LONGWOOD, Fla. — In the aftermath of a destructive EF-2 tornado that tore through the Whispering Winds community in Longwood, volunteers from the Osceola Response Team have been working tirelessly to provide relief to storm victims.

What You Need To Know

  • Volunteers from the Osceola Response Team have been working tirelessly to provide relief to tornado victims in Longwood

  • They're offering food, drinks and words of encouragement to both displaced residents and worders aiding recovery efforts

  • The mission is personal to Executive Director Richard Herr, who had tornadoes affect his own family in 1998 

The nonprofit organization has been on the ground since the tornado struck, ensuring that those impacted receive much-needed support.

Volunteers have been driving through the neighborhood, offering food, drinks and words of encouragement to both victims and workers aiding in recovery efforts.

"So guys, we're going around and handing out donations with Gatorade and some snacks," a volunteer explained while distributing supplies.

Volunteers deliver food and drinks to people in the Longwood Community. (Spectrum News/Devin Martin)

Volunteers deliver food and drinks to people in the Longwood Community. (Spectrum News/Devin Martin)

Richard Herr, Executive Director of the Osceola Response Team, has been leading the efforts.

For him, this mission is personal—he recalls the devastation of the 1998 tornadoes that affected his hometown and his own family.

"At the end of the day, God is in control," Herr said. "It’s reality everybody has to go through."

Richard Herr drives around Markham Wood Road where the tornado touched down. (Spectrum News/Devin Martin)

Richard Herr drives around Markham Wood Road where the tornado touched down. (Spectrum News/Devin Martin)

Beyond providing immediate relief, he hopes their efforts inspire more people to step up and support their neighbors.

"Being out here right now, I love the feeling," Herr said.