Welcome Home: SBP Celebrates Rebuild of Veteran’s Home After Hurricane Helene

More than a year after Hurricane Helene sent floodwaters through his St. Petersburg, Florida home, Roland Trudell reached a milestone he had been working toward: returning to a safe, fully restored house. On November 19, SBP celebrated that moment with a Welcome Home Party, a tradition that brings homeowners, volunteers, and partners together to celebrate a family’s home after a completed rebuild.

“I want to thank every single one of you here for everything you’ve done,” Roland told the group. “I don’t know what we would’ve done without your help… everyone has treated us so nice… we’re both so grateful.”

A veteran and retired firefighter, Roland has lived in his home for over 50 years, on the lot he purchased from his grandfather. He has prepared for and weathered countless storms, but Helene brought flooding unlike anything he had experienced. He and his son-in-law, Charles Knapp, also a veteran and a former electrical/mechanical technician for Pinellas County, did what they could on their own to repair the home. A local community group stepped in to help with gutting, then Roland and Charles tore out the carpet and replaced the flooring and drywall.

Together, they made significant progress, but the extent of the damage meant the final stages of repair required additional support.

SBP reached out to offer help carrying the repairs across the finish line. SBP replaced the exterior and interior doors, installed paneling, texturized and painted the drywall throughout the home, and replaced the baseboards affected by moisture.

The Welcome Home Party marked the moment Roland and Charles could finally put their tools down and settle back into their home. 

“SBP’s Welcome Home Parties celebrate bringing families back to their homes and surrounding them with a community that stands with them every step of the way,” said Dave Boyle, Executive Director of SBP’s Tampa operations. “Roland and Charles put in so much work themselves, and we’re proud to help them cross that final mile and step back into their home.”

Check out the gallery below for more photos from the event: