Florida Catholic | Damage, Catholic response to Fay is widespread

Flooding water forces migrant workers to evacuate

St. Leo the Great Parish opens their doors and arms to evacuees of flooded areas along the Imperial River.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 08.25.08

BOB REDDY | FC
Before being relocated to a Red Cross Shelter, evacuees rest on cots set up for them in the education building at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs.

BONITA SPRINGS | Six days of relentless rains from Tropical Storm Fay forced hundreds of people from their homes and the parishioners of St. Leo the Great Parish were there to welcome the evacuees.

Imperial River floodwaters flowed over into the Manna Christian Village and Saldivar trailer parks Aug. 23, when the water started reaching the doorsteps of the homes.

Father Stanislaw Strycharz, administrator of St. Leo the Great, heard about the problem and walked through waist–deep water into the two communities to implore the residents to evacuate.

“They didn’t want to leave at first because they had nowhere to go,” Father Strycharz said. “I offered them St. Leo’s and they came.”

At first, the residents were unsure where to go. Bonita Springs does not have a shelter and the nearest is almost 30 miles away at the Lee Convention Center.

Hector Avila, 12, said water was up to his ankles in his home when he was told to grab whatever he could carry and leave.

“I wasn’t scared, but everyone else was,” Hector said. “The water was up to my brother’s neck, so I knew it was pretty high.”

Approximately 270 people, most of whom are migrant workers, converged on St. Leo, spending the night in cramped classrooms in the Centro Juan Diego Education Building.

Appeals to the St. Leo parishioners brought waves of people wanting to help. Volunteers from several parish groups came, including the Knights of Columbus Council 8877 which provided hot meals. Others offered what they could by bringing in cots, bedding, clothes, toys and personal hygiene items.

Catholic Charities
Hispanic Services
27050 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
239–390–0687

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St. Leo the Great Parish 239–992–0901.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Venice Inc. disaster response team came to assist in the shelter and offer support. The Christian Brothers also opened their clothing distribution location at the parish.

Within 24 hours of issuing a mandatory evacuation, Bonita Springs and Lee County officials came up with a plan to open a more suitable evacuation site at the Estero Community Center.

Bonita Springs Fire Rescue District spokeswoman Debbi Redfield said St. Leo served as a great temporary fix to a serious problem.

“This is a more permanent solution to what could is a long–term crisis for this community and the people who were forced to leave,” Redfield said. “We don’t want to have to move them again if another storm approaches.”

The community center is a certified Red Cross evacuation shelter with hot showers and the ability to handle all of the people who were displaced, which was estimated at more than 400. The county also provided buses for the children to ensure they could get to school.

When the announcement came Aug. 24 that the evacuees would need to relocate, Father Strycharz reassured them that that even though they were leaving, the parish will continue to do its best to provide everything they need as they go through this crisis.

“Everyone is welcome here at anytime as brothers and sisters in Christ. We will not let you be abandoned,” Father Strycharz said.

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