Hurricane cleanup, relief efforts continue in South

Longwood, Florida-based Waste Pro LLC, along with several other organizations, is partnering with Gainesville, Florida-based not-for-profit Fishin’ For Vision to bring supplies to the town of Steinhatchee, Florida.

Waste Pro says that community has shown "remarkable resilience" in the face of the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. That storm hit the Southeast in late September and was followed about 10 days later by Hurricane Milton, which raked across Florida.

Waste Pro Regional Government Relations Directors Loyd Childree and Dayna Williams observed a Fishin’ for Vision trailer that “was full of supplies,” which combined with Cowboyz Catering, also based in Gainesville, to cook breakfast and lunch for more than 300 people in Steinhatchee.

Childree and Williams, along with Waste Pro Fanning Springs, Florida, Division Manager Trip Lancaster, were part of a crew that helped serve food and assisted in coordinating the gathering of supplies such as toiletry kits, towels, cleaning supplies, baby items and clothing for residents of the small town in Taylor County, Florida, on the state’s northwest coast.

“This is what we do at Waste Pro—we care for our communities,” says Williams. “Despite the devastation to several of our facilities and some of our team members suffering loss, we were determined to get out into the community and lend a hand where we could. It’s a privilege to give these folks a warm meal and show we care.”

Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of northwest Florida on Sept. 26, with Steinhatchee severely damaged by the hurricane, with many residents and businesses without homes, work and even still without power and water as of the third week in October.

Beyond Florida, Helene caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina, east Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, and spawned numerous tornadoes.

In North Carolina, a staff member of metals and electronics recycling company Fortune Group, which has several U.S. recycling plants, has been taking part in cleanup and relief efforts there.

John Banister, environmental health and safety manager at Fortune Midwest in Illinois, has been in a region of North Carolina severely affected by Helene, in part because his son-in-law is taking part in relief efforts in Mitchell County, in the western part of the state.

Banister says he has been impressed with the role of and response from faith-based organizations in and beyond the region, singling out organizations including Spruce Pine Baptist Church, Reaching Avery Ministry, Shining Light and Springfield, Missouri-based Convoy of Hope, which Banister says is accepting donations via its website.

“It was incredibly moving to hear first-hand from those who have been tirelessly supporting the community," Banister says of his time on-site. "Everyone is so grateful for the donations—it really makes a difference.”