August 10, 2018

Assisting After Hurricane Irma

On a gut-wrenching day last September, residents in Florida watched the weather to see where Hurricane Irma was going to hit the state. They knew it was going to be devastating, but were surprised when it hit both the East Coast and western side as well.

Residents weren’t sure what, when, or where the impact would be. National Mutual Benefit members Charlene and Daniel Smith from Zolfo Springs, Florida, were two of those residents.

The Smiths home was affected and they were displaced for 30 days in a FEMA hotel. They had a roof over their heads, but it was over an hour and a half from their workplace and home, making it difficult to get to their belongings. Char and Danny searched for an apartment closer to their house so they could begin to salvage things and start the cleanup process.

The water had come up to the belly of their home and had seeped up into the floors and walls. Without electricity for two weeks, everything perished in their refrigerator and freezer. The outside air conditioner and storage shed were under water, and the pump house had to be replaced just to get running water.

“We are going to have to tear out all the flooring and replace it, as well as replace the belly and duct work and get new sheetrock. We also have to clean up any mold that exceeds the amount specified by our homeowners insurance,” Char shared.

The couple couldn’t afford both rent and a mortgage, so they purchased a camper to live in until they could rebuild their home. Any money they have is going toward home repairs.

The Smiths were delighted when NMB District Manager Becky Helmberger helped them get a Disaster Benefit grant so they could purchase much needed food and basic necessities. While $1,500 may not sound like a large amount of money, the Smiths received it at a time when they had yet to receive any other monetary assistance. Overwhelmed by their loss and the work ahead of them, the Smiths were very thankful for the assistance NMB provided.

Several members of National Mutual Benefit were impacted by Hurricane Irma. Some were without electricity, and some evacuated not knowing what would happen, but were thankful their homes were not damaged.

To learn more about NMB’s Disaster Benefit, or any of the other member benefits we offer, contact your local agency office or the Fraternal Services Department at fraternal@betterlifeins.com or (800) 779-1936.