DELAND, FLORIDA, February 6, 2007: For a while Monday afternoon, the tornado-ravaged 500 block of Beresford Road seemed like interfaith central. A team of five members of the Islamic Society of Central Florida’s disaster relief had just pulled in from Orlando and unloaded their chain saws and other equipment. They started helping the Rev. Bruce Hedgepeth of First Presbyterian Church of DeLand, who was on the roof of a damaged home with half a dozen members of his congregation working nearby, the latest stop in the church’s marathon volunteer efforts since the storm hit Friday. The outpouring of help was just one example of how diverse congregations and denominations, such as Muslims, Christians and Hindus, have joined in body and spirit to help victims of Central Florida’s devastating tornadoes. “I’ve noticed a broad representation from different denominations,” said John Ruehl, youth director at First Presbyterian.
In the wake of natural disasters such a tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and fires, Baptists with chain saws are a common sight in Sunbelt areas like Central Florida, as are Presbyterians and Methodists. The United Methodist Committee on Relief is sending emergency grants to the area to help with recovery efforts, and has specialty teams in place. The Hindu Society of Central Florida began collecting funds and nonperishable food items at its Casselberry temple. And the national Presbyterian Disaster Assistance group will soon provide a self-contained village to house volunteers rebuilding storm-ravaged areas.