wfn.org | Worst in weather brings out the best in Florida's Episcopalians

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

Thursday, September 9, 2004

ENS 080904-1

* Worst in weather brings out the best in Florida's Episcopalians
* A plea from Bishop Leo Frade of Southeast Florida to diocesan bishops
* A message from Bishop Samuel Johnson Howard of Florida
* Hurricane Frances batters storm-weary Florida
* Episcopal Relief and Development offers bulletin insert on hurricanes


Worst in weather brings out the best in Florida's Episcopalians

By Jim DeLa

[ENS, Diocese of Southwest Florida] As Floridians continue to pick 
themselves up after two major hurricanes -- and prepare for a third -- 
churches in the midst of the chaos have risen up to provide care and 
comfort to their stricken communities.

Florida dioceses rallied to provide money and supplies as well as spiritual 
and physical comfort to thousands of victims in the wake of hurricanes 
Charley and Frances.

In Southwest Florida the diocesan office has collected more than $130,000 
in donations to fund relief efforts and coordinated dozens of volunteer 
efforts in the affected areas.

"The response of this diocese, I tell you, has been overwhelming," Bishop 
John Lipscomb told clergy and lay leaders at the Manasota/Venice deanery 
convocation on September 8. "Your witness has been exemplary. I think that 
what has happened in these last two weeks has shown what is best about the 
Episcopal Church.

"You have responded and you have responded well," he said.

Charley and Frances, which crisscrossed the state only three weeks apart, 
caused significant damage to several churches and minor damage to many 
others in the dioceses of Southwest, Central and Southeast Florida. Damage 
estimates statewide are in the billions and the storms took the lives of at 
least 40 people, including the choirmaster at St. Luke's Episcopal Church 
in Fort Myers, who died of head injuries after falling from a tree during 
clean-up activities at the church.

To make matters worse, a new monster storm, Hurricane Ivan, could hit the 
Sunshine State by Monday. Ivan, a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds 
of 160 miles per hour, is expected to pass over Cuba over the weekend and 
head toward Florida. It would be the first time in
40 years that three storms have hit the state in a single year.

While Frances was twice the size of Charley, it did relatively little 
damage in Southwest Florida. The biggest challenges from Frances continue 
to be the threat of flooding as rivers crest and additional rain falls, 
along with the lack of electricity and phone service in many areas. It has 
taken utility companies a week or longer in some areas to restore power.

The storms turned entire communities upside down. Several congregations -- 
despite sustaining heavy damage themselves -- looked outward and became a 
refuge to those in need.

The diocese will help coordinate continuing relief efforts wherever they 
are needed. To keep track of current needs or to volunteer your time or 
talents, visit the diocesan website at: www.dioceseswfla.org.

--Jim DeLa is Director of Communications for the Episcopal Diocese of 
Southwest Florida.

                               - - - - -

A plea from Bishop Leo Frade of Southeast Florida to diocesan bishops

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

As I prepare this email, we are getting the news that the southernmost part 
of our diocese, the Florida Keys, is beginning to be evacuated due to the 
threat from Hurricane Ivan. If this hurricane comes ashore anywhere in 
Florida, our state will be facing the third devastating storm in less than 
a month. We need your prayers for God's protection for our people in Florida.

Some of you have called or emailed me and have asked if you could be of 
help in our recovery from Hurricane Frances. After surveying the damage 
around our diocese, we have found that although there is little severe 
structural damage, electricity has not been restored in several areas and 
there are still many parishes and communities in need of help. Our 
congregations have been able to assist their parishioners and other people 
in need. I am proud of how they have responded even in the midst of this 
horrible disaster.

Our major problem seems to be the predicament that some of our churches are 
facing in order to repair the damage to their buildings. We have found that 
even without major structural damage, several churches had sufficient roof 
damage to cause serious leaks, with resulting water damage to the interior 
and furnishings. Churches, rectories, parish halls and some of our schools 
have been hit hard.

Some of our congregations simply do not have the funds to pay the high 
deductible amounts required by the insurance companies. Unfortunately, 
several of our ethnic minority and poor congregations find themselves in 
that place.

At this time there is no church agency able to respond to the needs of 
these congregations. We need your help to be able to repair the damage as 
soon as possible in order to prevent further damage from the rains. I am 
asking you to consider helping us and letting others in your diocese know 
of our plea.

We need your prayers and also your financial support to repair our 
churches, rectories and parish halls. If you need further information you 
can email me at: bishopfrade@aol.com

Donations should be sent to:
Diocese of Southeast Florida
525 N.E. 15 Street
Miami, FL 33132
Att: Hurricane Relief

Donations may also be made online at www.diosef.org. Click on donations and 
indicate that the donation is for Hurricane Frances relief.

It will be a great blessing to me and to the people of our diocese to know 
that we have the support of the rest of our church family in this difficult 
time.

Blessings,

+Leo Frade

                               - - - - -

A message from Bishop Samuel Johnson Howard of Florida:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Hurricane Frances certainly took her time passing through our diocese. Some 
of us are still feeling the after-effects while others were able to clean 
up and continue their normal routines. Some are responding to the pastoral 
needs of parishioners and their community which have been hard hit by the 
rain, wind, and flooding. Some have been without electricity for several 
days.  Whatever your situation, please know that you are in my thoughts and 
prayers.

We can be thankful that after contacting all the parishes and missions in 
our diocese, there is no significant damage reported. I hope and pray that 
there are no serious injuries to our diocesan family or its extended family.

Please keep those who are still trying to recover from Charley and Frances 
in your prayers.  These hurricanes have devastated the other dioceses in 
Florida as well as affected dioceses outside the state.

May God continue to bless you.

Faithfully,

+John

The Right Rev. Samuel Johnson Howard
Bishop of Florida

                               - - - - -

Hurricane Frances batters storm-weary Florida

By Joe Thoma

Central Florida Episcopalian ed

[ENS, Diocese of Central Florida] - Still clearing debris from Hurricane 
Charley's August 13 assault on Florida, the state's Episcopal churches and 
their members are now cleaning up after Hurricane Frances' Labor Day 
weekend havoc.

The effects are lasting: Storm-stressed residents with power outages, 
mountains of debris, flooding, frayed nerves and long lines for groceries, 
gasoline and building supplies. Frances caused at least 10 deaths in 
Florida and Georgia. That's added to more than 20 from Hurricane Charley.

By Tuesday, September 7, damage reports trickled in from Episcopal churches 
and members in Florida dioceses.

Read more online at: www.cfdiocese.org/news/cfweek/stories/0804fran.htm

                               - - - - -

Episcopal Relief and Development offers bulletin insert on hurricanes

Episcopal Relief and Development has a bulletin insert available following 
the recent hurricanes in the southeastern United States. Please encourage 
your parish to include it in the Sunday service leaflet and help people 
affected by the deadly storms.

The "Hurricane Relief" insert can be downloaded at: www.er-d.org/anewpubs.htm.

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