Above: Elias Torres cleans up flood damage from Hurricane Helene at Cedar Key (Fla.) United Methodist Church.

Oct. 4, 2024 | CEDAR KEY, Fla. (UM News)

United Methodists across the southeastern U.S. are responding in communities that were devastated by Hurricane Helene, a category 4 storm that left more than 200 people dead — a number expected to rise as hundreds more are still missing. A UM News photographer traveled with church leaders and relief workers in Florida this week, where the storm first made landfall, as they began assessing damage and planning relief efforts. UM News will have ongoing reporting on Helene recovery, as many other areas also sustained catastrophic damage.
The Rev. Robin Jocelyn (second from right) is comforted by Molly McEntire of the Florida Conference outside Cedar Key (Fla.) United Methodist Church following Hurricane Helene. They are joined by the Revs. Catherine Fluck Price (left) and Alex Shanks. The church sustained heavy damage from Helene’s floodwaters. Jocelyn is the church’s pastor, Fluck Price is superintendent of the North West District of the Florida Conference and Shanks serves as assistant to Bishop Tom Berlin.
The Rev. Catherine Fluck Price (left) hugs the Rev. Robin Jocelyn outside Cedar Key United Methodist Church following Hurricane Helene.
Elias Torres (left) and Vinicius Maciel clean up flood damage from Hurricane Helene at Cedar Key United Methodist Church.
The floor inside Cedar Key United Methodist Church was buckled by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene.
The Rev. Alex Shanks (left) hugs volunteer Scott Barnwell outside Cedar Key United Methodist Church following Hurricane Helene. At rear, the Rev. Catherine Fluck Price (left) hugs Stephanie Barnwell. The Barnwells had been cleaning up flood damage at the church.
The Rev. Catherine Fluck Price and volunteer Scott Barnwell survey flood damage at Cedar Key United Methodist Church.
United Methodist Church staff, volunteers and relief workers pray at the altar at Cedar Key United Methodist Church, which was heavily damaged by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene.
Hymnals and a pew Bible were ruined by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene at Cedar Key United Methodist Church.
Cedar Key United Methodist Church was heavily damaged by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
Molly McEntire of the Florida Conference hugs Stephanie Barnwell (right), a member of Cedar Key United Methodist Church, following Hurricane Helene. Barnwell had been helping clean up after flood damage at the church. At left is the Rev. Alex Shanks of the Florida Conference.
Mary Allen looks through household items ruined by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene at her home in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg, Fla. She is married to the Rev. Augie Allen, pastor of Riviera United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. Their home is the church’s parsonage.
United Methodist Bishop Tom Berlin (left) views flood damage from Hurricane Helene at the parsonage home of the Rev. Augie Allen (right) in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg. Allen is pastor of Riviera United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg.
Angela Overstreet (left) of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) views flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene with Lesa Shouse, a member of Riviera United Methodist Church, in St. Petersburg. Shouse was helping clean up at the home, which serves as the church’s parsonage.
United Methodist Bishop Tom Berlin (left) visits with the Rev. Augie Allen at his parsonage in St. Petersburg after Hurricane Helene caused major flood damage to the home. Volunteers from Riviera United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where Allen is pastor, had removed sodden household items to the front lawn for disposal.
Angela Overstreet of UMCOR (right) views flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene with Mary Allen at her home in the Shore Acres neighborhood of St. Petersburg. Allen is married to the Rev. Augie Allen, pastor of Riviera United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. Their home is the church’s parsonage.
United Methodist Bishop Tom Berlin (third from right) leads a prayer for the Rev. Augie Allen (seated) and his wife, Mary, at their parsonage in St. Petersburg. The home was heavily damaged by flooding from Hurricane Helene. They are joined by members of the Florida Conference staff and UMCOR, and volunteers from Riviera United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, where Allen serves as pastor.
Members of a Florida Conference early response team meet with conference leadership and representatives from UMCOR at Jasper (Fla.) First United Methodist Church to plan relief efforts following Hurricane Helene.
Homeowner Trina Madsen-Smith (center) views damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach, Fla., with disaster response representatives of The United Methodist Church. From left are Katie Hills, director of disaster response for UMCOR; Trish Warren, disaster response coordinator for the Florida Conference; Madsen-Smith; Angela Overstreet of UMCOR; and Jill Hockin, volunteer coordinator for the Florida Conference.
Household items ruined by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene line the street in Madeira Beach.
Homeowner Trina Madsen-Smith (left) views damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach with Katie Hills, director of disaster response for UMCOR.
Household items ruined by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene line the street in Madeira Beach.
Homeowner Trina Madsen-Smith points out her mailbox, which was swept to the end of her street by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach. With her is neighbor Steve Kovens.
A garden statue rests atop a garbage can lid amid storm debris left by Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach.
Homeowner Trina Madsen-Smith (left) views damage caused by Hurricane Helene in Madeira Beach with Trish Warren, disaster response coordinator for the Florida Conference (center) and Jill Hockin, volunteer coordinator for the Florida Conference.
Homeowner Trina Madsen-Smith (right) hugs Jill Hockin, volunteer coordinator for the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church, after touring storm damage caused by Hurricane Helene to her neighborhood in Madeira Beach. “We’ve lived here 50 years and never seen anything like this,” Madsen-Smith said.
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