OR
A Message From Fr. Len Plazewski
As you know our community was hit by two major storms that have caused significant damage which have impacted a great many members of our parish community, the extent of which is still being determined. While thankfully, our parish did not suffer the loss of life, it is nevertheless extremely traumatic to be displaced or suffer the loss of property. I know that many in our parish community are hurting right now.
Please pray for those who have experienced loss this week and know that you are in my prayers. I also encourage you to reach out to anyone that you know who is struggling to see if you can be of assistance in some way. This is our opportunity to shine as a community of faith. Let us pray for one another and reach out to one another as Christ would want us to do.
Please complete this form if you need assistance or are able to help others in our parish.
Prayer for Protection During a Hurricane
Our Father in Heaven,
through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor,
spare us during this hurricane season from all harm.
Protect us and our homes
from all disasters of nature.
Our Lady of Prompt Succor,
hasten to help us.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Resources and Assistance
Hurricane Helene Update No. 21
Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 29, 2024) – The Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announce the Monday opening of the Disaster Recovery Center for individuals, families, and businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby.
The Center will open at Hillsborough Community Center (HCC) at The Regent at 6437 Watson Rd., Riverview, FL 33578 from 1-6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, and from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 6.
The Disaster Recovery Center is open to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits seeking assistance or needing help in completing applications after being impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby. FEMA representatives will be in attendance to assist.
Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared that residents in Hillsborough County who were impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Debby can apply for aid through the Individuals and Households Program (IHP).
The program provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Debby. The assistance is intended to meet basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts. Residents who need long-term housing are encouraged to apply for individual assistance with FEMA as soon as possible.
Hillsborough County residents who were impacted by Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Debby can apply for the FEMA assistance if they have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs, according to FEMA. However, the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster.
What does FEMA assistance for the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) include?
- Funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs
- Funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges
- A temporary housing unit when you are not able to use rental assistance due to a lack of available housing resources
- Funds for hazard mitigation assistance to help eligible homeowners repair or rebuild stronger, more durable homes
- Funds for other uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious need
How to apply for Individual and Household Assistance
- Visit Disasterassistance.gov. From this page you can review the application process, apply for Individual Assistance, and check the status of your application.
For application help, call the FEMA Helpline, (800) 621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. For technical support or site errors, call the Internet Help Desk, (800) 745-0243, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
Additionally, Hillsborough County has created a webpage with local, state, and national resources available to residents as they recover from Hurricane Helene. Residents can find these resources at HCFL.gov/StormRecovery.
Get Connected. Stay Alert.