Presbyterians pray as Hurricane Milton threatens Florida

Presbytery leaders, PDA and government officials prepare for impacts across the state

by Darla Carter | Presbyterian News Service

Hurricane Milton could bring powerful storm surge to multiple areas of Florida. (Courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

LOUISVILLE — The threat of another ferocious hurricane has prompted prayers and concern from Presbyterians as Hurricane Milton heads for storm-weary Florida.

Millions of people have been encouraged to evacuate from Florida’s west coast ahead of the storm, which is anticipated to arrive in the Tampa Bay area late Wednesday night and bring with it life-threatening storm surge and damaging winds.

“A lot of attention is being paid to the storm surge on the west coast of the Florida peninsula and rightfully so because that’s probably the most serious threat to people’s lives and property,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in an Oct. 8 news conference. “But this storm is going to go across the Florida peninsula and it’s going to exit on the east coast of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, likely still as a hurricane, so that is going to bring significant impact all across the state.”

The Tampa Bay area is considered particularly at risk from the hurricane, which some meteorologists have described as a once-in-a-lifetime storm.

Hurricane Milton as it was intensifying in the Gulf of Mexico on October 7. (Image courtesy of CIRA/NOAA)

“Milton intensified rapidly and nearly tripled in strength in less than 36 hours from Sunday to Monday, eventually becoming a Category 5 with winds of 180 mph while spinning off Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula,” AccuWeather stated. “Category 5 is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.” The hurricane was at a category 4 and still considered dangerous Wednesday afternoon, according to news reports.

Footage of people boarding up their property and cramming the highways have filled the airways in the days leading up to the storm, which comes less than two weeks after another major hurricane, Helene, hit Florida before moving into other states, such as Tennessee and North Carolina, leaving a trail of destruction behind.

The Rev. Melana Scruggs

“On Sunday I was on Siesta Key in Sarasota County and the contents of the first floor of most homes were out on the street,” said the Rev. Melana Scruggs, general presbyter of Peace River Presbytery. “All of that will be dangerous with the winds and water from this (Milton) storm. Our prayer is for people to be safe, and we will deal with the damage to structures after it is over.”

In a Facebook bulletin earlier this week, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance noted that it had already been working with the Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network (FLAPDAN) and presbytery leadership to prepare for Milton while responding to immediate needs from Helene. Teams that deployed to Florida and North Carolina in the wake of the earlier storm have returned home safely, said the Rev. James Kirk, PDA’s Associate for Natural Disaster Response.

“We certainly anticipate an additional deployment(s) to Florida post-Milton,” he said.

Scruggs said Peace River Presbytery has been in communication with pastors and clerks of session about preparedness and safety. “I have spoken to a majority of our pastors before this morning and will be in touch as soon as possible after the storm,” she said Wednesday. “The primary concern is the surge that will come with this event. We had two churches and several communities affected by flooding from Helene.”

The Rev. Dr. Holly Dillon

The Rev. Dr. Holly Dillon, general presbyter of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, said she expects Milton to have “broad impacts” across Peace River Presbytery and Central Florida Presbytery as well as her own and perhaps others. She has reached out to all of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay’s minister members and clerks of session, noting in part:

“We will assess the impact of Milton as the days unfold, but far more important than the impact on buildings is the impact of such a strong storm on the members of the Presbytery of Tampa Bay,” she stated. “Communication may be difficult in the days ahead. When you are able, I ask you to please reach out to me and let me know where you are and that you are OK after Milton passes. You matter to me and to this presbytery far more than anything else. We will walk forward together in whatever lies before us, holding firm to God’s hand and to one another.”

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. To contribute to their hurricane response, click here.