Help Rebuild Greater Tampa Bay After Recent Hurricanes

Hurricane Help Florida, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting communities in hurricane recovery, has launched a new volunteer and fundraising campaign to support both immediate disaster relief and long-term rebuilding efforts in the Greater Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida. These efforts are focused on helping communities devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which left widespread damage. The organization's goal is to restore stability and resilience to affected areas, ensuring they are better prepared for future storms.

Empowering Communities to Rebuild and Recover Stronger

Hurricane Help Florida’s new fundraising campaign is dedicated to providing vital resources and expert guidance for homeowners navigating the post-hurricane recovery process. The nonprofit offers step-by-step assistance, including gutting homes, recovering important documents, verifying contractors, and accessing government services. All funds raised will directly support rebuilding homes to be stronger and more resilient to future storms. Under the leadership of founder Kristen Seeley, a seasoned disaster recovery expert, Hurricane Help Florida has become a trusted resource for rebuilding communities after major storms.

FloridaHelp.Live: A Volunteer Rescue Platform in Action

In collaboration with Culebra Partners, Hurricane Help Florida has launched FloridaHelp.Live, a web-based platform that enables good Samaritans to assist in evacuation rescue efforts during hurricanes. Built with AI, the platform helps volunteers swiftly respond to those stranded inside of their homes due to flooding by providing crucial

assistance within the first 12-72 hours after a disaster. While FloridaHelp.Live focuses on immediate evacuation response, the heart of Hurricane Help Florida remains dedicated to long-term recovery and rebuilding.

We are fundraising to help with the rebuilding process in the Greater Tampa Bay area through PPE gear for volunteers and building supplies for families through our application process.

Thank you for your support.

Kristen Seeley

Hurricane Help Florida

Why Hurricane Help FL Was Created

Our Founder, Kristen, has a deep-rooted commitment to disaster recovery. After Hurricane Katrina, she spent two years working with a grassroots nonprofit, Building Better Communities, helping to rebuild New Orleans East. Prior to that, she made six trips to Honduras after Hurricane Mitch in 1997, assisting in the reconstruction of schools, orphanages, and churches. Determined not to turn her back on the devastation in New Orleans, Kristen relocated across the country to make the The Big Easy her home.

The first six months were challenging, living in a trailer without electricity, but when she met families living in the gutted remains of their homes, she felt grateful just to have shelter and meals provided by volunteers. These incredible volunteers came from around the world to help gut homes, rebuild, and distribute clothing, toiletries, and non-perishable items to those who had lost everything.

Kristen also took on the task of managing nonprofit employees, ensuring that donor funds were used appropriately by creating checks and balances. She worked to secure local land-use permits and approvals for a new community center. After hearing from many homeowners about dishonest contractors and remediation companies taking money without completing the work, she launched a local program called Community Connection to help address these issues.

Community Connection held weekly meetings, where Kristen coordinated efforts with insurance companies to assist residents with claims, and worked closely with FEMA representatives to guide them through the application process. She also connected local residents with trusted contractors, roofers, and remediation companies. Additionally, Kristen established rebuilding protocols for homeowners, coordinated police enforcement in New Orleans East, and provided support with the Louisiana Recovery Authority (LRA) program, which was dedicated to helping Katrina survivors rebuild their lives.