DADE CITY, Fla. — There’s a query even the strongest believers ask.
Why does God permit dangerous issues to occur to good individuals?
Contained in the Dade Metropolis house the place Tommy Fitch lives, most individuals would shortly ponder that query.
The flooring are nonetheless soggy. Furnishings is in ruins. Partitions and doorways are peppered with black mildew.
“There may be a variety of mildew in every single place,” Fitch mentioned.
The house — and noxious odor of mildew — will choke you up in additional methods than one.
“I’m a 46 yr outdated man, and I used to be crying for a pair days once I noticed this,” he mentioned.
The house belongs to Fitch’s mother and father. Months in the past, he retired, bought two houses in Cleveland, and moved again in along with his mother and father. He hoped to stay the remainder of his days there and ultimately move the household house onto his son, 18, who additionally moved down not too long ago.
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Then, Hurricane Milton hit. Eight days after, the house and far of Dade Metropolis flooded.
“This was simply unreal,” Fitch recalled.
When close by rivers crested from Milton’s rain, it flooded a lot of the realm and shocked households just like the Fitches.
It destroyed their houses and most treasured belongings.
In Fitch’s house, even the household Bible was soaked to its core.
“You realize, my mother — she’ll cry sooner or later, and I’ll hug her. And my dad’s as arduous as nails. It’s arduous,” he mentioned with tears welling in his eyes.
It could be straightforward to query God in a state of affairs like this, however Fitch by no means did.
In actual fact, he was in the midst of prayer when he received a joyful cellphone name. He received a name from Father Carlos Rojas, the pastor of the St. Rita Catholic Church in Dade Metropolis.
“God allowed this,” Father Rojas mentioned. “This has given us a possibility to stay out our religion and put our religion in motion.”
However the native priest didn’t name Fitch to supply a sermon. He known as to supply assist.
On Saturday, Rojas will lead a crew of volunteers to start out the method of eradicating harm from ten — perhaps 15 — houses throughout Dade Metropolis. Fitch’s house is on the checklist.
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“We’ll need to go inside and intestine every thing. Empty the, , furnishings, mattresses, home equipment, clothes, toys. All the pieces goes out. After which, begin getting the drywall, the carpets, the flooring,” he mentioned.
Proper now, Rojas wants further volunteers and donations of individual protecting gear like masks, boots, and coveralls.
If you happen to’d wish to take part within the clean-up, you’re requested to report back to the St. Rita Catholic Church at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23. The church is situated at 14404 14th St. in Dade Metropolis.
You can even donate to the church’s effort at this hyperlink.
To Fitch, any assist represents an answered prayer — a cause to maintain the religion and hope for a brighter tomorrow.
“It’s God. God took care of all of us,” he mentioned. “It’s going to be joyful.”
“You realize, it would simply be time we have a look if HOAs are actually even vital.
Possibly we should always simply put off house owner associations as an entire.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it might be time to put off householders associations altogether, as extra Floridians communicate out about rising charges, pricey lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He mentioned this week that he’s contemplating submitting laws within the subsequent session that might abolish HOAs statewide.
Lawmaker seems to ban HOAs