Disaster Relief

Hurricanes and floods are an unavoidable factor in Florida communities. When they strike, Royce Monteverdi has been a regular face in humanitarian assistance, leading teams of hurricane relief volunteers with the Florida Governmental Emergency OPERATIONS Management, State Emergency Response Team (SERT) and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). Royce was acknowledged by Governor Jeb Bush as a “Hurricane Hero” for his 3 month engagement in disaster operations during the 4 hurricanes that devastated parts of Florida in 2004. Not all the help needed in times of disaster is medical or physical. People have often been displaced from their homes, have lost valuable belongings, need help communicating to family members, etc. Addressing some of these needs, Monteverdi chairs the ESCC (Emotional and Spiritual Care Committee) of the Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) chapter.