NPR

Crowdsourcing To Find Survivors Of Hurricane Michael

According to one website, at least 300 people are still unaccounted for on the Florida panhandle in the wake of Hurricane Michael.
Volunteer rescuer George Ruiz visits Roxy Melvin in rural Alford, Fla. Roxy's cousin in Alabama contacted the website CrowdSource Rescue because she couldn't get in touch with Roxy and her father. Ruiz made a wellness check 8 days later and delivered supplies.

Friends and family of people who live in the Florida panhandle are still trying to find out if their loved ones survived Hurricane Michael. The mission has been hampered by heavily damaged infrastructure and fractured communication systems.

Volunteer rescuer George Ruiz spent Thursday trying to locate people who had not been heard from since the devastating storm.

"It's been a good day," says Ruiz, retired from the U.S. Coast Guard. "I've done about 32 calls so

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min read
Aid Workers Are Doubtful Of A U.S.-built Pier Near Gaza; RFK Jr.'s Dead Brain Worm
A pier off Gaza for aid is expected to be installed soon, but aid workers have questions. RFK Jr. says doctors found a dead worm in his brain. The WHO says he's not alone.
NPR2 min read
Ryan Gosling Has The Correct Answer To Colbert's Question About The Scariest Animal
Spoiler alert: It's a bug. It flies. And it bites. There's no "Ken-fusion" about the fear factor of a mosquito's bite.
NPR4 min read
Meet The Lawyer Who's Trying To Flag Judges Who Harass Their Clerks
A former law clerk who had a bad experience on the job is now trying to share information about judges to help others from suffering the same fate.

Related Books & Audiobooks