100 Volunteers Rebuild Milton Yards After Hurricane Isaias

Linda Farr spent Hurricane Isaias cooking meals for disaster victims in Texas, never imagining she'd soon need the same help at home. When she opened her back door in Milton on October 11, reality hit hard: six fallen trees, a demolished shed, and debris covering the entire Blackwater Heritage Trail behind her house.

That's when Samaritan's Purse arrived with 100 volunteers ready to work. The nonprofit disaster relief organization deployed teams across Northwest Florida to help families dig out from the storm that hit October 9.

Her neighbors, Tina and Frank Bailey, had sheltered in their hallway with their dog as the storm raged outside. "It was terrifying," Tina said. "We thought the roof was going to come off." She filmed the neighborhood as the storm began, then ran inside when a transformer exploded nearby.

About 15 volunteers showed up at Farr's home on October 15, carrying chainsaws and work gloves. The crew came from seven different states and included a police officer and a nurse who had never met before that morning. They worked side by side clearing debris and helping neighbors see their backyards again.

"We try to go out and love our neighbors," said Gabe Moudy, the nonprofit's program manager for disaster relief. The organization takes its name from the parable of the Good Samaritan, who stopped to help a beaten stranger left on the road.

The volunteers are doing everything from clearing fallen trees to tarping roofs and removing drywall from flooded homes. The service costs families nothing because donations cover all expenses. Many volunteers are Floridians who survived hurricanes themselves and wanted to give back.

The Ripple Effect

Samaritan's Purse originally staged west of the storm in Alabama, expecting major damage there. Instead, they found the worst destruction concentrated in Santa Rosa County. The team quickly shifted resources and set up operations at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pace.

The organization planned to leave by early November but extended their stay as requests for help kept coming. If families continue needing assistance, volunteers will stay through Thanksgiving to finish the job.

Farr knows disaster recovery from the other side, having volunteered during previous storms. "I kind of knew everything to expect, because I've worked disasters before," she said. But experiencing the generosity as a recipient changed everything for her.

Residents still needing help can call 833-747-1234, and those wanting to volunteer can reach out at 850-977-9063 to join the recovery effort.