Catholic Charities Providing Help. Creating Hope.

Governor’s Humanitarian Award given to
Catholic Charities for hurricane relief efforts

By Judy Bokorney
Web Site Editor

VENICE--Catholic Charities was the recipient of the prestigious 2007 Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference Humanitarian Award for their disaster response efforts throughout the storm seasons of 2004 and 2005 and their continued efforts in assisting disaster victims in 2006. The honor was presented at an award ceremony on May 16 during the conference at the Broward County Convention Center.

The collective accomplishments of Catholic Charities offices throughout Florida were recognized, especially the historic Florida Mutual Aid Agreement signed in 2005 by all seven diocesan directors of the organization. It is the first formal disaster response agreement of its kind among local Catholic Charities in the nation. The agreement outlines the commitment of each agency in the areas of funding, materials and resources, training, staffing, technical assistance, and volunteers in emergency management planning and response services. Collaborative efforts among Florida Catholic Charities offices to provide services to victims displaced by Hurricane Katrina also were commended.

Volunteer Florida and the Volunteer Florida Foundation nominated Catholic Charities for the honor at the conference themed “Building on Past Successes…Preparing for Future Challenges.” The Florida Governor’s Hurricane Conference focused on the unprecedented hurricane seasons of the past few years and the challenges they brought to the state’s ability to respond. The theme reflected on the wealth of experience that Florida has gained and the advancements that must be made.

“Catholic Charities was particularly cited for its emphasis on serving the most vulnerable among Florida’s citizens,” said Deacon Marcus Hepburn, emergency management specialist for the Florida Catholic Conference. Hepburn attended the award ceremony. “All seven Catholic Charities diocesan agencies in Florida were recognized for their work,” he said. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice was a leader in relief efforts and should be especially proud, Hepburn added.

Hepburn said Catholic Charities played a specific role in assisting hurricane victims. “We offered case management services that focused on both the short term and long term recovery of an individual or family,” he said. “We helped one person at a time and were mindful of those who were the most needy among us.”

In 2004 and 2005, Southwest Florida was directly hit by four hurricanes, said Peter Routsis-Arroyo, president of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. The Venice diocese covers 10 counties in 10,000 square miles in that region. “We immediately set up hurricane recovery centers when the first storm, Hurricane Charley, struck and since then and still today we continue to offer assistance to people who are affected by hurricanes,” Routsis-Arroyo said.

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice typically serves a little over 40,000 clients annually but in 2004 almost 90,000 people received help from the organization through existing programs and seven hurricane recovery centers. Hurricane related services assisted over 46,000 individuals that year alone. In 2005, over 14,000 victims were helped with disaster relief.

“We would have never been able to serve so many people if we did not have help from the Catholic family such as the diocese, parishes, Catholic organizations and many, many volunteers,” Routsis-Arroyo said. “This is a recognition for everyone to be proud of.”

In 2005, staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice mobilized recovery efforts in Pensacola and Tallahassee when Hurricane Dennis came through Florida, Routsis-Arroyo said. When Hurricanes Rita and Katrina struck later that season, the seven diocesan Catholic Charities of Florida adopted the Diocese of Biloxi and established and manned 20 relief centers there. In October of 2005, Hurricane Wilma devastated the southern section of the Venice diocese and Catholic Charities opened up hurricane recovery stations in Lee and Collier counties.

“After Hurricane Wilma, we worked with the Collier County emergency management to develop a hurricane preparedness and response plan for the farm worker communities in that region, especially in Immokalee,” Routsis-Arroyo said. Catholic Charities also is participating in a project sponsored by the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund called Neighbors to the Rescue. This program puts neighbors in touch with neighbors to provide relief to individuals and families whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Wilma. The Neighbors to the Rescue program connects volunteers, taps into community resources and creates virtual warehouses of available materials, goods, services, transportation and housing for those recovering from the storm.

“At this year’s conference there is an emphasis on individual preparation for hurricanes,” Hepburn said. “The most effective preparedness to a disaster is based on individual responsibility.”

Hepburn said private businesses also are taking responsibility for their role in recovery efforts. Companies such as Publix, Wal-Mart and Sweet Bay are investing in state-of-the-art generator systems that will preserve food stocks and provide stores the opportunity to reopen hours after a disaster. “This would change the strategic planning of food distribution by government and social service agencies to areas not located near these stores,” Hepburn said. “This positively and dramatically changes everybody’s thinking about response.”

Routsis-Arroyo agreed that individuals, business, schools and organizations do need to take the time to have a plan to be ready for a hurricane. Last year, Catholic Charities trained over 40 Diocese of Venice parish representatives in hurricane preparedness and response. Hepburn participated in the training. “We have learned that being prepared can reduce the level of impact from a hurricane,” said Routsis-Arroyo.