TAMPA, Fla. — For some families impacted by Hurricane Helene, getting access to information to get help can be difficult, especially if there’s a language barrier. That’s the case for many Hispanics who live in South Hillsborough County.
A mobile home park in Gibsonton is one of the areas that was heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. It’s one where residents have come together to provide food, clothes and water to the residents in the community. They say that help won’t stop anytime soon.
It’s all hands on deck for Ana Lamb — since Friday morning, she says the need has grown every day from neighbors who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
”We needed to reach out to the Red Cross and other organizations to partner with to be able to respond and help people in the community,” said Lamb.
The chat she created a few years ago, ’Apoyo Para La Comunidad Hispana,’ has been flooded with images of hurricane damage and people asking for help as they navigate this tough time.
Lamb says it can be a challenge for Spanish-speaking residents to know where to turn and to communicate their needs.
She says the process can be time consuming and intimidating. “We are from different countries where it’s so difficult to get help, so being here in the United States where you can receive help is scary.”
She is using the chat to get information out there. For example, Enterprising Latinas has now partnered with Boricuas de Corazon to help Hispanic families fill out their FEMA applications.
Lamb says it’s devastating to see the damage in her neighborhood and the work they have to do to rebuild.
“Most of the cars that you see there are total loss because all of the water was covering all of this,” she said.
But she wants people to realize assistance is available. “It’s difficult, but we tell people, ‘Don’t be scared. If you can get help, you are going to get it.’”
She says there are organizations and tools in place to make sure that happens.
Volunteers will also be out in Gibsonton on Wednesday to help with FEMA application forms.