IRMA - Things members can do to help

[WalterYensid]

Disney is starting to prepare for IRMA. Guests can help by:
1) Make sure we are even more considerate to CM's. We will go home at the end of our vacations, they will need to clean up at WDW and at their homes.
2) Don't make jokes about IRMA. Some of the locals are quite nervous and scared. (Was at the SuperWalmart at Poinciana Thursday night and it was jammed and cleaned out of staples.)
3) Don't call for maintenance if it's not really necessary. Normally we should call if a light bulb is out. They are doing storm prep. which is a lot more important than a bulb out or a dishwasher not working well.
4) Most important. If IRMA does end up doing a lot of damage here, these cast members will probably incur significant expenses. These people go out of their way to make sure we are well taken care of on a daily basis, and for the most part work for low wages. DVC members spend thousands every year to vacation here. I hope we can be generous and open our wallets in generosity with a $10 or $20 dollar bill to any CM's who make our lives comfortable in the coming week. I intend to give at least $100-200 total to help if the area does get severely hit. Hopefully others will do the same.
Good Luck Disney and CM's.

 

[DenLo]

I think DVC members staying at WDW through the hurricane need to remember that that CM that is helping you has family at home without them. It would be very hard for me to go to work when my family is at our home.

 

[NancyDVC]

I was on the Magic in September, 2004 the year 4 storms hit Florida. As we flew in we saw blue tarps on homes all over. We met FEMA staff at our hotel in Cocoa the night before our cruise. At the airport rental counter a gentleman thanked us for coming to support them. We were generous in our tipping.
As a retired healthcare professional who worked for 43 years in a hospital I can tell you that yes it is very diffcult to leave family and head into work. I spent 5 days at work during and after Sandy. It was physically and emotionally draining. Taking care of folks with multiple medical problems who had been evacuated, those who were sick or injured, co-workers who were homeless but came to work everyday to care for our patients. Not something that was easy or that I would want to repeat. But I knew that I had signed on for it as part of my job.
Those of you who are hunkerng down at WDW be calm, be respectful of others both CMs and guests. Everyone is anxious and concerned. My sister was at SSR for 4 days and left as scheduled on Thursday. She went to the front desk and told them she was checking out at 8 AM. (She was scheduled to check out on Thursday.) She wanted to be out early to allow housekeeping to clean and prepare her room for someone who needed it. The CM thanked her for letting them know, so many folks just leave and never tell anyone mking it difficult for them to know when they can turn over a room.
Stay safe. Prayers for everyone in Florida during this huge storm.

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

what a great post... Thank you for thinking of the cast members who are going back to work after suffering property lose. Thank God that it wasn't worse. I live in Florida and the eye hit 20 miles east of me. I had no damage but did spend 4 days evacuating.