By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
There’s no shortage of disasters … but fortunately there are those who step up to help others through some of the most stressful times in their lives. Mandarin resident and Hope Force International reservist Laura Geisel is one of these special people. She has volunteered with Hope Force International as a reservist for the past two years and so far has traveled to Oklahoma to help out after tornadoes; Mayreau in St. Vincent and the Grenadines after Hurricane Beryl; and Crystal River, Florida to help out after Hurricane Helene. Geisel, who has lived in Northeast Florida for most of her life, has lived in Mandarin for six years. Retired from her 40-year career as an IT project manager, she is an active parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and volunteers at the Mandarin Food Bank. She has four adult children and six grandchildren.
Q: How did you learn of Hope Force International?
A: My parents had a home on Black Creek in Clay County that flooded all the time, even after they rebuilt it on 16-foot stilts. In September 2017, just two months after my mother passed away, Hurricane Irma brought 20 feet of water onto the property. Everything was soaked and I didn’t know what to do. Someone gave me the Hope Force International number and they responded to my call within 24 hours with volunteers from all over the country. They immediately set to work pulling out insulation and drywall from the house. We worked side by side all day and they were so gentle with me, allowing me to talk or cry if I wanted. They were very focused and efficient and when they were finished, they said a prayer with me and went on their way. I promised myself I would join them one day and that thought never left me.
Q: So how did you become a reservist?
A: After I retired, I began the training to become a reservist. This includes 10 hours of online training, but 90 percent of this training is for the emotional and spiritual part of a disaster. Hope Force International vets reservists to make sure they are right with God and able to fulfill this important part of the mission. Training for physical tasks like roofing and pulling down drywall and insulation doesn’t take long.
Q: What does being a reservist entail?
A: We are all volunteers and pay for our own travel to the locations we help. We carry our own gear, to include a blow up mattress, mosquito netting, a few sets of clothing and maybe some favorite snacks. Food and supplies are provided. I typically go to the sites for seven to eight days and I try to make two trips a year. My first trip was to Oklahoma in May 2023 and I didn’t know a soul, but quickly made friends with the other reservists. We put tarps on the roofs of homes and at first, I could only serve as “ballast” (lie on top of the tarp to hold it down), but quickly learned how to lay the tarp with the other more experienced volunteers. When we went to Mayreau, a tiny island with only 350 homes, the roofs had all been ripped off by Hurricane Beryl. They have no water supply, as they catch rainwater on their roofs. So, no roofs, no water. We installed metal roofs here for the residents.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a reservist?
A: Observing and sometimes being part of the transformation of the emotional state of a homeowner from when we first meet them. They are often overwhelmed, disbelieving, and grief stricken. They have lost not only their homes but their memories. Through our ministry of presence, we bring calm from chaos and somewhere along the way, they will smile and begin to see a future. People’s lives are affected for generations when homes are saved. It’s so fulfilling and so beautiful to be a part of.
[Editor’s Note: Laura Geisel was actually working on homes in Crystal River, Florida that had been impacted by Hurricane Helene when Hurricane Milton forced their evacuation. Her trip was cut short by several days. She plans to head back out again as soon as needs are identified, now by the aftereffects of two hurricanes.]
Hope Force International is a disaster relief organization funded by donations and staffed by volunteer reservists. Visit
https://www.hopeforce.org/ for more information, individual and group training opportunities, and to donate.
Photo courtesy Hope Force International
Laura Geisel
