wfn.org | ENS - Episcopalians unite to help Florida hurricane victims

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Episcopalians unite to help Florida hurricane victims

* 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

ENS 081704-1

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