Page 24 - Clearwater Christian College 2005

hurricanes

First came Charley,

then came Frances, covers the campus
Hurricane Frances

Ivan, and Jeanne with water from the

steps of Steele Hall

to Easter Library.
Standing Thankfully, none of

the buildings were

Helen
damaged.

Requera said, “The

school provided
Hurricanes and Tropical Storms invaded the Tampa
complete protection

Bay area, destroying homes, businesses, and power by making sure I was

lines. With strong winds and flood warnings, the college safe at all times.”

was forced to evacuate twice during the school year­

missing six days of class in the process. Throughout the

stormy season, the college family gathered together to The best thing

pray and ask God for guidance and protection over the
about the evacuations

college. “The only thoughts you had when you walk

outside is depressing devastation. Trees, shingles, and was the time I spent

debris were everywhere you can imagine. I was pulling

roof tiles and shingles off my car. You just know that we with my friends.

have to set our treasures in Heaven,” senior Chris

Although it was stress­
Smoak said about the destruction in his hometown.

20 Many students travelled long distances to family and

ful, I will never forget

friends homes to find shelter from the storms during

evacuations. Some had no place to go, and as a result, all o f the fun my

faculty members generously opened their homes to

them. Hurricane Charley damaged parts of Florida friends and I had on

south of Clearwater, urging students and staff members

each evacuation.
to volunteer their assistance. They spent the day help­

ing Peace River Baptist Church of Punta Gorda in the

Hurricanes
cleanup process. Jeff ^ -Kristen Herman

Livingston, a 2003 gradu­

ate, is the youth pastor.

In the midst of the

storms, God sheltered the

campus and the college

family. Dr. Richard

Stratton praised God for

His protection, “God’s

hand was seen in the sheer Jeffrey Wahlberg is

magnitude of Frances. He surprised to see the

damage done to this
protected the college fam­ Jessica Weideman Miss Amanda Gross
home. “It was amaz­

ily who were scattered cleans the debris that and Kristina Wiggins ing to see the dam­

fell from a church take a break from
across hundreds of miles.” roof. “I think we were clean-up after Hurri­ The faculty ages from Hurricane

Charley. We went

Despite the threatening able to get a lot done! cane Charley. Miss and staff down to Punta Gorda

It really was a day Gross said, “It was
storms, Clearwater Chris­ raised over to encourage the vic­

well spent. I am an honor to help tims; instead, many

tian College still stands thankful that our those in need in $1,200 to
of the people encour­

strongly in the comfort of campus and my since God spared help the aged me.”

home were spared.” the college.”
God’s hands. church

people in Punta Gorda. Student

Alathea Cunningham services bought water, supplies,
dialogue and a generator for the church.