Hope over hurricanes

The children’s section of the Colier County library off Vanderbilt Beach Road was anything but quiet June 5.

Outside it was sunny and calm, but in the library, a hurricane was coming and all of the woodland animals needed to take cover.

Toni Birtolo, 6, sat in the front row of the puppet show, presented by Project HOPE (Helping Our People in Emergencies), which helps hurricane victims rebuild their lives emotionally and physically, and watched as the animals prepared for the storm. The Raccoon family was staying in the woods, while the Bear family was heading out of town, away from the storm.

Nina Birtolo, Toni’s mother, brought her three daughters to the puppet show. All of the girls have weathered a storm before, Birtolo said, but the show was a good chance for them to learn more about hurricanes and how to be safe during one.

Belle Birtolo, 4, said she was scared during Hurricane Wilma last year but knew her mom was going to keep her safe.

Melanie Gustafson, a Project HOPE crisis counselor with the Southwest Florida chapter, said the organization uses puppets to connect with children.

“Our purpose is allow children to express themselves,” Gustafson said.

After the show, Gustafson asked the children in the audience to talk about how they felt during the storms they have been through, with many of the responses mirroring those of the animals in the puppet show.

Diane Mathieu and her two daughters, Hailey, 5, and Shelby, 1, evacuated Naples during Hurricane Wilma.

“They get scared,” Mathieu said. “With the kids, I wouldn’t have stuck it out.”

Mathieu said she talked to Hailey about the storm, what would be happening and why they were leaving.

Toni was 4 years old when Hurricane Charley hit in 2004, Birtolo said, and Belle was only 2.

“After Charley hit, every time there was a thunderstorm they’d ask me if it was another hurricane,” Birtolo said.

Toni said she was scared when the lights went out, but getting her own flashlight was a bonus.

“We got to play games with our mom,” Toni said.

During the puppet show, animals went without lights and had to learn how to entertain themselves during the storm.

Keeping her kids occupied during the storm was one of the most difficult things she had to deal, Birtolo said.

“It’s probably harder to prepare with children. Once the storm is over, and there’s no electricity, they don’t understand why they can’t watch television or why the lights aren’t coming on,” Birtolo said.

“We played a lot of board games and went on bike rides when the weather was OK. It’s a good family bonding time.”

Gustafson said the family bonding time is the perfect time for parents to talk to their children about what happened, and how they are feeling.

Project HOPE also offers programs for teenagers and adults, Gustafson said.