Burners Responding: Hurricanes Fiona & Ian

Community Projects for Hurricane Response
Over the past two months, Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian have landed in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Florida and continue to affect millions through infrastructure damage, and loss of power, water, and other critical resources.

Immediately after a storm, the areas affected are in a state of emergency and assessment. Many are still hunkering down trying to make it through. This rarely is a good time for on-site volunteer responses that are not specialized- but there are still ways to be of service in this critical moment.

Here are a few resources and projects for those impacted by or volunteering in the rebuilding efforts.

Please note that BWB and Burning Man Project have no role in the funding, management, or execution of any of these projects.

Hurricane Response Overview
Burners without Borders grew out of our community response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Over the years, with plenty of trial and error, we have compiled some best practices to respond to natural disasters, including hurricanes. See any crucial tips we’ve missed? Be sure to let us know in this living document.

Quick Reading Resources:
“So You Want to go Help?” by BWB Volunteer Nick Heyming.
Why is helping after a disaster so Hard? (From Vox)

Hurricane Fiona Response

Sail Relief Team (SRT)
Call to ACTION: Sail Relief Team is in need of volunteers, fiscal donations, solar systems, (panels, inverters, controllers, and batteries) emergency communication equipment, and farming supplies. To learn more about how you can help check us out our webpage.

Reaching our fifth year of operation SRT is grateful for the continued support of fellow burners. The deployment of mobile solar units and community solar assets has enabled schools and first responders to function without fear of power outages.
The capacity of our mutual aid center and organic community farm has grown to provide weekly deliveries of produce. We are in the process of re-establishing community infrastructure and hope. We have challenging work ahead of us to expand these programs, but we have made it a long way from where we started with only a sailboat and an idea.

About Sail Relief:
“Five years ago, hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria were among the most destructive hurricanes to ever hit back-to-back. As we exited the desert to learn of the damage caused by Harvey, Irma was already approaching Florida with a trail of destruction in the Caribbean. Sail Relief Team was started as a Burners Without Borders project in response to Hurricane Irma and we were able to provide immediate medical and logistical help to the communities in the Florida Keys.
We sailed to Puerto Rico with a sailboat of aid and supplies and have served the community since. As we were still responding to issues caused by Maria, years later, the start of 2020 brought additional challenges in the form of earthquakes to the south side of Puerto Rico and the pandemic. Now in 2022, we reflect back on five years of overcoming challenges and look towards the ones we currently face in the wake of hurricanes Fiona and Ian.”- Oscar Ruiz

Mutual Aid for Puerto Rico
This document is for those who want to support Puerto Rico’s recovery efforts. You’ll find information about local recovery groups inviting community solidarity, arts, and resource supply distribution.

The groups featured are not often promoted though they work year-round to provide support for the most vulnerable and marginalized.

The curator of this document is Karla Mi Lugo, a Puerto Rican artist and activist who is passionate about supporting the people of Puerto Rico with dignity and care.

Hurricane Ian Response

Grassroots Aid Partnership (GAP)
Grassroots Aid Partnership returns to Southwest Florida 5 years after its hurricane Irma founding deployment, this time to even more destructive hurricane Ian.

They’ve managed to quickly set up a hot meals operation that has exceeded 900 meals a day and help manage the distribution of water and other needs to thousands.
Deploying almost immediately after being in Black Rock City to Fort Meyers, they are still washing off playa dust while running off-grid power and water to their mobile kitchen.

Currently located in Harlem Heights they will continue to provide meals as funding allows:

“Thanks to the Heights Community Center, we have an open space where people can eat, relax and share stories of survival and coming together. Thanking everyone who has contributed to making these meals possible! We hope to stay here at least two more weeks.”
Donate: https://givebutter.com/RB4E3K

Footprint Project
Footprint Project is responding in Florida, where thousands are still without power and deployed ~10 solar units. Donations go toward powering community sites with solar generators. Once the grid has been restored, funds will be used for long-term recovery including our Build Power resilience program in Florida. #buildbackgreener

Volunteer: World Central Kitchen
Within hours of the storm passing, World Central Kitchen was on site delivering food to those in need. They are in need of various volunteer roles, including delivery drivers for meal deliveries, cooking, and more.

Volunteer needs change often so check back on the shift board regularly.

Florida Volunteers Needed: Hurricane Ian Relief Group
A mutual aid group spun off of an active Hurricane Maria volunteer group. This group has over 150 members on its volunteer list and is managed by local community members on-site in Florida.

Volunteers are needed for tarping, mucking, loading trucks, supply runs, and meals.
All skills are welcome, especially tarping, carpet and drywall. Find them on Facebook HERE.

Volunteers reach out directly to Robyn:+1 (409) 790-6963 or Robyn.Boudreaux@stormsearchandrescue.org