Dioceses in hurricane-weary Florida assess damages from Jeanne

Published: 2004-09-30

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) -- The scenario of destruction that Hurricane Jeanne left for Florida residents to clean up was similar to that left in the wake of its predecessors, hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan. Jeanne came ashore with 120 mph winds Sept. 26. It was the third time in six weeks that the region was hit by a hurricane. The Diocese of Orlando was in its direct path. Jeanne also glazed the northern section of the Diocese of Venice and dumped 24 hours' worth of heavy rain and wind gusts on the Diocese of St. Petersburg. It continued the torrent as a tropical storm as it passed by Tallahassee, in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, before heading to the Georgia border. Adding to the misery of flooding and destruction, 3.6 million Floridians were left without power and as of Sept. 28 more than 1.9 million households were still without power. The scope of the enormous storm was felt hardest in the Palm Beach Diocese, where the storm came ashore. With homes, schools and many church structures already damaged by Hurricane Frances, Jeanne lifted off roofs and the wind force pushed rain right through the walls of many buildings.

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