Florida Catholic | Flooding of fields means long-lasting disaster

Flooding of fields means long–lasting disaster

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 08.21.08

Guadalupe Social Services

211 S. 9th St.

Immokalee, FL 34143.

IMMOKALEE | Tropical Storm Fay may not have carried hurricane–force winds when it made landfall in the Diocese of Venice Aug. 18, but it still managed to dump seven to 14 inches of rain from Naples to Moore Haven, causing minor damage to four churches and leaving several vegetable crops in jeopardy.

Fay took nearly the same path through the diocese as Hurricane Wilma in October 2005. This time, there was less wind, but the long–term impact could be equally severe if initial reports of crop losses prove to be accurate.

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and watermelon were in various stages of planting or picking. Plastic sheeting that is designed to protect seedlings from heavy rain was blown away on many fields. This means crop loss and that means many of the migrant workers who rely on the crops for their livelihood might be out of work for a long time.

Ninfa Drago, director of Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities said the news was bad.

“We could have hundreds of people without work within days,” she warned. “This could be devastating to this area.”

The area was hard hit by the recent economic downturn and loss of construction jobs. Hours after Fay’s rains had stopped the morning of Aug. 20, 40 families were lined up seeking help and worried about what the next few days and weeks will bring.

Parishes around the diocese reported few problems. St. Agnes in Naples, St. Joseph the Worker in Moore Haven and St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Buckhead Ridge each had minor roof damage, and leaks to the church or parish center were reported Aug. 20. At Our Lady Queen of Heaven in LaBelle, where standing water surrounded the church for several hours, there was some water on the floors of the church but no structural damage.

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