Holding onto Hope After Helene: ‘When SBP Called, It was a Good Day’

For Lisa and Ken Ramsey, Tarpon Springs wasn’t just a place to live—it was a sanctuary. Originally from Ohio, they fell in love with the charm of this waterfront community on central Florida’s Gulf Coast. Their neighbors were friendly and welcoming when the Ramseys moved in six years ago. The family loved the constant sunshine, walks on the beach with their dog, and boat rides to explore the sandbars and go fishing. 

Their small-town dream became a nightmare when Hurricane Helene struck on September 26. The storm dumped 18-20 inches of floodwater into the Ramseys’ home and caused extensive damage. Lisa and Ken had not anticipated the destructive force of the flooding, and they were not insured for this kind of destruction. The losses felt personal and overwhelming. 

Ken, who struggles with chronic back pain from his days as a college wrestler, felt the physical strain of recovering from Helene even more acutely. As the couple salvaged what they could in their home, Ken began experiencing breathing issues. Temporarily staying with Ken’s parents offered some relief, likely due to reduced exposure to mold in their home. But this setback deepened their dilemma of deciding whether they could manage to rebuild or whether they would have to leave the home and community they love.

In the weeks following Helene’s landfall, Lisa and Ken found strength in the outpouring of support from their neighbors and local nonprofits. But when SBP’s Disaster Corps arrived, they not only delivered much-needed help clearing debris and mucking and gutting Lisa and Ken’s home, the team also restored a sense of possibility that the Ramsey’s sanctuary could be saved. 

“We fell through our floorboards, and it was disheartening,” Ken reflected. “But when SBP called, it was a good day. I didn’t realize how much they could help us.”

Because of the help they got from SBP when they needed it most, the Ramseys are now cautiously optimistic about rebuilding and recovering from Helene’s devastation. They hold onto the hope of a fresh start in the town they have come to call home.

SBP’s Impact On the Ground

In the aftermath of Helene and Milton, SBP’s disaster response team was on the ground in the hardest-hit communities of West Central Florida, helping families like the Ramseys pick up the pieces.

Over 24 days and 632.5 hours of service, SBP’s Disaster Corps achieved the following results:

• 247 cubic yards of debris removed. 
• 228.5 volunteer hours leveraged.
• 39 wellness checks.
• 18 homes assessed for damage.
• 6 homes mucked and gutted.

The team is now in western North Carolina to support AmeriCorps’s national Disaster Services Unit with muck and gut operations and debris cleanup in communities ravaged by Helene.

The Long Journey Home

The road to recovery will be long and challenging for communities devastated by Helene—especially for those also hit by Milton just two weeks later. Rebuilding homes and restoring lives after such enormous devastation takes time, resources, and immense resilience. SBP will help as many affected families recover, rebuild, and return home as possible.

For homeowners affected by the storm, SBP offers free assistance navigating the federal assistance process, particularly with filing FEMA appeals. 

SBP’s free resources provide guidance for navigating the first steps of the disaster recovery process, including working with insurance companies, and avoiding contractor fraud. 

How You Can Help

Help us support communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Please donate now to help build the way home for the most vulnerable families.