• Central Florida Episcopalians help hurricane disaster recovery
• Southwest Florida diocese picking up pieces after Charley blows through
• Episcopal Relief and Development offers help to victims in Florida
  

Central Florida Episcopalians help hurricane disaster recovery

by Joe Thoma

[Orlando, Florida, August 17, 2004] - Thousands of people in Florida are homeless in the wake of Hurricane Charley's wrath, more than 1 million are without electricity, and it might take another week before the power is back on in Southwest and Central Florida, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials said.

FEMA officials and members of Florida's Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) are working to assess the damages and pressing needs as search-and-rescue continued in the hardest hit areas. Charley struck Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and Fort Myers with 145 mph winds and a 15-foot storm surge. Public shelters were still open Saturday evening with 47,458 evacuees. In addition, 59 special needs shelters housed 3,119 evacuees.

By Sunday morning, the federal government declared 25 counties disaster areas. About 1.1 million Floridians had no power on Saturday afternoon. Eighty percent of the buildings in Charlotte County were damaged, according to FEMA.

Florida Interfaith Networking in Disaster (FIND), an Orlando-based aid group, is mobilizing volunteers statewide, said Jody Hill, the group's executive director. FIND is a coalition of faith-based organizations, partnered with allied agencies, which promotes networking to prepare Florida's communities for the effects of disaster, and in the aftermath, facilitates spiritual and long-term practical aid. The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida is a FIND partner, and activist Episcopal priest, the Rev. Canon Nelson Pinder of Orlando, is on its board of directors.

"We are identifying clergy who have crisis intervention experience or who would like training," Hill said.

"Collectively, the faith community brings years of training and experience, sophisticated equipment, compassion for vulnerable people, and, most important, the ability to work together across faith traditions," said Linda Reed Brown, associate director of domestic response for the Church World Service Emergency Response Program.

Full article: www.cfdiocese.org/news/cfweek/stories/0804a.htm

Southwest Florida diocese picking up pieces after Charley blows through

by Jim DeLa

[Sarasota, Florida, August 17, 2004] - Relief efforts were being organized Monday as the Diocese of Southwest Florida responds to the churches and communities hit hardest by Hurricane Charley on August 13.

The category 4 storm cut a path through the midsection of the diocese on Friday, causing extensive damage in the coastal towns of Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, and caused severe damage in the rural town of Arcadia, 40 miles inland.

A section of the roof of St. Edmund's Episcopal Church in Arcadia was ripped away by 110 mph winds, exposing the 70-year-old sanctuary to the elements. The rectory next door also sustained major damage.

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Punta Gorda, where the storm made landfall, also sustained substantial roof and water damage. [www.dioceseswfla.org/ezine/charley814.htm]

As reports filtered in about the damage to St. Edmund's, two partner churches in Sarasota were already organizing a relief effort.

On Sunday, more than 15 vans, trucks and SUVs gathered in the parking lot of St. Margaret's of Scotland Episcopal Church, loaded up with water, food and other necessities and headed out 40 miles east to Arcadia.

"It's been an amazing effort," said the Rev. Greg Fry, the assistant rector of St Margaret's and the priest in charge at St. Edmund's.

Donations have been so plentiful, that St. Edmund's has become an official relief station in Arcadia -- despite having been hit as hard as anyone by the storm.

"We've decided to open up a food pantry for the town," said Fry.

The 70-year-old Gothic church was heavily damaged by the storm, when sustained winds of 100 mph ripped away a large section of the roof, exposing the sanctuary to the wind and torrential rain. The storm also damaged the rectory next door.

The congregation gathered for worship on Sunday in the relatively undamaged parish hall. Less than two hours later the room was full of bottled water, canned food, and other items as the first convoy from St. Margaret's arrived.

Fry said Sunday he did not know of anyone in the congregation that had been injured as a result of the storm. "The people of this church are very fortunate. A little property damage here and there. I haven't heard of anyone [in the congregation] that's homeless," he said.

The St. Edmund's relief station will be open every afternoon for anyone in the community who needs food, water or other available items, Fry said.

Latest information from the Diocese of Southwest Florida: www.dioceseswfla.org/ezine/Ezine.htm

ERD offers help to victims of Hurricane Charley in Florida

[New York, August 17, 2004] - Episcopal Relief and Development is offering emergency assistance to victims of Hurricane Charley in Florida after rain, storm surge, and extremely high winds devastated the southwest part of the state. Seventeen deaths have been reported in seven counties, but hardest hit are Punta Gorda and Arcadia in Charlotte County, part of the Diocese of Southwest Florida.

Rescue teams are digging through the rubble looking for more victims. Damage of homes and businesses is expected to be in the billions of dollars. Tens of thousands are homeless, and 25 counties in Florida have been declared a disaster area. Immediate needs are for water, food, clothing, and other bare essentials. The Diocese of Southwest Florida is referring volunteers who want to help on site to the local American Red Cross. About 1.4 million people in Florida evacuated in anticipation of the hurricane, which was a Category 4 when it hit the southwest Florida Gulf coastline.

To make a contribution to help people affected by the hurricane, donate to U.S. Hurricane Relief online at www.er-d.org or call (800) 334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development, c/o U.S. Hurricane Relief, PO Box 12043, Newark, NJ 07101-5043.

Full article: www.er-d.org/anews228.htm