Hurricane heroes honored with Congressional commendations for work after Hurricanes Helene, Milton
Hurricane heroes honored with Congressional commendations for work after Hurricanes Helene, Milton
After Hurricanes Helene and Milton made landfall, the Tampa Bay area's coastline and communities were forever changed. But, despite the loss, neighbors helped neighbors, and they were honored on Friday for their service.
TAMPA, Fla. - After Hurricanes Helene and Milton made landfall, the Tampa Bay area's coastline and communities were forever changed. But, despite the loss, neighbors helped neighbors, and they were honored on Friday for their service.
Konan’s BBQ serves more than just ribs. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, owner Mike Trigg said he was called to serve the community.
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"It’s always like send me Lord and I go," Trigg explained. "Hurricanes in Tampa we normally get wind and rain, but this year we really felt it like other states, and we heard that call. I had to do more."
When the City of Tampa went dark, he was a shining light.
"It was crazy, everyone’s power was off in the city, but I had power here." Trigg added. "I cranked the grills up and fed everyone I could and the power never went off."
That’s why Robin Lockett with Florida Rising nominated him for hurricane hero.
"They make it an effort to be there all the time. Not just when the lights are on," Lockett said.
The same goes for Linda Perez at Boricuas De Corazon, Inc. in Brandon.
"We cooked in here for 1,800 people daily during the hurricane," Perez explained.
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Her disaster relief team worked overtime to make sure the community had what they needed, whether it was food or cleanup.
"We did 75 hours in Tampa Bay," she said. "We were able to go to all the houses and pack for them the belongings that were saved and put everything in warehouses."
The selflessness of both Trigg and Perez is what led Representative Kathy Castor to open hurricane hero nominations.
"What we saw across the Tampa Bay area is neighbors helping neighbors," Castor said. "They stepped up to make sure they could survive."
Making sure the hurricane help doesn’t go unnoticed because the work isn’t done.
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"I said if we don’t sell food, I’ll make sure to feed the homeless and I fed the homeless last night," Trigg said.
Boricuas De Corazon and Konan’s BBQ received congressional commendations for their selfless work after the devastating storms.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered through interviews with those honored as hurricane heroes as well as Representative Kathy Castor.
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