Mashantucket Pequot tribe helping Hurricane Milton victims

LEDYARD, Conn. (WTNH) — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has set up a call center so tribal members can check on other tribal members in the hurricane-ravaged regions.

More than 75 Mashantucket Pequot Tribal members were called once Hurricane Helene hit, and then again after Milton made landfall.

“Really, just calling to get in touch with them and make sure that they are okay,” said Tanisha Minnis, the social services manager for the tribe.

Minnis said that in addition to flooding, some people don’t have electricity or gas.

“We want to make sure that our family members know that we are here for them, no matter where they area in the world, especially during times of need like this,” said Michael Purcaro, the chief of government administration.

The team of tribal members made sure the members living down south had the resources they needed, like FEMA contacts and information on places to find food and shelter.

“Some of them are retired, and some of them just live outside the state, but they’re still part of the Mashantucket family,” Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Fire Chief Floyd Chaney said.

Minnis spoke to about five people on Friday morning.

“I spoke to one tribal member, and she basically said, ‘I’m just happy to be alive,’” Minnis said.

When some calls didn’t go through, tribal police reach out to their southern counterparts for help.

At the height of the operation, they had four people manning the phones, reaching out to other tribal members.

If they got one of those tones that indicated the phone on the other end might have been out of service, they then turned to their police department to use their resources to try to get in touch with those people.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.