Florida Catholic | Palm Bay Fires Fuel Compassion

Palm Bay fires fuel compassion

Parish and Catholic Charities provide assistance and shelter for evacuees.

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 05.15.08

YVONNE MARTINEZ | FC
About 20 homes were rendered uninhabitable and at least 160 were damaged in the fires that erupted May 11 and scorched nearly 10,000 acres.

PALM BAY | As wildfires drove hundreds of people from their homes in this Brevard County community, Our Lady of Grace Parish received a call at 3 p.m. May 12 from the American Red Cross asking that the church open as a shelter.

Within an hour of the “yes,” cots and the first victim of the raging fires arrived, according to parish bookkeeper Tracy Flavell. Then came a steady stream of those needing help, Flavell said May 14.

It was reported that 115 people spent the night; within 24 hours, the number at the shelter grew to 207, and another shelter was opened in Melbourne according to Brevard County Emergency Management.

“People are tired, but we’re all together,” Flavell said.

Officials said most people were able to return to their homes or were placed in motels by May 15, as firefighters continued to address flare–ups. But about 20 homes were rendered uninhabitable and at least 160 were damaged in the fires that erupted May 11 and scorched nearly 10,000 acres.

“There is a lot of work to be done,” said Father Leo Hodges, pastor, “and we are very much involved in getting people fed and distributing resources to them. The generosity in the parish community and the Palm Bay community is overwhelming. People are donating food and their time to help others in need.”

Joyce Cribbin, a parishioner at Our Saviour Parish in Cocoa Beach, has worked for Catholic Charities in Cocoa for 26 years and was on site providing much–needed reassurance. “Today I did the basics,” she said. “I just sat with people and tried to instill in them that they’re OK, they’re safe. I told them to try not to think of tomorrow — today we’ll give thanks.”

Cribben related several sad stories. A middle–aged couple stood next to a fire truck — helpless — because there wasn’t any access to water and watched their home burn to the ground. Another couple grabbed their baby and the formula, but forgot to bring a bottle. Men cried, upsetting the children, but volunteers brought in toys and set up a play area so the children could be distracted from the grief.

Two nurses were on hand helping people to get refills for the medications that they had left behind.

Buses had arrived to take people to see the damage to their homes, but most couldn’t get through because of downed power lines. Many of the people in the shelter hadn’t lost their homes, but had no power, telephone or water due to damaged and dangerous cables.

Cribben told of another man who saw that the side of his house was burning and could hear the helicopter up above, but couldn’t see anything due to the dense smoke. He could only guess that the helicopter had dumped water on the fire, because it went out and his home was spared.

Beverly Lampley, regional director of the southern regional office for Catholic Charities in Cocoa assured that, “Catholic Charities is there and will continue to be available to help with counselors, financial assistance and/or food as the needs arise.”

To help, Father Hodges requested, “Be people of prayer. There are still fires burning. Pray for calm and clarity of vision, and pray for rain.”

Return to Diocese of Orlando Front Page

Palm Bay fires fuel compassion

Other Stories