A unified forcefor a resilient Florida
HelpNow Project is a disciplined disaster response team of veterans, first responders, and trained volunteers. We stand ready before, during, and after the storm — Semper Paratus.
Founded in 2015 in Tampa Bay
Ourstory
Founded in 2015 in Tampa Bay, the HelpNow Project is a veteran-led organization built for a single purpose: to be the “tip of the spear” in times of crisis. We are comprised of dedicated teams that can forward-deploy into natural disaster zones, providing immediate, boots-on-the-ground support to communities across Florida. Our work is driven by a simple saying that is the heart of our work, whether we are preparing you for the worst or helping you recover from it.
“You don’t know me, but we have your back.”
HelpNow Project motto
Rapid relief.Lasting preparedness.
The HelpNow Project’s mission is to provide rapid, on-the-ground disaster relief while empowering communities with life-saving preparedness training. We are committed to ensuring every community member is well-equipped and prepared to handle emergencies, contributing to the overall safety and well-being of all.
Before disastervs after disaster
We believe that being prepared means being ready for anything. That’s why our mission is two-fold: to educate and prepare communities before disasters, and to provide organized and effective response after disasters.
Before disaster
We serve the community proactively by offering vital, no-cost training in disaster preparedness, active shooter response, and CPR/AED. This empowers everyday citizens to be part of the solution when every second counts.
- CPR / AED and Stop the Bleed training
- Hurricane preparedness workshops
- AVERT active violence response
- CERT coordination across Florida
After disaster
When a disaster hits, our veteran-led teams are on the front lines. Our mobile command center is a self-sufficient hub in the field, allowing us to operate under ICS principles with efficiency and effectiveness.
- Solar power system for off-grid operations
- Starlink internet and emergency communications
- Dedicated medical center for first aid and trauma care
- On-site charging, food, water, and essential gear storage
How a deployment unfolds
Disaster response is not improvised. Every mission follows a disciplined timeline from the first storm advisory to the last community stabilized.
Watch
Storm tracked. Teams alerted, gear staged, and preparedness resources pushed to at-risk communities.
01 / 05Stage
Mobile command, vehicles, and units pre-positioned at safe forward staging areas outside the impact zone.
02 / 05Impact
The storm makes landfall. We hold, monitor comms, and finalize the operational picture for first light.
03 / 05Deploy
The moment it is safe to move, teams push in for search and rescue, route clearing, and immediate relief.
04 / 05Sustain
Coordinated logistics, medical support, and communications keep relief flowing until the community stabilizes.
05 / 05Our leadership
Veteran-led command staff and instructors who keep HelpNow trained, equipped, and ready to deploy across Florida.
Fund the next deployment
Every mission runs on fuel, radios, and boots on the ground. Your support keeps HelpNow ready for the next call.
Founded in 2015 in Tampa Bay, the HelpNow Project is a veteran-led organization built for a single purpose: to be the “tip of the spear” in times of crisis. We are comprised of dedicated teams that can forward-deploy into natural disaster zones, providing immediate, boots-on-the-ground support to communities across Florida. Our work is driven by a simple saying: “You don’t know me, but we have your back.” That motto is the heart of our work, whether we are preparing you for the worst or helping you recover from it.
Our Mission
The HelpNow Project’s mission is to provide rapid, on-the-ground disaster relief while empowering communities with life-saving preparedness training. We are committed to ensuring every community member is well-equipped and prepared to handle emergencies, contributing to the overall safety and well-being of all.
Before Disaster: We serve the community proactively by offering vital, no-cost training in disaster preparedness, active shooter response, and CPR/AED. This empowers everyday citizens to be a part of the solution when every second counts.
After Disaster: When a disaster hits, our veteran-led teams are on the front lines. To be effective in the toughest conditions, we have built a one-of-a-kind mobile command center that serves as our self-sufficient hub in the field. This unit is a game changer, fully outfitted with:
- Solar power system to keep operations running off-grid.
- Starlink internet and other communication equipment.
- A dedicated medical center for providing first aid and medical care.
- On-site charging stations, food and water storage, and essential gear.
This mobile command center allows us to operate under the principles of the Incident Command System (ICS), ensuring our teams respond to emergencies with efficiency and effectiveness.
Claudia Hernandez
Tony Stuart