By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami
MIAMI | Like the rest of South Florida, the Archdiocese of Miami is carefully watching the path of Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm that began pounding Cuba and Haiti Oct. 4.
Chief among the preparations: prayer. Archbishop Thomas Wenski is asking all South Florida parishes to include prayers for those affected in their daily Masses throughout this week.
The archdiocese also was preparing to provide aid to the Caribbean nations that will be hardest hit by Matthew, especially Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and the Bahamas.
According to Deacon Richard Turcotte, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities, the archdiocese has established contact with Catholic Relief Services’ Caribbean representative, who is stationed in Honduras and has responsibility for Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti.
“CRS has prepositioned supplies in the Dominican Republic (tarps, hygiene and cooking kits) that can be moved to Cuba or Jamaica if needed,” Deacon Turcotte said.
Although the island avoided a direct hit, Jamaica experienced serious flooding caused by Matthew’s outer bands. Haiti, meanwhile, was expected to feel the full impact of the storm, especially its “dirty” � wettest and strongest � eastern side.
Father Reginald Jean-Mary, pastor of Notre Dame d’Haiti Mission in Little Haiti, has been in touch with Haiti’s Cardinal Chibly Langlois, whose diocese of Les Cayes is where the category 4 storm made landfall the morning of Oct. 4.
Even before the storm struck, however, images posted on social media revealed pounding waves and flooding in Jacmel, a city east of Les Cayes on Haiti’s southern coast.
Meandering north through the Windward Passage, Matthew was expected to then strike the easternmost provinces of Guantanamo and Baracoa in Cuba.
Caritas Cuba told Miami’s Catholic Charities Oct. 3 that they were preparing evacuation centers for the elderly, orphans and the disabled. Additionally, the government has begun evacuations in the areas most vulnerable to flooding.
“The Diocese of Guantanamo is preparing food packages for distribution. Flooding has started in coastal areas but the worse is expected in the next 24 hours,” Deacon Turcotte said.
After striking Haiti and Cuba, the slow-moving storm was expected to continue on a northward path toward the Bahamas, dangerously skirting the Florida coast toward the latter part of the week.
“We have spoken with Archbishop (Patrick) Pinder of Nassau and representatives from the Archdiocese of Kingston, indicating to each that we are on standby to assist with post-storm recovery,” Deacon Turcotte added.
He said Catholic Charities also has communicated with a food supply wholesaler who can have rice, beans and cooking oils palletized and ready to deliver to a freight forwarder by the end of the week.
Planners’ worst fears are for Haiti, the poorest nation of the Western Hemisphere.
Matthew “has the potential to affect every diocese in Haiti, hardest in the northwest and southwest,” said Teresita Gonzalez, executive director of Amor en Accion, a lay missionary group that works with Miami’s sister diocese of Port-de-Paix in Haiti’s northwest � the poorest region in Haiti.
There, heavy rains often result in swollen rivers and mudslides that kill hundreds of people. Residents living in shacks with tin roofs can find no safe shelter from Matthew’s winds, which are estimated to reach 145 miles per hour near the core. And the lack of roads and infrastructure makes it impossible to bring help or deliver supplies quickly.
The immediate need would be for cash donations, in order to purchase water and non-perishable food items, as well as to aid in the clean-up or dig out those who may be trapped by mudslides.
All archdiocesan aid would be funneled through church organizations such as Caritas Cuba, Catholic Relief Services and Amor en Accion.
Gonzalez noted that because the Church is already present in every one of the affected nations, that is the best and most effective way of providing relief. That is especially true in northwestern Haiti, where “there are no NGOs (non-governmental organizations), only the Church,” Gonzalez said.
As Matthew’s long-term track moved further east and closer to South Florida, the archdiocesan Office of Building and Property also reminded pastors and those in charge of parish plants to review their hurricane preparedness plans, which are posted on the archdiocesan website, www.miamiarch.org/CatholicDiocese.php?op=Hurricane_Preparedness.
Archdiocesan schools will follow the lead of public schools in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties in deciding whether to remain open or close. Schools will notify the parents via text, phone or email messages, as well as postings on social media (@CatholicMiami on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
The archdiocese also will notify local radio and television stations regarding school closings or relief efforts.
The original story gave the incorrect location for Jacmel. It is east, not west, of Les Cayes.
HOW TO HELP
- The Archdiocese of Miami is only accepting cash donations to help the post-Matthew relief and recovery efforts in Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas and Jamaica.
- Donations may be made through the Catholic Charities website, www.ccadm.org. Click on the “Donate” tab and under the supporting box select “Disaster Relief � Hurricane Matthew.”
- Donations via check may be made payable to: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, 1505 N.E. 26th Street, Wilton Manors, FL 33305.
- Please designate your donation by noting, “Disaster Relief - Hurricane Matthew” in the memo line.
- Donations will go to purchase water and food for those affected, gas for priests and religious who are assessing damage and distributing aid, and towards rebuilding/repairing damaged infrastructure.
