Staff members from the Diocese of Southwest Florida are cleaning up hundreds of felled trees at Dayspring Camp & Conference Center in Parrish after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm on Oct. 9, 2024, near Siesta Key about 35 miles south. Photo: Lindsey Nickel
[Episcopal News Service] Less than two weeks after the Parrish-based Diocese of Southwest Florida began cleanup efforts and assessing its churches damaged by Hurricane Helene in late September, the diocese began preparing for the arrival of another major hurricane – Milton.
“I’ve lived in Florida most of my life, and I have not seen two storms that have affected a good portion of this part of Florida back-to-back like this,” Southwest Florida Bishop Douglas Scharf told Episcopal News Service.
The second Category 5 hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Milton had decreased in strength to a Category 3 storm when it made landfall near Siesta Key about 35 miles south of Parrish on Oct. 9. At peak intensity, Milton became the fifth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record with a pressure of 897 millibars. At least 16 people in the United States are known to have died from the storm. As of Oct. 11, more than 3 million people throughout western Florida are without power.
Lindsey Nickel, the Diocese of Southwest Florida’s director of communications, told ENS that diocesan staff have been unable to survey some of the churches on the state’s barrier islands, including St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Boca Grande, a small community that’s sustained considerable damage from Milton and remains inaccessible. Four of the seven churches significantly damaged by Helene have also been impacted by Milton. Most churches, including the diocese’s Dayspring Camp & Conference Center in Parrish, have no power, cell phone or internet service. Right now, many diocesan staff, including Scharf, are cleaning up the hundreds of felled trees at Dayspring.
“As far as we can tell, everyone in our diocese is safe and accounted for, but we’ll know more in the coming days,” Scharf said. “Several dioceses in Province IV have all been impacted by storms in recent weeks, and I think praying for all of us … recognizing that this has touched a number of Episcopalians around the Southeastern part of the country is important.”
Scharf said financial support and other resources will be needed for rebuilding and recovery as days and weeks go by. However, “that’s secondary to making sure our folks are safe and dealing with the emotional and spiritual impact of this.
“As much as I’m concerned about damage, I’m even more concerned about mental health and wellness for our folks around the diocese,” he said.
Scharf said many bishops and church leaders, including Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe, have reached out personally to offer prayers and support.
“I’m very grateful for those relationships and the ongoing support that those folks are offering,” he said.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
-Shireen Korkzan is a reporter and assistant editor for Episcopal News Service. She can be reached at skorkzan@episcopalchurch.org.