A fast-moving storm cut across central Florida in the pre-dawn hours, killing 14 and leaving at least 20,000 people without electricity. More severe weather is expected throughout the day in central Florida, which is likely to hamper recover efforts and could inflict more damage. Florida Governor Charlie Crist has declared a State of Emergency for Lake, Seminole, Sumter, and Volusia counties.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and state officials are conducting preliminary damage assessments over the weekend, to support a request for the Presidential declaration.
Vulnerable Community Watch: Damage in hardest-hit Lake County is focused on a retirement village and a mobile home park, where news footage shows personal belongings strewn across yards and into streets. As lower-income families typically reside in mobile home parks, significant barriers to recovery may exist. Equally problematic may be the effect of the storm on Florida's retirement population. The sprawling Village Retirement Community, which encompasses parts of Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties, also sustained significant damage. Senior citizens sustained by retirement incomes may face financial barriers to rebuilding their homes.
Insurance issues may also become problematic as homeowners and businesses recover. Florida's property insurance market has been in turmoil since the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. Fewer carriers are writing policies in Florida, and rates have climbed so aggressively the state's legislature has imposed an emergency freeze on canceling policies and raising rates.
Lake and Volusia Counties are home to a significant population of migrant and seasonal farm workers, which already experienced significant losses in the 2004 hurricane season. Nearby Pierson, Fla. was the federal Emergency Management Agency's largest point of assistance to the farm worker community following that devastating season.
CWS Response: Church World Service is sending 1,000 health kits requested by Catholic Charities of the Orlando Diocese, as well as health and baby kits to the United Church of Christ church in New Smyrna Beach and The Villages retirement community.
The North Lake Presbyterian Church in Lady Lake has opened its doors as a shelter for those displaced by the storm.
Church World Service Disaster Response and Recovery Liaison Lesli Remaly-Netter will participate in assessment conference calls and the initial response and recovery meeting on Feb 4. CWS anticipates deployment of Remaly-Netter for organizing and training support to two existing long-term recovery organizations, farm worker organizations, and to Florida Interfaiths Networking in Disaster (FIND).
Disciples of Christ Pastor David Troxler is chair of Volusia Interfaith/Interagency Network in Disaster (VIND), is closely watching developments and preparing to meet unmet needs that arise. VIND has been active in response to unmet needs arising from the Christmas Day, 2006 tornado which caused moderate to severe damage and has yet to receive federal declaration.
CWS support is also anticipated for LASER (Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery) which formed in early 2005 to strengthen Lake and Sumter Counties' recovery from any disaster through a coordinated community-wide approach which provides for the immediate and long-term unmet needs of our citizens.
CWS anticipates an appeal to be issued for support of grants to the existing long-term recovery organizations, support to special population groups such as Florida farm worker organizations, and DRRL deployment. Assessments over the weekend will inform the appeal which will be issued on Monday, Feb. 5.
Media Contacts:
Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin (24/7), 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net