Hurricane Idalia: Churches Cancel Activities, Renders Assistance To Victims
Hurricane Idalia: Churches Cancel Activities, Renders Assistance To Victims:Â As Hurricane Idalia made landfall as an “extremely dangerous Category 3” storm Wednesday, churches across Florida canceled services, gave assistance, and hunkered down, and at least two people have already perished in weather-related crashes across the state.
“Hurricane Idalia has made landfall in Florida, bringing flooding and damage, and is now headed to Georgia and the Carolinas,” the United Methodist Committee on Relief reported Wednesday morning. “UMCOR is processing an emergency supplies grant for the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.” Please pray for all people touched by this disaster, including first responders.”
Hours before the hurricane hit on Tuesday, leaders of New Hope Baptist Church in Zephyrhills urged their members to stay safe and pray for those in the path of the storm.
“Tonight, as we settle into our homes to ride out the storm, let us do the most important thing: beseech our Heavenly Father for His mercy. It was 11 months ago that we faced Hurricane Ian, and let us not forget God’s mercy to our congregation in that storm. Let us spend these precious hours together remembering such blessings as we ask God to protect us again,” the church said in an announcement.
“Just as Ian did tremendous damage in other places and took many lives, so also does Idalia appear to be posed to do great damage and potentially take lives in other parts of Florida. Many of you have loved ones in such other places or who have fled but have homes in such other places. Consequently, let us spend these hours together in our living rooms praying for all who are in Idalia’s path,” the church added.
The National Hurricane Center said Idalia made landfall along the coast of the Florida Big Bend near Keaton Beach at approximately 7:45 a.m. and left a trail of devastation in its wake as it continued across Georgia as a Category 1 hurricane.
An 11 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center warned that “significant impacts from storm surge will continue along the Gulf coast of Florida within the storm surge warning” through Wednesday evening. It also forecast “damaging hurricane-force winds” across southern Georgia and southern South Carolina.
On Cedar Key, a barrier island off the northwest coast of Florida, a hurricane and storm surge warning along with a mandatory evacuation order remain in effect.
Hurricane Irma has caused significant damage to Florida, leaving over 263,000 residents without power and causing at least two deaths in separate weather-related crashes.
Cedar Key Fire Rescue has warned people to stay away due to multiple trees down and debris in the roads. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has said utility workers are working to restore power and search and rescue teams have been deployed..