The events of this past week when Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida and then wreaked destruction northward all the way to the Carolinas reminded me of 2017 when Jacksonville sustained catastrophic damage from Hurricane Irma's storm surge and wind.
My wife, Whitney, and I went to sleep Sept. 10, 2017, somewhat relieved that it appeared the storm's path was heading away from Jacksonville.
At about 5 a.m. the morning of Sept. 11, I woke up and realized the water was about one foot from our back door. By 6 a.m., the water was rising through the floor boards. An hour later, there was standing water in my living room, with fish jumping near our dining room table.
The mayor of Jacksonville was reporting there was an additional six feet of storm surge expected and we evacuated by canoe, wading, and help from a good friend with a reliable truck.
Due in part to my experience and my career, we are uniquely equipped to deal with situations like this storm. While I was upstairs and water was rising in our living room, I was able to file insurance claims, file a FEMA claim, line up a contractor and secure a suitable apartment for my family.
By the time the water receded, a team of professionals was working on our behalf and dozens of friends were assisting us with throwing away furniture, ripping up carpet and moving us into our apartment.
Our support system — including many attorneys — overwhelmed us with generosity in helping us evacuate, offering us shelter, feeding us, loaning us vehicles and assisting with every issue that needed to be addressed.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, thousands of Floridians need help and, as lawyers, we can and should provide assistance in these trying times.
Many victims of the storm are struggling to find answers to questions relating to insurance, federal assistance, landlord/tenant, and similar issues relating to hurricane damage.
In order to meet this need, The Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers’ Division is administering The Florida Bar’s Disaster Relief Hotline. We need volunteers as the number of calls is currently more than the number of attorney volunteers.
It does not matter if you haven’t handled insurance claims, landlord-tenant claims, or if you are familiar with FEMA. Victims may be forced to make important decisions alone, without the advice of a lawyer, unless we get more volunteers. Most need only simple advice, and there is a comprehensive manual outlining the options available.
You can sign up here to volunteer to answer the questions of Hurricane Irma victims on a pro bono basis:
flayld.org/get-involved/disaster-relief-fema-hotline/
The Florida Good Samaritan Act and the Federal Volunteer Protection Act provide protection for the lawyer volunteers (you) who offer assistance. The legal assistance provided will be to people who cannot otherwise afford representation.
Lawyers are uniquely suited to assist during these tragic times in Florida. Those very same skills that allowed me to help my family should be utilized to help restore our state.
Christian George is managing partner in Akerman’s Jacksonville office.