From: Pinellas County <noreply@everbridge.net> Date: August 9, 2024 at 4:27:12 PM EDT Subject:Resources for Hurricane Debby Survivors
This is an important message from the Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Partners,
Please share the following resources with those in your networks. If there are services that are needed which are not listed here, call 2-1-1.
Crisis Cleanup Hotline
If you need help cleaning up damage from Tropical Storm Debby, call (844) 965-1386 or visit crisiscleanup.org to ask for help. Volunteer relief organizations will contact you. The volunteers are from trained teams, community groups and faith communities. They may be able to help with flood damage on your property, tarping and yard debris. All services are free but service is not guaranteed. The hotline will remain open through Friday, Aug. 23. Please note: This hotline CANNOT assist with social services such as food, clothing, shelter, insurance or questions about public assistance. For more information visit crisiscleanup.org.
PLEASE SHARE THE ATTACHED FLYER ON CRISIS CLEANUP WITH YOUR MEMBERS, CLIENTS AND NETWORKS! WE HAVE ACTIVE TEAMS WORKING IN PINELLAS COUNTY COMMUNITIES AND THEY WANT TO HELP EVERYONE THAT THEY CAN.
Report Damages
Pinellas County is documenting flood damages to apply for potential state and federal emergency assistance. We need individuals and businesses to report damages to ensure all damage is accounted for.
Disaster survivors with any disaster-related legal issues may reach out to the Florida Disaster Legal Aid Helpline to apply for free, legal assistance from anywhere in the state. Call (833) 514-2940 to apply for assistance.
Supplies
Clean-up kits and other supplies may be available. Email VOAD@pinellas.gov if you know of anyone who was impacted by Hurricane Debby who needs them.
Last month, the Governor signed a compensation bill for the survivors of the Dozier School for Boys, recognizing the longstanding effects of the brutal abuse and torture they suffered there. This month, the Governor decided to execute one of them. Loran Cole is set to be executed on August 29 at 6 pm.
Ironically, I was on the phone with one of my death row clients yesterday when he witnessed the Warden and his assistants – dressed in their formal white pressed uniforms – march past the room where we were talking. When he told me that, my heart sunk. I knew that likely could mean only one thing – the guards were about to tell one of the 100 plus warrant eligible men on Florida’s death row that he is going to die in 30 days. They were going to remove that man from his cell, lead him down the hall, walk him past his neighbors and likely his only friends, and take him to a death watch cell, for him to count down his final days. Alone. When the death warrant hit the news a couple hours later, my worst fears were confirmed.
Interestingly, that same day, just a few hours before, the FADP team had been elated to learn about the release of a podcast where former Governor Jeb Bush, who oversaw 21 executions while he was governor, had an honest conversation where he expressed “regrets” dealing with the death penalty, not only because of its moral implications, but because of the legal problems with the system, including non-unanimous juries. Former Governor Bush called the death penalty “not a deterrent,” “expensive,” and that life in prison without parole “creates certainty for families who have suffered.” “If you have a life imprisonment sentence, you know it’s done.” We urge you to listen and share.
The juxtaposition of these two things is not lost on me.
What do I need from you? We need you to sign and share this petition urging the Governor and Clemency Board to stay Mr. Cole’s execution and grant clemency.
From June 1, 1984 through November 14, 1984, 17-year-old Loran Cole was housed at the notorious Arthur G. Dozier School in Marianna, Florida. His status as a “White House Boy,” and the neglect, abuse, and trauma he experienced there changed the entire trajectory of his life, and led to the commission of this crime. As Mr. Cole’s attorneys aptly wrote, “That horrible place helped create the Loran Cole who sits on death row today.”
Over the next few days and weeks, we will be providing you with information and actions for you to take as soon as possible. We have 30 days to do as much as we can to ensure we stop this execution.
Stay with us. We need you, your voice, and your strength. Mr. Cole needs you. We need each other. We need to stand against all state-sanctioned murders and say “Not in My Name.”
Onward, Maria DeLiberato FADP Executive Director
P.S. We have a goal of raising $25,000 before the end of the year. If you are able, we ask that you please consider a generous gift today so that we can continue fighting against the machinery of death.
(L) Brittany with Allendale UMC United Women in Faith group; (R) “Here is a box. I had it from the Queen!” –Cymbeline, Act III, Scene 4. More drag queen bingo photos with Shakespeare quotes on our Facebook page
Friends,
“I love coming to the Saturday morning breakfast,” a volunteer said recently. “It’s fun and energizing, and then you can continue your day.”
That kind of enthusiastic support allowed us to serve an average of 130 meals per week in April. Thanks to everyone who helped, both on and off site.
As our snowbirds head north, we still need volunteers to fill their shoes. Contact volunteer coordinator Brittany Howard at (727) 637-4863 or brihoward.m@gmail.com for details.
One group that has stepped up is students from USF St. Pete, such as Garrett, Melissa and Sarah (above). Special thanks to Sarah Percy, who has been an enthusiastic recruiter of her fellow students and a co-worker with Eric Peters at the front door.
You can meet more of them on our Facebook page.On the page we have also posted photos of the frivolity and fun at our Shakespeare’s Birthday Drag Queen Bingo, each tagged with an appropriate Shakespeare quote, including the Celebrate Outreach board reading the party preparation from Romeo and Juliet. In honor of May the Fourth Be with You, the Facebook page also features Dapper Dan, the Jedi Janitor who has vowed to sweep the galaxy clean of evil.
Special thanks to the Allendale UMC United Women in Faith group for inviting Brittany to speak at their May meeting, and for their enthusiasm for our work (above; left). If you would like Brittany to speak to your group, contact her at (727) 637-4863 or brihoward.m@gmail.com
At the end of the email is an updated list of our summer needs of food, clothing and toiletries.
• Volunteers arrive at 7:30 AM, and we finish serving by 9:30.
• To get a good idea of the Saturday morning breakfast, along with a plethora of puns and pop culture references, please peruse our Celebrate Outreach Facebook page.
• Contact John at sjstew@gte.net for a list of breakfast guidelines: what to expect, what to wear, where to park, etc., and for information on preparing food offsite.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 