Florida Hurricane Relief
Mission Trips

AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE - SPRING

Initial relief trips will have a simplified schedule with no EM led devotions in the evenings. Teams are encouraged to prepare this for their teams. Due to the nature of responding to a disaster, we ask all teams to come in with a flexible heart and spirit ready to serve and bring hope to the citizens of the Florida Panhandle.

Day 1
3-6pm - Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation Meeting
8:30pm - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
10:30pm - Lights Out

Day 2-5
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15am - Group Prayer
8:30am - Teams leave for Sites
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7:00pm - Free Time/Team Time

Day 6
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Cleanup/ Packing
8:30am - Send Off

AVERAGE DAILY SCHEDULE - SUMMER

Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. Experience Mission has devotionals/journals that are available for purchase or teams can supply their own. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold.

Our staff will lead a time of debriefing and a short devotional in the evening (what we call "Evening Gathering") and it is always a great addition to have musical worship. Our programming does not include musical worship as we can't guarantee that our staff will have this ability. Please let us know if you have anyone who sings or plays guitar on your trip so that we can help to coordinate the musical aspect of worship when able. If teams aren't able to help in the area of music, it may not be a part of the trip.

Day 1
3-6pm Groups Arrive
5pm - Leader's Meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Orientation Meeting
8:30pm - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
11:30pm - Lights Out

Day 2-5
7:15am - Breakfast
7:45am - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15am - Group Prayer
8:30am - Teams leave for Sites
12pm - Lunch
3:30pm - Finish work for the day
4pm - Break and Clean-up
5pm - Leaders meeting
6pm - Dinner
7pm - Evening Gathering (as a whole group)
8:30pm - Team time

Day 6
7am - Breakfast
7:30am - Cleanup / Packing
9am - Pictures and Good-Byes

Lodging

Lodging in the Florida Panhandle may vary as time goes on and churches are restored. We will notify you of your lodging location closer to your trip. Teams should plan to sleep on the floor and to bring a light air mattress or a mat. Team members should plan to bring light bedding or a sleeping bag and a pillow.

Showers & Bathrooms

There will be showers for your team, however, be prepared for potential “camping” showers. There will be usable bathrooms at the place you stay.

Water

Water to drink will be provided by Experience Mission. In the event that local water is contaminated, we will provide bottled water.

Electricity

There should electricity at the church where teams stay however there may be times of outage as they restore power to the city. Power at work sites will vary.

Food

Experience Mission Field Staff will prepare and serve your meals. Breakfast and dinner will be served buffet style, and your team will pack their own lunches each morning. Team members should plan to bring their own plate, bowl, cup, and silverware for meals.

Transportation

Your team's transportation to, from, and while in Florida is NOT covered by the trip cost. You will need vehicles throughout the entire week to transport your team to various locations for work and ministry. 15 passenger vans or smaller are strongly recommended as your main mode of transportation. Using a school bus as your main mode of transportation while in this community is NOT recommended.

Experience Mission has specific policies regarding registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.

View Registration & Payment Policy

INDIVIDUALS

All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip must be part of a team of at least six (6) people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM’s IMMERSION program.

EM's Health & Safety plan provides the following:

Staff certification: All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Medical kits: Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site. In international locations, we will also carry a Trauma Kit or First Responder Kit. In these remote locations we will have medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl and Imodium on hand. We make these available to adult team leaders for their sole discretionary use with their team members. EM Staff will not dispense any medications. In our domestic and international locations, we ask that teams supply their own medications like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl and Imodium as they deem necessary.

Emergency response plan: Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.

- If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.

- If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor) and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.

- In the event that an accident occurs which is life threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, emergency medical care will be secured and arraignments will be made if necessary, to transport the injured person to the United States as quickly as possible providing they are serving in one of our International locations. In our domestic locations, local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted immediately to assist in guidance for appropriate response.

All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.

Immunizations: As with all mission trips, it is essential that volunteers are up to date on all childhood immunizations. Each volunteer must also have a tetanus shot.

For a more information about health concerns and recommended immunizations, you can visit the CDC travelers guide to Puerto Rico. You should consult your local doctor prior to receiving any immunizations.

Wondering what all goes on during Florida Panhandle relief trips? You’re not alone! Here’s a list of frequently asked questions about this trip.

What age group can you accommodate in the Florida Panhandle?
This trip is open for high school and older. Because of the nature of the work there, we are unable to make many exceptions to this rule. If you’re looking for something for younger students, here’s a list of trips for jr. high students.

How much do Florida Panhandle relief cost?
The cost for this trip is $425/person for 2019. This includes all lodging, food, staffing, and trip-related expenses. Transportation is not included. Note that all construction projects are generally provided at no cost to families. Your fees help cover this blessing for homeowners.

What seasons do you offer Florida Panhandle relief trips?
Trips to Florida Panhandle take place primarily in the summer. Check out this list of all available spring break trips if you are looking for trips outside the summer months.

Do you offer spring break trips in the Florida Panhandle?
Spring break trips are currently closed for registrations for 2019. Check back soon for 2020 availability. Check out our spring mission trip locationsfor all available options.

What will volunteers do on a Florida Panhandle relief trip?
Ministry in the Florida Panhandle is specifically focused on home repair and clean up after the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael in 2018, but there is also an intentional relational aspect. Monday through Thursday are intense work days, where you and your teammates could find yourself on a variety of stages of the home-building process, depending on your skill level. We also hope volunteers will be intentional to connect with home-owners throughout the process.

Will we work with children in Florida?
Because the housing needs are so great in Florida Panhandle, we focus our efforts entirely on construction. However, there will be various opportunities to engage with local families in the community and taking breaks to get to know these families (and children) is highly encouraged.

What paperwork is required for this mission trip?
Each team member will need to fill out a team member registration form and liability waiver, and all adults are required to pass a background check. Your mission trip support representative will contact you if any other paperwork is required.

Where will my team stay in Florida?
Teams will stay at a church in Panama City, Florida. Lodging is arranged in a large open room with a divider, so plan to bring along air mattresses and sleeping bags for comfort. Showers will be available on location.

Are meals provided on relief trips to the Florida Panhandle?
Yes! Meals will be provided by Experience Mission staff for the duration of your trip. Our mission trip food policy outlines the details of what we can accommodate for dietary restrictions and more.

How does transportation work during Florida Panhandle relief trips?
Transportation is entirely up to groups to arrange. We recommend 15 passenger vans and smaller. We don’t recommend relying on buses as a mode of transportation for this trip. Keep in mind that groups are often split into teams of 8-12 for construction projects. It works well if you are able to plan transportation accordingly.

When should I arrive?
Check-in is between 3 and 5 PM on the first day of your selected trip. Our staff will be awaiting your arrival. You can expect dinner and an orientation meeting to get you ready for the week that evening as well.

If my team is flying, where is the nearest airport?
The nearest airport is North Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP).

Can I extend my stay through the weekend?
We are unable to accommodate teams after Friday morning. We encourage teams who are interested in experiencing the tourism options in Florida Panhandle to book a hotel and stay longer.

What should I pack for a Florida Panhandle trip?
A packing list will be available once you register for your trip. Generally, be prepared to bring along work clothes. All tools will be provided to you, but donations of additional tools are welcome!

Does EM offer trips to any other hurricane relief communities?
Yes! We also currently offer hurricane relief trips to Coastal Texas and Puerto Rico.

Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.