Florida Officer Hailed as Angel for Hurricane Assistance
Kathy decided to surprise her husband, Steve, with a trip to sunny Florida to celebrate his 70th birthday. They stayed at a lovely place on the beach in late September when Hurricane Helene slammed the northern Gulf Coast of Florida.
Debris left in the wake of the storm blocked access to their birthday oasis, so Kathy and Steve were stuck for an additional week. They were finally able to get to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) the day before Hurricane Milton pummeled Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The exhausted tourists were scheduled to fly home to Dayton, Ohio, that day. However, the couple went through TSA screening and made their way to their plane’s departure gate before learning their flight was canceled and the airport would close the next morning due to Milton’s approach.
While walking by the checkpoint, Supervisory TSA Officer Kerry Burzo noticed the couple looking quite distraught.
“They were outside of the checkpoint looking frantic as I walked past them,” Burzo recalled. “They asked me if I could help.”
Kathy and Steve had nowhere to stay, having planned to be back in their Ohio home by nightfall. They reached out to Burzo, hoping she could help ease their fears. What they didn’t expect was the miracle coming their way.
“I started to call around to a few hotels, but because of the hurricane, most of them were full,” Burzo said. “Finally, one was available, and the next issue was getting them there.”
With all the evacuations, the car rental companies had no vehicles available. Burzo told the couple where to find a cab and suggested the possibility of booking a rideshare to take them to the room she found for them.
About 20 minutes later, a dejected Kathy and Steve returned to the checkpoint for Burzo’s third option. She drove them to the hotel in her personal vehicle. After a 25-minute drive south, Burzo made sure the couple was safely checked into their room.
“They didn’t have anyone here, so I gave them my number so we could keep in touch,” said Burzo. “We talked the next few days, and they were able to fly out five days later.”
I feel like I was meant to meet them. That day was my day off, but I was working for another supervisor. Both my parents are Kathie and Steven, and my dad also celebrated his 70th birthday this past year in May.”
Upon their safe arrival in Ohio, Steve left the following message for TSA online:
“In late September, while vacationing on St. Pete Beach, Hurricane Helene hit. We were stranded. When we finally made it to PIE airport on Oct. 7, our flight was cancelled. With no transportation and nowhere to go, we were frantic. Milton was approaching, and PIE was closing. TSA Supervisor Kerry Burzo noticed us, and she immediately contacted many hotels until we found one. She drove us there in her car. We spent five nights there and went through Milton. Kerry kept in contact continuously. She deserves the highest recognition possible for helping passengers in distress and driving to safety. She is our Angel and forever our friend.”
–Steve and Kathy P.”
“Sometimes the smallest things we do can mean the world to whom we are helping,” Burzo added.
“If TSA had the ability to recognize Officers with the rank of ‘Ambassador,’ Kerry would be the first,” said TSA Federal Security Director Kirk P. Skinner. “She is engaging, caring and empathetic in every encounter with our passengers, airport employees and fellow Officers. I’m proud to know she’s on the front line representing Greater Tampa Bay! Well done, Kerry!”
By Michele Robbins, Strategic Communications & Public Affairs