How to Help Tampa Bay's Flood Victims

Just because the torrential rains have stopped doesn’t mean flooding woes have dried up from the Tampa Bay area entirely.

With that in mind, the American Red Cross of Central Florida is keeping up with efforts to help residents affected by flood waters in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The agency announced Tuesday that it had opened a new shelter at St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church, 7922 State Road 52 in Hudson, to help Pasco residents evacuated from the Oaks View Apartments.

The nonprofit organization is also still operating a shelter at First Presbyterian Church in Port Richey and at the Bible Based Fellowship Church in Temple Terrace. All told, the agency says its served more than 40 residents at shelters opened over the past two days. Many more area residents were evacuated as heavy rains fell.

“As the water recedes, Red Cross volunteers will be going through affected neighborhoods assessing the damage and determining the needs of the residents who are beginning to clean up their homes,” the agency wrote in an email to media. “Red Cross mobile feeding units will also be canvassing the neighborhoods distributing water and snacks to residents.”

Recovery efforts will kick off as soon as homes are accessible and determinations are made about the livability of properties in the flood-drenched areas of Tampa Bay, the agency noted. When that phase begins, the Red Cross will distribute clean-up kits to residents that include mops, buckets, bleach, rakes, trash bags and other items.

Residents who want to help with the recovery efforts are asked to make a donation to the American Red Cross by visiting its website or calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

Photo courtesy of Pasco County