update on my sister’s house in Florida. No windows are left. Roof has a tree across it and shingles are mostly gone. It was shoved off of its foundation. Which busted water lines, sewer and electric. All rooms were destroyed but one inner room and it was water damaged. She didn’t have insurance on it.The whole area doesn’t have power and the electric company is saying could be as soon as 6 weeks before it can be restored. All the stores and gas stations are shut down. No electric to run the gas pumps. People are cooking the freezer products now to eat because it will soon be ruined. Only gas grills are their way of cooking till propane tanks run out. A burning ban is in affect because of leaking gas lines and high 90° temps. Lot of kindlin laying around from all the destroyed homes. Fire would consume everything. My sister says only thing that she is so glad of is her Bug out bag and 2 months’ worth of canned foods she had prepped up. She says many elderly people are suffering from heat strokes and it takes and ambulance a minimum of 30 min to arrive where they can get to and most of that is military. An 8 o clock curfew is being enforced by the military. Water is being given out in Panama City first for majority of population but where she is it is a distance from the city so very little water is being delivered. Food is neighbor helping neighbor and using what they have in freezers that are quickly thawing. Many people are freaking out cause they only eat out and rarely kept food in their homes. Looting is happening all over. Many people are ransacking homes looking for whatever is valuable or food. Only place to get gas is a 2-3 hour drive away. You use most of your gas for a round trip just getting gas. I am making a trip down to take supplies and labor to help this weekend. If you have any tarps, nonperishable food and jugs of water you could donate all will be welcomed. Water is very needed. Many are living under tarps and unstable houses. Thank you.”
Eddie Jenkins on behalf of a fellow ham, “TJ” reached out to the members of SOARA at their meeting Monday, October 15 and shared TJ’s compelling story of survival for his sister and brother-in-law. Without any discussion or reservation the members decided to “Pass the Hat” for a cash donation. The result was $140.00 collected. Yes, Hams are compassionate and caring people.
Since the meeting on Monday Eddie has found out that Jeromy is on a life support machine run by a generator at the present time. Besides the house that was destroyed Kari and Jeromy lost their truck as a huge tree feel on the back of it.
Yesterday Wednesday, October 17, Eddie and Annabelle at their own expense purchased additional canned foods, water and emergency supplies and delivered them along with the $140.00 cash contribution from SOARA members to TJ. TJ will be leaving for Florida Friday morning.
The family has requested our prayers not only for them but for all of the hurricane victims.
Mike Love, WB8YKSS
SOARA / ARES
Ohio Section PIO