Rebuilding after Hurricane Michael

By RVLife Published March 5, 2020 Florida, Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners converged on Marianna, Florida to help with on-going disaster relief and rebuilding after Hurricane Michael.

Well over a year after Hurricane Michael carved a path of destruction across the Florida panhandle, blue tarps are still visible on house roofs, building materials are limited, and the rebuilding after Hurricane Michael is far from over.

house foundation poured while rebuilding after Hurricane Michael — *Day 1 Start – We we arrived, the foundation was poured and ready to start framing.*

New construction and repairs seem to be barely making noticeable progress. I naively thought the bulk of hurricane damage was along the shore and impacted areas would be quickly rebuilt.

Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners rebuilding after Hurricane Michael — *Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners framed the entire house in just a couple days.*

I see life as both a gift and a responsibility. My responsibility is to use what God has given me to help his people in need.
>>> Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity International

House built by RV Care-A-Vanners — *The Habitat for Humanity house ready for windows and doors, which we completed before our two weeks ended.*

Hurricane Michael crashed ashore on October, 10, 2018 at Mexico Beach, Florida. It was the fourth strongest hurricane to impact the United States and the first Category 5 hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle. It was likely still a Category 5 hurricane when it slammed through Marianna, some 50 miles inland.

Fifteen months later, disaster relief continues as the rebuilding after Hurricane Michael continues and the Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners spent two weeks helping with two houses. The local Habitat for Humanity affiliate has been and continues to work daily to rebuild. The Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners simply provide some much need influx of volunteer labor to help the local effort.

Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners install vinyl siding — *We installed the soffit and facia, and the put up vinyl siding on the entire house.*

One local resident routinely volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, yet her house is still being rebuilt. Everyone in the area has harrowing stories about either evacuating or riding out Hurricane Michael.

The extent of damage is widespread in Marianna, but the resilience of the community to continually celebrate small

Drywall installed in house. — *With rain outside, we installed drywall in another house.*

RV Care-A-Vanners in the News

Trailer Life Magazine published an article about the Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners. I’m in a photo on the bottom left corner of the first page. Here’s a .pdf of the the Trailer Life article: Building the Dream.

The Jackson County Floridan Newspaper featured the Habitat for Humanity RV Care-A-Vanners and the houses we were building. I’m in a photo on page 6 of the article. Here’s a link to the newspaper article: Habitat for Humanity builds underway in Marianna, Chipley