Hurricane Dennis hits churches in Florida Panhandle

Published: 2005-07-13

PENSACOLA, Fla. (CNS) -- When Hurricane Dennis hit the Florida Panhandle July 10 it was the second time in 10 months that residents, businesses and churches in the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese took a major hit. Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Pensacola Beach lost the entire roof over the sanctuary in Hurricane Ivan last September. By the first week of July the new pews were finally installed and plans were under way to begin worshipping there Aug. 15, the parish's patronal feast. Dennis had other plans, however, and ripped off a third of the new roof again. The new construction was rated to survive 130 mph winds but it did not withstand Dennis' fury. The blown-off church roof crashed through the roof of the neighboring parish hall, which may be a total loss because of structural damage. The parish had operated a community outreach center there since April for residents still working to recover from Ivan.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .