Florida Catholic | Damage, Catholic response to Fay is widespread

Damage, Catholic response to Fay is widespread

DENISE O’TOOLE KELLY| FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF

Published: 08.22.08

ORLANDO | Florida tourism officials might wish other visitors were as determined as Tropical Storm Fay to reach just about every part of the state on their summer sojourns. The storm headed toward north Florida Friday, Aug. 22, after a quick jaunt through Key West Aug. 18, followed by a landing in southwest Florida, an invigorating slog across the Everglades to the Treasure Coast and the Space Coast and a lazy two–day stay off Daytona Beach.

But Fay was not a gracious guest. The tropical cyclone’s winds never reached hurricane force as feared. But the storm left a trail of flooding, rough surf, tornados and other effects that damaged or destroyed property and crops, drove people from their homes, knocked out power, put people out of work and led to at least seven deaths from causes such as ocean drowning, automobile accidents and generator–related carbon monoxide poisoning.

Archdiocese of Miami
Diocese of Orlando
Diocese of Palm Beach
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Diocese of St. Augustine
Diocese of St. Petersburg
Diocese of Venice

Deacon Marcus Hepburn, emergency management specialist for the Florida Catholic Conference and coordinator for the statewide disaster response efforts of Catholic Charities of Florida, on Friday provided updates on the situation. According to Hepburn and state reports, on Friday morning 947 people were in 42 shelters in 17 counties in the dioceses of Orlando, Palm Beach, Venice and St. Augustine. Nearly 700 homes had been flooded in Brevard County in the Diocese of Orlando and upwards of 1,000 were flooded in the Diocese of Palm Beach, primarily in St. Lucie County. Assessments had just begun in north Florida.

“All these numbers are preliminary. Assessment teams are going out today to get better numbers,” Hepburn said in an e–mail. “As to assistance, three dioceses are applying for emergency grant funds from Catholic Charities USA: Venice, Orlando, and Palm Beach.”

Hepburn has said individuals who wish to help in the relief effort may donate money to a Catholic Charities agency or food to a local pantry, where supplies had dwindled even before the storm.

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