Oxford Community Rallies Behind Hurricane Victims, sends emergency workers and donations

BY MAGGIE CALLAGHAN
Miami University Student

Oxford Police Department Lt. Geoff Robinson is currently working out of an emergency center in Tallahassee, Florida to help support victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

“This mission is exactly what the Butler County Incident Management Team was designed to do,” said Miami Township Fire Chief Steve Kelly, who also serves as the Butler County Incident Management Team Public Information Officer.

The Category 4 hurricane slammed the Florida coast on September 10. According to its Facebook page, the Butler County Incident Management Team was deployed on September 7. The team is made up police officers, firefighters and public work officers.

Oxford Police Department Chief John Jones is also a member of the Butler County Incident Management Team alongside Robinson, but was unable to go.

“Lt. Robinson and the IMT are helping the Florida emergency responders by helping manage resources,” he said. “They aren’t necessarily out in the environment, but the team is helping manage resources and supplies for the state of Florida.”

According to Jones and Kelly, the team of 16 was split into two groups. Team one, with Robinson, is working on managing other incident management teams. Kelly is traveling with team two, which was sent to Hendry County, Florida to help their Emergency Operation Center.

When they arrived to Hendry County, Kelly was shocked by the amount of damage.

“The Hendry County area was directly impacted by the hurricane as the eye wall stayed on top of our location for about three hours on Sunday night, and the damage was significant,” said Kelly. “But many of the residents seem to think that they could have had it a lot worse with regard to the damage their houses sustained.. The county commissioners did mention that over 85 percent of the county's economic base was destroyed by the storm, since most of their economy is based on sugar and citrus crops.”

Although residents felt like the damage could have been worse, the support from Ohio was well received.

“The residents are amazed at the outpouring of support from all of the states that have poured resources and people into the state,” said Kelly

Lieutenant Robinson is expected to return home September 20.

Oxford Residents Band Together To Help Victims

Students at Miami University were collecting shirts at the football game on September 16 that will be sent to hurricane victims. Fans could “swap” their shirt in exchange for a homecoming shirt. According to Sarah Fraley, president of Residence Hall Association, the idea started within another organization but they quickly joined the efforts.

“To my understanding a member of Miami Activities Programming (MAP) came up with the idea and wanted to collaborate with us on it,” said Fraley. “We decided to join in essentially because it’s just the right thing to do.”

St. Mary’s Church of Oxford was also collecting donations for Catholic Charities, a national organization through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. That hurricane which left areas of Houston decimated when it slammed into the Lone Star state three weeks ago.

According to the bulletin given to parish members September 10, donations will be used to help rebuild and support dioceses affected in Texas.

“The principle of solidarity is very important in Catholic social teaching,” said Becky Newlin, St. Mary’s Church Secretary. “We respond to our brothers and sisters wherever they are and when in need.”

The Church raised over $7,000, according to Newlin.

For Mayor Kate Rousmaniere, the level of support from the Oxford community is nothing new.

“We do this a lot,” said Rousmaniere “We’ve always helped other communities in their time of need.”

Rousmaniere recalled how the community came together after the fires in Gatlinburg and Hurricane Katrina.

“Part of it, I believe, is that people here who are not originally from here,” said Rousmaniere. “Because of Miami (University), we have people from all over the country and world. We have students from Texas and Florida, so I think that is why this community is so supportive when disasters happen.”

For Jones, the service is not something people forget.

“Helping your neighbors is important,” said Jones. “Because one day we might need that help.”

Cutline for top 1- Lietanant Robinson from the Oxford Police Deparment is currently working with the Florida Emergency Operations Center to help manage and track resources coming into the state to help hurricane victimes--Photo by Butler County Incident Management Team

Cutline for top 2-A Team of 16 members of the Butler County Incident Management Team were sent to Florida on September 7. According to Oxford Police Chief John Jones, this is the only certified team in the state. They have traveled to various locations like Baltimore during the riots and New York after Hurricane Sandy.--Photo by Butler County Incident Management Team