Florida Educators, Children Return to School Despite Storm Damage

A school building in Charlotte County, Florida, sustained severe damage August 13 when Hurricane Charley ripped through the state. As a result of the storm, more than 100 Florida Education Association members are homeless.

Florida educators and children in the three counties hardest hit by Hurricane Charley returned to school Monday (August 30, 2004). The storm's brutal winds and heavy rain completely destroyed some schools and severely damaged others. Many classes will be held in double shifts at the remaining school buildings.

Category 4 Hurricane Charley battered southwestern and central Florida August 13-14. The storm affected 25 of the state's 67 counties by destroying homes, businesses, churches, schools and more. Twenty-seven people died as a result of the hurricane.

People in Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee Counties suffered the most severe damage. In those counties, more than 100 Florida Education Association members were left homeless and the homes of more than 600 others sustained serious damage. Many Florida residents remain without electricity and may not have power for months.

In the storm's aftermath, FEA members have contributed to the recovery effort by staffing shelters; gathering food, water and ice; removing debris and downed trees; and more. Members have also worked tirelessly to get school districts in shape for the first day of school, said FEA President Andy Ford.

In Charlotte County, eight of the county's 21 schools cannot be used during the 2004-05 school year due to damage. The remaining school buildings will be used in shifts to accommodate as many children as possible. "We don't think there's a school system in the state of Florida that has suffered the kind of damage we've seen," said John Klenovic, president of Charlotte FEA.

The six schools in Hardee County also suffered damage. Two elementary schools were severely damaged, and another suffered major damage to its campus. The remaining three schools need roof repairs and have water damage.

Hardee Education Association President Bev DeBoom reported that all 375 HEA members have some sort of damage to their homes, and many have no power. "We may be a small, rural county, but we do know how to work together as a team with each other, our school administration, and our community," she said. "We will be doubling up classrooms in order to serve all of our children and to get them back to some normalcy."

Ford said the organization created the FEA Hurricane Charley Fund to help members who are in desperate need of financial assistance. Many members must pay high deductibles on their homeowner's insurance and will have to replace all of their belongings, he said.

FEA, NEA and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have contributed to the fund, and Ford encouraged NEA members nationwide to lend support to their union colleagues affected by the storm. "Many have offered to send school supplies," he said. "Thank you for these generous offers, but for now, please hold on to them. Right now there is no place to store materials in the affected counties. Until a more normal routine is established, they simply can't handle the items. The immediate need is for financial assistance."

To make a donation to the fund, sent a check payable to "FEA Hurricane Charley Relief Fund" to: FEA, 213 S. Adams St., Tallahassee, FL 32301. Ford said FEA staff will see to it that all contributions get directly to the members in the greatest need as soon as possible.

Posted September 1, 2004