Myriad St. Pete businesses have banded together to get money, supplies, and urgent aid to those most in need following the devastation of Hurricane Ian. St. Pete Air USVI Relief efforts in partnership with the Glasscock Family Foundation has created a new non profit, Sol Relief, aimed at the long term recovery of the islands and support of communities in need of humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Sol Relief is actively flying out helpers, and vital resources to those in Ft. Myers and around south Florida. This is an innovative disaster relief organization utilizing small aircraft to serve the US and Caribbean with immediate aid following disasters.

Flights are in progress with Sol Relief. Last week the group coordinated a flight for their partner World Hope International to get water kits delivered to the affected areas. These water kits are an efficient way to provide clean drinking water to the region. Most of the hardest hit areas are still operating search and rescue missions so the airspaces are restricted and their primary focus at this time is supporting the first responders and partner organizations participating in this first phase of relief.

Sol Relief flies firefighters to affected areas

Sol Relief is working with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to get local firefighters flown into affected areas. The members on the maiden flight were all from neighboring Hillsborough Firefighters but IAFF is pulling resources from other members including Tampa Firefighters, St Petersburg Association of Firefighters Local, Hernando County Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 3760 and Pasco County Firefighters Local 4420. Their mission is to support the affected local firefighters while the local firefighters continue to work in the area. Due to road closures and flooding, ground transport isn’t an efficient option for the IAFF volunteers so Sol is donating flights to support IAFF’s mission.

Those interested in helping their efforts can make donations online. Follow Sol Relief on Facebook to keep up with their latest efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

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