PASCO COUNTY — With the damage from one storm still fresh and another hurricane on the way, Margie Martino and Kimberley Gantz aren’t waiting for government agencies to help people in Pasco County.
“We are paying attention to the Facebook groups and people who are meeting people, posting their addresses, trying to send people there. We are gathering all of that information,” said Martino.
Kimberley has a mobile office set up in the back of her car with a list of all the places in need.
“We have Leisure Beach, Signal Cove, Hudson Beach, Sundance Lake RV Resort,” she read from the list.
She says she is frustrated because she is not seeing help go to communities that were hit the hardest by Helene.
“I have pages and pages of these neighborhoods that no one has touched yet,” said Gantz.
Kimberly says she knows how to get things done and get people moving.
That’s why she started Pasco Recovery & Aid.
“I’m going door to door helping people do their FEMA applications with an IPAD because they don’t own devices. They don’t own laptops. And if they did they lost it in the storm,” said Gantz.
“This man,” Martino said pointing at an elderly man in a chair, “every time I drive by he’s outside his house sweating. They can’t hang out inside their house. They can’t get respite from the heat. There’s no power on this block.”
Margie says it doesn’t take much to make a difference.
“If you have hands and feet that work you can sweep. If you can type you can come out and help. If you have five dollars get a case of water,” said Martino.
“You threw my son under the bus. You didn't take care of him.”
The State of Florida and the VA are under scrutiny after the Baker Act was used incorrectly on a young veteran who went to a Florida VA hospital for help.
