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Disclaimer: I confess this article is severely overdue. I had it ready after Hurricane Debby, but between two more hurricanes, illness, disease, family crisis and other life circumstances such as power outages, I never got to post it, but I still want to share these positive stories in honor of our good neighbors from the eastern impacted states. I appreciate your understanding.

Natural disasters continue to wreak havoc on the U.S. And abroad, disrupting the environment and the daily lives of individuals. But, among the wreckage: stories of hope, help and neighborly love emerge. Giving us examples that keep us believing in the goodness that human beings are capable of, hopefully spurring us into similar acts of kindness toward our own neighbors.

While researching and living through Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby in August, I stumbled on a few heart-warming stories of neighbors helping neighbors that led me to look for more of the positive stories that sometimes get overlooked or taken for granted while so much is going on.

Tropical Storm Debby caused severe flooding from Florida to NY with fast, heavy rainfall in August 2024. The storm hit everyone in a different way. Some were more prepared than others; some were completely unprepared. Some weren’t effected at all; others world’s were turned upside down. Some looked for who to blame. But, regardless of who, if anyone, is to blame, people have to deal with their own realities however they can and sometimes that means learning how to lean on those closest nearby.

An old proverb gives the advice that during calamity, a nearby neighbor may come through more dependably than a relative you’d otherwise call on. Even with the capabilities of modern communications, friendly neighbors are still good to have, especially after all of the power outages and communication failures we’ve witnessed.

“Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.” – KJV Biblical Proverb1

In Seminole county, Florida, homes and roads were flooded up to 2 to 4 feet. People evacuated their homes while gators looked for new places to nest. FOX 35 Orlando captured video of a generous act of goodwill by neighbors helping neighbors: several canoes generously lined up and available for anyone to use whose homes were made inaccessible by flooding. They could go back and forth in the canoes to gather whatever belongings they were able to salvage (as much as would fit in the canoe). For some, all that was in the canoes was all they had left to their name. But, a good name is found not just in material belongings, but in the kindness shared with others, and many others were doing just that.

“What is amazing is to see how the community has been coming together. Neighbors helping neighbors.” – FOX 35 Orlando (covering Seminole county)2

https://www.wsav.com/news/local-news/alligator-seen-swimming-in-puddles-during-tropical-storm-debby-on-hilton-head-island/

In Suwanee County, Tallahasee, Florida neighbors came together to help relieve stress caused by Hurricane Debby and offered free massages to locals, along with other activities and mental health resources, hosted by the State Emergency Response Team.

Operation Kid Forward based out of Savannah, Georgia, heard the cries of locals impacted by Hurricane Debby and raised community funds3 to help families with children who are experiencing hardships. The money raised is going toward practical uses such as rental or mortgage assistance, utilities, temporary housing, repairs that address health or safety issues; clothing, toys and school supplies. They also, in partnership with a local church4, served free lunch to volunteers who organized collections of essential hygiene items, baby items and other basics like water. Then, delivered them to those in need.

US National Guard has helped in rescue efforts as well. Supplying food, water, ice and tarps to people without electricity in various locations.

In Valdosta, Georgia, the organization Crisis Cleanup helped coordinate efforts between non-profits and faith-based organizations. They helped neighbors by setting up a hotline to call for assistance in removing debris such as downed trees, limbs, broken structures, and the like.5

Another faith-based organization in Valdosta, called Lamp,6 remembered some of the most forgotten during storms. They helped rescue 12 homeless people from different camps.7

Neighbors Helping Animals

Neighbors were helping each other during Hurricane Debby, but they were also helping foster animals from local shelters who needed a loving home to ride out the storm with. Many pets were unfortunately lost, specifically farm animals, during floods, but others were given hope and a chance to be rescued.

In South Carolina, Dorchester Paws said they were “shocked, grateful, overjoyed, humbled and PROUD of the way [their] community showed up for the animals in need.”8

“‘All 137 animals that were in our care are now in safe, loving foster homes,’ Berkeley Animal Center wrote on Facebook.” – Fox Rochester9

https://foxrochester.com/news/nation-world/community-rallies-to-foster-animals-and-clear-shelters-during-tropical-storm-debby-flash-flooding-strong-rain-winds-dorchester-paws-berkeley-county-animal-center-dogs-cats-temporary-home

Even states as far away as Salem, Massachusetts helped rescue dogs from Charleston, South Carolina in effort to free up space for new strays that would undoubtedly appear after the hurricane. With their adoption centers at capacity, MSPCA-Angell, (one of the first humane organizations in America, founded shortly after the Civil War10) ran a fee-waived event in September and are running another event starting tomorrow, October 14th through-October 20th (click here for details) to help give animals in need a better chance of getting adopted.