Being the Light

Hurricane Ian was an absolute monster of a storm, and the devastation it brought to the Southwest Florida community is something I will never forget. As young lawyers, I believe that we should always look for ways to be the light to our community during times of adversity.

As Hurricane Ian set its sights on the Southwest Florida coast, I approached the partners at The Pendas Law Firm with an idea of planning, implementing, opening and running a Disaster Relief Center out of our Fort Myers Office to aid the community in the aftermath of the storm. The goal was to have water, non-perishable food, tarps and supplies, as well as information on how to file a claim with a homeowner’s insurance company.

It was a simple premise and plan, but it proved challenging to achieve. As we all know, water and non-perishable foods were difficult to find in Southwest Florida before and after Ian made landfall. Finding tarps and other supplies proved near impossible in the days before and the days following the storm. In the rare instance where one was able to track down food, water or supplies, there were limits set on purchase quantities.

On the verge of failure, Lou Pendas, Larry Trias and Joel Piedra helped coordinate a system where we could order food, water and supplies from the law firm’s office locations outside of the region, stage them at our Orlando office, and then shuttle them down to Fort Myers. Thanks to the firm’s network and our ability to quickly pivot, we secured pallets of supplies to distribute.

Local news media and radio, combined with word of mouth and social media, proved to be the best way to let people know we were here to help. Once the word went out, the relief center saw a steady stream of people coming in for food, water and supplies. The center was a success and we made a difference for our community!

The human component proved to be more important than giving out food, water, supplies, or answering people’s questions about how to open a property damage claim with their insurance company. What matters is to be kind – to be the light! It can be as small as a hug, small talk, a joke, a prayer or a smile. In the wake of Ian’s destruction, it made all the difference.

My staff went above and beyond for the people who came to the Disaster Relief Center. I am proud of how brightly they shined for our community during a dark time, and hope they know how much I personally appreciate all the efforts they have made since we opened the center. The stress, anxiety and fear that people experience can melt away with a cup of hot coffee and a short conversation.

Young lawyers, let’s be the light in 2023!

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