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Hurricane Helene victim gets new home thanks to the organization 'Operation Blessing'

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Published  February 8, 2025 5:12pm EST
St. Petersburg
FOX 13 News

Hurricane victim returns home to surprise

FOX 13's Jordan Bowen shares the story of a woman who was blessed with a new home after her home was destroyed during Hurricane Helene.

The Brief

    • A recent Hurricane Helene victim got a new home thanks to the organization 'Operation Blessing'.
    • Pamela Blome has spent the last few months volunteering in the devastated areas of North Carolina serving meals to first responders.
    • The organization 'Operation Blessing' has been rebuilding her home.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla - A hurricane victim got the surprise of a lifetime Saturday. Pamela Blome's home was destroyed during Hurricane Helene after taking on several feet of water. 

Despite the loss, she spent the last few months volunteering in the devastated areas of North Carolina serving meals to first responders all while the organization 'Operation Blessing' has been rebuilding her home.

She couldn't believe her eyes as she got a peek at her new home for the very first time.

"There's no words. It's just it's so fresh and clean and the last time I was in here it smelled like sewage. All the walls were tore out and I still remember seeing the black mold," Blome said.

A recent Hurricane Helene victim got a new home thanks to the organization 'Operation Blessing'.

Photo show what her home looked like after Hurricane Helene when 3 feet of water got inside. Now after months of work and repairs by the organization Operation Blessing she can now move back in.

READ: 250 St. Pete seniors remain displaced two months after apartment building evacuated

What they're saying:

"Pamela's actually been in the field with us the last five and a half months, cooking for victims of Hurricane Helene while we've been here rebuilding her house," Operation Blessing Chief Operating Officer Drew Friedrich said.

After the storm, she went to North Carolina and cooked meals for first responders for several months so Operation Blessing wanted to return the favor and help one of their own.

"I have worked with Operation Blessing for seven years now and I just I always say that I don't feed people's stomach. I like to feed their soul. I just love watching people eat my food," Blome said.

A team of 10 volunteers and local contractors helped bring her home back to life gutting roughly 70 percent of the inside. They rewired the electrical system and replaced all lights, the floors and the doors restoring it back a livable space.

A recent Hurricane Helene victim got a new home thanks to the organization 'Operation Blessing'.

"When our teams go in we bring help and hope to people who are really, really hurting. Our donors, our supporters, our volunteers allow us to show up and really make a difference in the lives of those who've been through a ton and we're so grateful for the chance to serve Pamela," Friedrich said.

Blome says she will be forever grateful for Operation Blessing.

"It's just awesome to have great friends and family," Blome said.

The Source: Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Jordan Bowen.

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