By: Alexis Gonzalez

New Yorker Steve Surillo discovered a Red Cross shelter before Milton’s imminent presence in Florida. Having already experienced a few hurricanes, Surillo didn’t believe it would be as bad. It wasn’t until friends and the news warned it would be serious that he listened and sought shelter.

Surillo came to Florida years ago to be closer to his mother. As her health declined, he took care of her. Once she passed, he stayed in Florida because it was her home, and he always found a way to stay connected to her.

Hearing of the Red Cross but not having experienced it, he wasn’t sure what awaited him. Being an amputee and a diabetic, Surillo lost his medications to Milton and was concerned about how he would replace them all.

The Red Cross Disaster Health Services team worked with Surillo to go through the correct avenues to replace his medications and check his health throughout his stay. During his shelter stay, Surillo brought smiles to many volunteers and residents with his positive attitude and many keychains.

“I give a keychain to those who impact my life. It’s my way of remembering them; in turn, they can remember me. They can remember where they were when they received it and their impact on my life,” shared Surillo. “Red Crossers I’ve met from all over the country now have a keychain, and when they meet each other, they could say, ‘Hey, did you get that from Steve in Tampa?’ or ‘I met Steve in Tampa, and he gave me this keychain’ It’s my way to keep us all connected.”

Not knowing his next step, Surillo met with the Red Cross Shelter Resident Transition (SRT) team. A caseworker assessed his needs and discussed how they could transition him out of the shelter and into a new chapter of his life.

Working with local resources, SRT was able to get Surillo a new apartment in a 55+ community. Everything Surillo needs is now on both corners of his apartment complex. After almost four weeks in a Red Cross shelter, Surillo can start his next chapter in his new home.

“I have my own apartment now. It brings a tear to my eye,” said Surillo with gratitude. “I get to meet new people and finally have a sense of community I have been missing since my mother passed.”

“I thank you all for the changes you made in my life. You opened the way for me, and I have a home to go to when I walk out these doors today,” said Surillo.

Hundreds of people are still in emergency shelters across the affected states, and the Red Cross is working with them to help them make plans for the future, including temporary housing arrangements.

These plans will look different for each individual and family. For example, some people may choose to live with friends or family while they rebuild. Other people will move into temporary lodgings or receive help through housing programs offered by government agencies or community organizations. 

The Red Cross has been in communities before this disaster and will remain there — responding to home fires and future storms — helping residents build more resilient communities.