Did you know that one of Florida's most popular destinations, the Florida Keys, has inadequate coverage of Fire/EMS Rescue boats to assist in the event of an emergency?

In August of 2017 we learned that the hard and tragic way

The Florida Keys Desperately Needs Fire/EMS Rescue Boats

We Need Your Help

Our family had spent many, many summers boating in the Florida Keys.

In August 2017 we experienced a tragic emergency with our daughter, Harlie, a few miles from land. We discovered we were on our own!

We first used EPIRB, VHF and 911 several times, begging for immediate help. We were told to drive ourselves to Venture Out docks. We were in a dead zone between the more popular islands. A man who tows boats heard the distress calls, got us to shore!

If that man wasn't there that day... we would have been stranded a couple miles from shore indefinitely! USCG would have got to us eventually...but their station was too far away!

Monroe County Fire Rescue was first at shore WAITING at docks for us, Police, Paramedics, and FWC officers were there, also WAITING for us.


Having to get to shore with NO MEDICAL HELP was a traumatizing experience we endured with our daughter, which unfortunately can NEVER be forgotten! We now know that 100's of miles of Monroe County shores, almost all of the Florida Keys has inadequate coverage of FIRE/EMS boats to assist in an emergency.

Our plan and wish is that NO other family should ever have to feel so helpless and go through the terror we did that day in the Florida Keys.

Monroe County has over 26,000 registered vessels and is a huge boating destination for thousands of tourist!

Please help us bring awareness and resources to Monroe County in a joint effort to increase public safety for all boaters. Our goal is to get Medical/Fire response boats for Monroe County ASAP in an effort to jumpstart a much needed marine program, the first being in Islamorada.

We hope to eliminate the dead zones one by one!

Please help our family & Harlie make a difference.

Heart Like Harlie - We Need Fire/EMS Rescue Boats - Donate Today - Ocean Reef fireboat MetalCraft Interceptor. Length 10 meters. twin outboards. 500 gallon per minute fire pump. It is equipped with a full compliment of firefighting, water rescue, and EMS equipment
Heart Like Harlie - We Need Fire/EMS Rescue Boats - Donate Today - Ocean Reef fireboat MetalCraft Interceptor. Length 10 meters. twin outboards. 500 gallon per minute fire pump. It is equipped with a full compliment of firefighting, water rescue, and EMS equipment

Each New Fire/EMS Rescue Boat Costs $285,000

The HeartLikeHarlie, INC. Board

June Smith

Director & President

Realtor

Terry L. Abel

Treasurer

Fire Chief of Islamorada Fire Rescue

Marc Mascarelli

Director

MERT

Fire Chief of Useppa Fire Rescue

John Flynn

Director

Fire Chief Ocean Reef Community Association

Recent Success in Our Mission

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A new Fire & Rescue Boat in Islamorada!

Read the story here

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Mother who lost child in boating accident pushes for more rescue boats in the Keys

Read the story here

Heart Like Harlie Fundraisers

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Kendra Scott Fundraiser

Thank you to Kendra Scott for hosting Heart Like Harlie's first fundraiser! It was a success!

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Salon Bellezza Fundraiser

Successful Raffle in 2023!.

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Tacos & Tequila's Fundraiser

Successful Raffle in 2022!

Boating Safety Organizations and Information

Faith + Hope = Cope

In the last few years, I seem to find hearts everywhere in nature and I photograph them. To me, they are hearts of hope ...

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Heart Like Harlie, Inc. is a 501(c)3 charitable organization established to promote boaters safety and awareness.

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