Alliance Retirement Centers
Bill Anderson, executive director of the Alliance Community for Retirement Living (ACRL) in DeLand, reports that power remains out in the independent living area, but the Welcome Center, Magnolia, and the nursing center did not lose power. The staff is feeding the independent residents three meals a day, and the Welcome Center is open for residents to escape the heat. There will be several weeks of clean-up from the debris that has accumulated on the campus. Even though a large tree fell near several homes, there was no significant damage to any of the buildings.
Martin Schappell, president of the Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers, reports that though there is no internet or power for the entire campus, the generators are functioning. Pray that power will be restored at Shell Point quickly as the generators do not power the air conditioning. The community suffered no structural damage as the surge of water from the storm did not exceed the seawall. The facility has no shortage of food and water, so staff members are still able to serve residents.
Praise God for His hand of protection on these two retirement communities.
Though there is isolated damage, the general report from many of our churches is that there is much less destruction than expected. Please pray for the following churches as they address the damage to their facilities and to the homes of congregation members. Pray also that power will soon be restored, as many are still without electricity and phone/internet services. Pray also for those who have suffered extensive damage:
- Rev. Caleb Deliard, pastor of Victory of Grace Church of the C&MA, reports that the house the church uses for Sunday mornings was completely destroyed. Caleb’s house is also under 2–3 feet of water.
- Members of Park Alliance Church in Fort Myers, Florida, are safe. However, the church experienced extensive flood and fallen tree damage that will require costly repairs.
- Some elderly members of First Alliance Church in Port Charlotte need help cleaning their yards, and many others remain without power; but lead pastor Scott Borden notes, “Generally speaking we did well. Nothing remotely close to Hurricane Charley (2004).”