After evacuating, MDS volunteers ready to respond—again

As Hurricane Milton swept through Florida, Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) evacuated volunteers, moved equipment—and stood ready to respond as soon as it’s safe.

In Port Charlotte, MDS Project Director Rollin Ulrich and 12 other leadership volunteers evacuated on Oct. 7 to Homestead Mennonite Church.

“The church welcomed them with open arms,” said MDS Executive Director Kevin King.

By the morning of Oct. 10, the Port Charlotte volunteer team was taking a caravan of vehicles back to set up equipment again. “We are hearing the roads are open,” said King. “They will be purchasing chainsaws and gear in Homestead as well as extra gas to take back with them, as their work might be clearing debris and tarping as necessary once they get back.”

Ulrich expressed how the volunteers are feeling: “We are anxious to get back ‘home’ to Port Charlotte and let the hammers and chainsaws ring hope,” he said.

MDS regional operations coordinator Larry Stoner explained how it’s a priority for MDS to keep volunteers safe.

“MDS volunteers had worked in Homestead in 1992 after a hurricane,” said Stoner. “We contacted the church members and they welcomed the 13 volunteers.”

MDS also moved all the trailers in Port Charlotte to Immokalee, Florida, to a church property. “The reason for the move was to get further away from the gulf and storm surge potential,” said Stoner. Immokalee is 70 miles from Port Charlotte.

“The volunteers want to help cut up trees and start mucking out houses that are flooded for the second time in two weeks,” said Stoner.

Yearlong volunteer Lucinda Shirk reflected that being immersed in evacuations, moving equipment, and round-the-clock news about hurricanes has only strengthened her faith in God.

‘Looking at the storms, and listening and reading all the talk on hurricanes is much like Peter stepping from the boat, beginning to walk on water—but then beginning to sink after he takes his focus off Jesus,” she said. “Keeping focused and staying focused on God, who never changes, brings peace and security.”