In the world of disaster recovery management, they call these “blue sky days”. Even when the temperatures drop a bit, we can’t complain. We are still better off than most of our friends and relatives across the country and we remember why we moved to Florida.
The problem is, we tend to forget the “grey sky days” that may lie ahead. That’s when hurricanes, tropical storms, floods or any type of damaging weather event can wreak havoc- especially on those who don’t always have the means to protect themselves or pick up the pieces after the storm.
Our friends and neighbors in southern Sumter County have been especially vulnerable during disasters because there has been no official long-term support system in place. After the emergency is over, the help tends to disappear and with it, goes any hope of a quick return to normalcy.
That’s why Sumter County’s LTRG Long-Term Recovery group was formed. The LTRG is a coalition of businesses, nonprofits, faith-based organizations and individual volunteers who mobilize to meet the needs of disaster victims over the long haul. United Way Lake & Sumter oversees the effort.
Since its launch, LTRG has been able to raise significant funding for start-up costs and unmet needs. What’s missing right now is a strong volunteer base- people who are willing to step up and step into roles that are vital to support our Sumter County neighbors who need help.
Please join us in this critical effort. We know you have skills that could be of great value to our team. You would be surprised how many opportunities there are!
Interested? Visit https://www.uwls.org/support-long-term-recovery/. You can watch our video to see where you may be able to make a difference. You can also learn how to reach out to help. #unitedistheyway