- 
      - **  Home
      - **   About Us
      - **  Archives
      - **   Events
      - **  Publications

### Contact Us

To provide feedback on the Community Policing Dispatch, e-mail the editorial board at CPDispatch@usdoj.gov.

To obtain details on COPS Office programs, publications, and resources, contact the COPS Office Response Center at 800-421-6770 or AskCopsRC@usdoj.gov

**U.S. Department of Justice**        Office of Community Oriented Policing Services            145 N Street, N.E.       Washington, DC 20530      www.cops.usdoj.gov×         Menu         - Home
- About Us
- Archives
- Events
- Publications
- Contact Us
**Fixing a Hole Where the Rain Gets In:            Community Policing a Hurricane in Largo, FL**
 September 2019 | Volume 12 | Issue 8

On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall near  Mexico Beach, Florida. It was the first category 5 hurricane to make landfall  on the U.S. mainland in more than 25 years. (Other storms that reached category  5, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, had weakened before they struck the U.S.  mainland.) The National Oceanographic and  Atmospheric Association (NOAA) estimated that at least 45 fatalities  resulted from the storm on the mainland alone. 

 In Largo,  Florida, emergency services were as prepared as they could be for a category  5. Largo is situated between Clearwater and St. Petersburg, sitting just inside  the barrier islands of the Gulf of Mexico. “During the storm,” said Officer  Andrew Lynch, “they have us under cover. You can’t help people if you’re in  trouble. Once the winds drop below 75 miles an hour or so, we’re allowed back  out.” So many trees had been felled that it took nearly a week to clear the  roadways. In the meantime, local departments had their hands full dealing with the  looting and other petty crime that tends to follow a storm.

 “We were the second group in,” he said, referring to  himself and his partner, Sergeant Nicholas Cusumano. “We were on the day shift  and we thought, okay, people aren’t acting up and getting too crazy law enforcement–wise,  so let’s do something.” They thought of Melvin, whose roof is featured in the  photo. Lynch and Cusumano knew Melvin from regular beat work in the  neighborhood, and they knew that Melvin didn’t have the money needed to start  repairs. 

 “Some parts of the city had enough money to start work  immediately—” Officer Lynch paused—“but the lower-income part of town was in  trouble.” Melvin’s old tin roof had given in under the rainfall and the wind,  and water was falling freely into the residence. Lynch and Cusumano went to a  charitable distribution warehouse (he cannot remember the organization but does  remember that it was a faith-based nongovernmental organization) and procured a  tarp to try and keep the water out until work could start. Then they helped  Melvin arrange the tarp to cover the worst of the damage.

 “It takes months for the insurance, though,” Officer Lynch  reported. “Every time it takes months and months for the money to come in and  for work to start. We were lucky that we didn’t have a lot of criminal activity  to deal with, but it felt good to do something to help.” Not only did the  officers help Melvin with his roof but they also made runs to the warehouses  and food donation centers and brought necessities to the community. “It’s the  first time I’ve done it. I enjoyed being able to do something different to  help. I look forward to doing it more.” 

 Sarah Estill        Social  Science Analyst        

Tweet
**Subscribe to Email Updates**
To sign up for monthly updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your email address in the Subscribe box.
Email
The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

**Explore**
- Home
- About Us
- Archives
- Events
- Publications
- Contact Us
**Connect With Us**
Want to stay connected with the COPS office?             Follow us on social media!
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
-  FOIA 
-  No FEAR Act 
-  Open Government 
-  Plain Writing 
-  USA.gov 
-  Legal Policies and Disclaimers 
-  Language Access Plan 
-  DOJ Privacy Policy