After Five Years in an RV, Hurricane Michael Survivor Returns Home with SBP’s Help

In October 2018, Hurricane Michael tore the roof off Blondell Smiley’s house. “I looked up at the sky and saw nothing but rain coming down,” she recalls. “And I just said, ‘Lord, take care of me.’”

The Category 5 hurricane, with its 155 mph winds, devastated Blondell’s home and left her hometown, Panama City, Fla., in ruin—90% of the city’s structures were damaged or destroyed. 

In need of assistance, Blondell contacted the City of Panama City’s Housing and Community Services Department, who supported her in finding alternative sources to repair her home using her insurance funds. Unforeseen challenges resulted in a loss of funding and a home for Blondell. Recognizing a dire need for a living space for the Smiley family, the City provided an RV trailer, where Blondell, her husband, and their three young grandchildren lived for five years while waiting for assistance from FEMA and an insurance payout. 

SBP joined the City’s housing recovery efforts as a key contractor in late 2023. In February 2024, SBP helped rebuild the Smiley family’s home as a part of the City’s Hurricane Housing Recovery Program (HHRP), which provides funding to repair severely damaged homes or to demolish and rebuild those destroyed by disasters. 

“Our motto is ‘Making Affordable Housing Dreams Come True,’ and one of the ways we accomplish that is through partnerships with other agencies,” said Sheila Ware, Director of the City’s Housing and Community Services Department. 

By the end of 2024, SBP will have completed six new home rebuilds for Hurricane Michael survivors and repaired two additional homes through this partnership. 

“It was life-changing. I was so depressed because I was out in a little RV trailer for over five years, and when the house was finished, I couldn’t do nothing but cry, ‘Thank you, God!”

— Blondell Smiley

Stability and Safety for Survivors

As a nonprofit, SBP leverages grants and philanthropic support to build and restore homes at a lower cost for disaster survivors. After losing everything in a storm, many residents face the daunting task of rebuilding on a limited or fixed income. With average damage estimates for homes destroyed by Hurricane Michael reaching $80,000, rebuilding remains out of reach for many in Panama City. Having the support of the City’s Housing and Community Services Department and partnership with SBP, residents are presented with a solutions-based outlook for restoring or rebuilding their homes.

SBP’s efficient, proven approach allows construction to be completed in as little as six months, helping shrink the time between disaster and discovery. Using the Toyota Production System, SBP constructs homes efficiently – sometimes in as little as 90 days.

Four months after construction began, Blondell received the keys to a brand-new FORTIFIED Silver-certified home. With its climate-resilient roof designed to withstand hurricane-force winds, the house protects her family against a natural disaster.

“It was life-changing. I was so depressed because I was out in a little RV trailer for over five years, and when the house was finished, I couldn’t do nothing but cry, ‘Thank you, God!,” says Blondell. “I’ve been so happy ever since. I was just so grateful to SBP and the Housing & Community Service Department of the City of Panama City for everything they did.”

Even as Hurricane Helene approached Florida’s Big Bend region this summer, Blondell felt safe. Just days before the storm made landfall, SBP returned to install hurricane shutters and ensure her family had what they needed in preparation for possible impact from a Category 4 hurricane. Later, SBP checked in by phone. “I said, ‘Yes, I’m okay. We’re all good.’ I felt safe.”