USF St. Petersburg’s takeaways from 2024 hurricanes

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There’s no other way to put it: This year’s hurricane season has been stressful, challenging and occasionally overwhelming.

There were times when I was dealing with damaged buildings or talking to employees whose homes had been flooded when I felt such sadness, like a literal punch to the gut. How do you move forward in the face of such loss?

But just when I needed it most, I would hear a story that inspired me to keep going. Maybe it was the faculty member whose home was flooded but she was so determined to teach class, she lectured from her phone in her car. Or the member of our groundskeeping crew who spent hours cleaning debris despite breaking his hand a couple of days earlier and having it in a wrap. Or the students who set aside their own needs to volunteer, helping others clean muck out of their homes.

Like everyone else in our region, we at University of South Florida St. Petersburg were battered by hurricanes Helene and Milton. But the storms also revealed our inner strength. That sense of resilience, toughness and community-mindedness was always there – the hurricanes just helped coax them to the surface.

Being resilient is easier when surrounded by the right people – those who can spring back from and adapt to adversity. As we all continue to bounce back from the storms, I thought I would share a few stories of our recovery in case they provide you with some inspiration and hope.

Of course, the top priority in any situation is people’s safety. Once the rain stopped and the flooding receded, one of the first things we did was make sure everyone was safe. That meant faculty reaching out to students and supervisors contacting employees. It was like a phone-tree from the 1980s, except with texting and Microsoft Teams messaging.

All in all, we had 43 faculty and staff members whose homes became unlivable due to the storms. Our task became, how do we provide them with support at such a critical time?

While we were assembling a team to serve as “storm concierges,” I personally contacted each affected employee to let them know we were aware of their situation and were there to help. I wanted them to know that USF was on their side and that they are important members of our community. Next, our recovery team reached out and connected the affected employees to resources and helped them address challenges.

One of the most beneficial steps we took was to create an online channel specifically dedicated to those who lost property in the hurricanes so they could communicate with one another. This quickly became a source of valuable information, as participants shared tips for dealing with insurance adjustors and FEMA representatives. It also served as a support group, where employees could offer one another comfort and a shared sense of understanding. There were some tough reads in the mix – and even tougher people digging out.

Next came making sure those in need could get financial help. That’s where I became especially grateful to work for an institution like the University of South Florida. Students could apply for the USF United Support Fund while employees were directed to the Employee Hardship Assistance Program. Both funds provided invaluable assistance at a time of great need, and demonstrated USF’s commitment to supporting its people. USF President Rhea Law and the entire USF team continue to seek to add funds to these programs, including a $100,000 pledge from USF Federal Credit Union.

In addition, our on-campus Feed-A-Bull food pantry, usually targeted to students, was promoted to faculty and staff. We received a lot of donations, including a huge shipment of pet food from our good friends and partners at SPCA Tampa Bay. If you’d like to donate to the food pantry, you can find more information here.

Finally, we also wanted to take care of our community. One of our largest on-campus events is the annual Halloween Fest. Members of our community are invited to dress up in costumes, listen to music, play games and participate in a “trunk or treat,” where partners decorate vehicles and distribute candy.

Coming so closely on the heels of Hurricane Milton, we weren’t sure we could pull the event together. But given the damage sustained by so many neighborhoods, we felt it was important to give local children a safe place to trick or treat. After all, many neighborhoods were still awaiting debris removal and Halloween decorations were the last thing on their minds. Led by our dedicated and passionate community relations director, Caryn Nesmith, we came together as a campus and created a really fun and engaging event that attracted more than 1,300 participants.

The Nelson Poynter Memorial Library was transformed into the “Not So Scary Haunted House.” Children fished for rubber duckies in a kiddie pool outside Bayboro Hall. A DJ played music while children danced exuberantly on Harborside Lawn. And the costumes? Oh my, community creativity was on display!

I can’t tell you how many people told me how grateful they were to give their children a safe place to celebrate Halloween. Others were just happy to dress up and think about something other than storms. For me, I felt myself relaxing and really laughing for the first time in weeks. It was a great reminder that no matter how challenging a situation may be, it always feels better when you’re among friends.

As of today, our campus is in a much better place than it was a few short weeks ago. Classes are being taught in person and damaged buildings are either repaired or on their way to being fixed.

I know it’s cliche to talk about being thankful as we get nearer to Thanksgiving. But this year, I truly am grateful for the people of our USF St. Petersburg community. The storms highlighted our capacity to adapt and our deep-seated commitment to one another. It was a reminder that no matter the challenge, we stand together, ready to meet the future with resolve and optimism.

And Mother Nature, if you’re listening, we’re tapping out, we’re good! I think we can all agree that we’ve all earned a break from storm prep, plywood and spaghetti models for at least another year. The human spirit is resilient and I’m glad we have such inspiring people in our community.

Christian Hardigree is Regional Chancellor of USF St. Petersburg.