DAYTON, Ohio — As countless efforts are still underway following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Florida is bracing for Hurricane Milton.

For one Ohio group, it’s all about going from disaster site to disaster site and helping people in need.

What You Need To Know

  • Ohio Hope Builders out of Springfield, OH has been responding to disasters for eight years

  • The team just returned from helping the Appalachian community in North Carolina

  • Volunteers are waiting to see how Hurricane Milton impacts Florida and are preparing for a possible trip to help

It’s been a long night for Casey Tingley and the team of volunteers with Ohio Hope Builders in Springfield.

Tingley owns a landscaping and moving company, but when disaster hits, they respond by bringing relief.

The team just got home from North Carolina.

“It looks like a bomb went off, complete devastation. We were working directly with Pastor Ken with Victorious Church of God in Morganton, North Carolina. We went down into the mountains, meeting Appalachian people,” said Tingley.

The crew took several trucks filled with supplies and donations from the community.

They also rented equipment to help clear out a main road.  

“The road completely washed away. It’s completely gone. We took our excavator and helped widen the road and digging it out towards the mountain so folks can get an ATV in and out of there side by side to take generators up into the mountains,” Tingley said.

 The group has been responding to disasters for approximately eight years.

They’ve provided relief services after the Western Kentucky tornado and recently close to home in Springfield and Indian Lake.

“Tornadoes, we’ve seen that and helped with the clean-up, but it’s nothing like what we’ve seen down there. You’ve got washed out roads and everywhere you step is a danger,” said volunteer Bryce White.

The next step is to prepare for a possible move down to Florida.

Bags of clothes and supplies are on their way to be sorted and packed.

For now, they’re waiting to see what happens and where, while the itching of anticipation and nervousness of the unknown continues to build.  

“When you get there, you’re not ready mentally at all until you see exactly what’s going on, but I’m ready to help,” White said.

While eyes are set on Florida, Tingley is still keeping a close focus on North Carolina and encouraging people to donate.

Generators, hygiene products, and even fuel cards go a long way. 

“Anything we can do to help, that’s what we’re here for. We’re disaster relief. We want to be here in the long run. We’re here to stay. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you look like. We’re all here to work together and we want to bring unity to our community,” Tingley said.

If you’d like to donate, Tingley encourages people to follow Ohio Hope Builders on social media.

He’ll be posting up-to-date information on what people need.

After they see what happens in Florida and if they can help, the teams plans to head back to North Carolina to continue working on the road.