Hurricane Help
Jews in central Florida rebuild after Charley rips through area.
ALANA B. ELIAS KORNFELD
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Orlando
l ennifer Ritter says Hurricane Charley felt like a
freight train moving through her home.
"You have your adrenaline pumping and fear,
and then it is over and you look around you and it is
a disaster zone," said Ritter of Maitland, Fla.
Like thousands of other residents, Ritter, the associ-
ate executive director of the Holocaust Memorial
Resource and Education Center of Central Florida,
has been living since last Friday's hurricane amid fallen
trees, collapsed transformers, exposed electrical cables
and smashed houses.
But Jews throughout Florida are pulling together to
help those in need.
"Those with power are hosting those that have
severe damages to their homes, to help people get
through if they don't have the means to cook food, do
laundry, or things we take for granted," Ritter said.
The hurricane, which largely affected central
Florida, including the cities of Fort Myers and
Orlando, ripped northward through the state of
Florida with winds gusting up to 140 miles per hour.
Charley, which to date has registered a death toll of
19, was designated a Category 4 hurricane — the sec-
ond most destructive type — and was the most harm-
ful hurricane in Florida since Hurricane Andrew
struck in 1992.
Karen Coates, the national spokeswoman for the
American Red Cross, told JTA that 2,424 homes were
destroyed; 1,968 homes suffered major damages and
are uninhabitable; and 1,260 have minor damages
and are habitable whether or not the habitants choose
to remain in them.
Annette Goodman, the executive director of the
Jewish Federation of Lee and Charlotte Counties, says
Temple Shalom, a Reform synagogue in Port
Charlotte, Fla., was the synagogue most affected by
Charley's wrath.
The temple's educational wing was ripped off the
main structure, but the chapel remains untouched, she
said.
As in most of Charlotte County, electricity had not
yet been restored to the temple by midweek.
"We sent a busload of food, towels and toiletries to
the community there on Monday," Goodman said.
"There is devastation, but as far as we know the con-
gregation is all right."
Additionally, the local Jewish Family Service will be
providing counseling twice a week at Temple Shalom
for at least a month, as will the temple's spiritual leader,
Rabbi Solomon Agin.
Barry Swartz, the vice president of United Jewish
Communities consulting, says the UJC is accepting
donations at local federations and at the group's
national mailbox for Jews and non Jews alike.
il
8/20
2004
24
Rabbi Solomon Agin of Temple Shalom in Port Charlotte, Fla., wheels relief supplies donated by the local
federation. The temple's educational wing was damaged by Charley.
"We are working closely with Lee and Charlotte
girls, whose kosher food is being kept in the freezers of
Counties and developing approaches to be helpful to
Sarasota community members. II
those who were victims of the hurricane," Swartz said.
"Communities who have been through this sort of
tragedy always reach out to be helpful and the Jewish
Federation of Miami has been great in offering
their help."
Also offering its help is the Chabad of
Sarasota, which is currently housing an
overnight camp for teenage girls originally held
The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit has
at the Chabad of Fort Myers.
established an emergency mail box for those wishing to
On Sunday night, 60 girls and staff arrived in
provide financial assistance to families and individuals
Sarasota after the Chabad of Fort Myers lost
affected by Hurricane Charley in central Florida.
power and water, said Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz
Those wishing to provide financial assistance may do
at the Chabad of Sarasota. This week members
so by sending a check to: JFMD-Hurricane Charley
of the community are holding classes in art,
Relief, P.O. Box 2030, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303.
magic and pottery for the campers.
United Jewish Conimunities (UJC) will coordinate
In addition, a local chef is offering his services
the dissemination of funds in Florida.
each night to prepare a kosher dinner for the
Help Hurricane Victims