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Half a million meals prepared in Galveston
BONNIE PRITCHETT Southern Baptist TEXAN
Published October 30, 2008
GALVESTON, Texas (BP)—A Southern Baptist disaster relief feeding unit stationed in Galveston, Texas, has passed the half-million mark for meals prepared for residents and workers in a region heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike.
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Coastal churches celebrate new facilities
William H. Perkins Jr. Baptist Record
Published October 30, 2008
LONG BEACH, Miss. (BP)—After Hurricane Katrina wiped out its downtown campus, First Baptist Church in Long Beach, Miss., began planning its new complex with an eye toward the future.
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Florida Baptist Disaster Relief wraps work in Texas, Louisiana
Ministry to first responders opens doors
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published October 16, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—After driving 2,400 miles round trip, toiling 10-to-12 hour days in the searing, arid and windy Texas heat for more than three weeks, a caravan of weary Florida Baptist disaster relief workers returned home Oct. 2, having provided sustenance and the Gospel in word and deed to hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast region.
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Mishaps won’t deter volunteers from helping next time around
Published October 16, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Florida Baptist volunteers injured while responding to hurricane relief needs in the Gulf Coast looked beyond their difficulties to encourage those that served with them.
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BCF’s Brent Gay takes to the airwaves for Disaster Relief
Published October 9, 2008
GRACEVILLE (BCF)—Brent Gay, a student at The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville, was part of the Emergency Communications (EmComm) unit for the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team which was activated to respond after Hurricane Ike tore through Galvaston, Texas in early September.
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Disaster relief volunteers bring hope to Louisiana
STACEY BILLGER Louisiana Baptist Convention
Published October 2, 2008
HOUMA, La. (LBC)—Gary Jones stands in his yard watching as a team from Florida cuts and hauls away piles of branches in his yard. A heart attack three years ago prohibits him from doing heavy manual labor for longs periods of time.
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After Ike, churches assess their future
TAMMI REED LEDBETTER Southern Baptist TEXAN
Published October 2, 2008
GILCHRIST, Texas (BP)—Arlis and Wanda Russell made a list of the folks who were present for the last service of their home church, knowing it might be the only membership roll that exists.
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Power restored, classes resume at Houston Baptist
Published October 2, 2008
HOUSTON (BP)—Classes resumed Sept. 22 at Houston Baptist University, eight days after Hurricane Ike caused an estimated $8 million to $10 million damage to the campus.
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Texas stadium lot houses Florida’s ‘mega’ feeding center
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 25, 2008
TEXAS CITY (FBW)—When a hurricane the size of Texas threatened the Longhorn State earlier this month, Baptists from the Sunshine State, took to the highway with an “Armada” of 16 vehicles and 40-plus volunteers.
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Severe food shortage in Cuba prompts Florida Baptists to act
Red tape cut for building supplies, food relief
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 25, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Even as Cuban government officials warned Sept. 18 of a severe shortage of food during the next six months, Florida Baptists were exploring ways to ship food and building supplies to aid its decade-long partner, the Western Cuba Baptist Convention.
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Severe food shortage in Cuba prompts Florida Baptists to act
Red tape cut for building supplies, food relief
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 25, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Even as Cuban government officials warned Sept. 18 of a severe shortage of food during the next six months, Florida Baptists were exploring ways to ship food and building supplies to aid its decade-long partner, the Western Cuba Baptist Convention.
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After Ike, flooded churches in Louisiana ponder their future
Published September 25, 2008
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)—Churches in southern Louisiana that weathered Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita and three years later Gustav may have been done in by Ike’s onslaught Sept. 13.
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Service with a smile, Texas style
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 25, 2008
TEXAS CITY, Texas (FBW)–Blonde hair tucked under a bright yellow visor and her Florida Baptist Disaster Relief t-shirt sleeves slightly rolled, Patty Pennington is ready for another shift on the food line in Texas City.
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Disaster relief ‘salt & light’ after Ike in Texas
Florida Baptists at one of 4 ‘mega’ feeding centers
Published September 19, 2008
HOUSTON (BP)–Houston. Baytown. Texas City. League City. Pasadena. Livingston. Port Arthur. Huntsville. Lufkin. Tyler. Since Tuesday, Sept. 16, Southern Baptist volunteers in these Texas cities have provided more than 321,000 hot meals for thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike. But they’ve only just begun.
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After Ike, flooded churches in Louisiana ponder their future
KAREN WILLOUGHBY Baptist Message
Published September 18, 2008
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)–Churches in southern Louisiana that weathered Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita and three years later Gustav may have been done in by Ike’s onslaught Sept. 13.
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Florida Baptist ‘Armada’ rolls to Texas after Ike’s onslaught
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 18, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Less than 24 hours after Hurricane Ike pounded Texas Gulf Coast towns with Category 2 storm-force winds, Florida Baptist disaster relief workers arrived in Beaumont, Texas, Sept. 14, awaiting their assignment to the ravaged area.
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Hungry, homeless Haitians fed through Florida Baptists’ efforts
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 18, 2008
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FBC)—”I have seen a lot of heartache in Haiti. It is hard here even in good times but today we saw the worst,” said Craig Culbreth Sept. 11 from Haiti as he oversaw Florida Baptists’ second distribution of rice to this desperate nation.
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Post-Ike relief in Texas: Shelters, cleanup & feeding
JERRY PIERCE Southern Baptist TEXAN
Published September 18, 2008
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)—Hurricane Ike recovery is underway with Southern Baptists of Texas Convention volunteers clearing trees and debris in the piney woods of East Texas, but the physical damage to churches along the Gulf Coast was harder to assess early Monday with the Galveston and Bay City areas near Houston without electricity and phone service.
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Rice for Bahamas from New Smyrna
Published September 18, 2008
NEW SMYRNA BEACH (FBW)—When Randy and Paula Crowe evacuated the Bahama Islands ahead of Hurricane Ike, they flew their newly-purchased 30-year-old private plane to New Smyrna Beach, where he had previously served nine years as pastor of First Baptist Church.
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Ike ravages Cuba; Baptists launch relief
Florida Baptist vision team to plan strategy
Published September 18, 2008
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—A Southern Baptist disaster assessment team will enter Cuba the week of Sept. 15 to consult with local Baptist partners about relief efforts needed in the wake of two hurricanes striking the island nation.
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In Hurricane Ike’s wake, Florida DR teams deployed to Texas
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 12, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)-Just a week after activating their units for a possible strike in South Florida, Florida Baptist disaster relief volunteers are being deployed to provide relief in Texas where Hurricane Ike will make landfall as an expected category 2 storm on Sat., Sept 13.
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Hungry, homeless Haitians fed through Florida Baptists’ efforts
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 12, 2008
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FBC)—“I have seen a lot of heartache in Haiti. It is hard here even in good times but today we saw the worst,” said Craig Culbreth Sept. 11 from Haiti as he oversaw Florida Baptists’ second distribution of rice to this desperate nation.
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Hurricane Ike threatens Gulf states
Florida Baptists refocus after ‘pre-emptive’ preparations, commit to helping elsewhere
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 11, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Keeping one eye fixed on Florida’s Panhandle where there was still a slight possiblity as of Sept. 8 Hurricane Ike could “hook” and strike during the week, Florida Baptist Convention officials are preparing to send help to regions in the United States and Haiti already affected by Hurricanes Hanna and Gustav.
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Haitians desperate for rice after storms kill at least 150, destroy crops
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 11, 2008
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FBC)—Mudslides, washed-out roads and massive flooding hampered Florida Baptists’ efforts to feed the hungry in Haiti where three tropical storms in as many weeks have killed at least 150 persons and destroyed crops and livelihoods.
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After Gustav, Baptists bring reassurance
Published September 11, 2008
BATON ROUGE, La. (BP)—Michael Desmond begins to cry when he tells the story.
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Pensacaola, Santa Rosa, Tampa area Disaster Relief crews in LA
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 11, 2008
HOUMA (FBW)–It had been nearly a week since Brett Morin, 66, left the comfort of his home in Lutz for a 15-hour trek first to Baton Rogue, La., and then to Houma Sept. 8.
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Florida Baptists shelter Gustav’s evacuees
For some the horror of Katrina lingers
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 11, 2008
PENSACOLA (FBC)—Evacuee Jamie Ferrier sits in the gym of East Brent Baptist Church with time on her hands, anxiously awaiting news, desperate for any information about the damage her hometown sustained after Hurricane Gustav tore through the Gulf Coast region on Sept. 1.
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TEXTING keeps New Orleans seminary ALERT
Published September 11, 2008
NEW ORLEANS (BP)—Since Hurricane Gustav, good news has been arriving to cell phones of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary families through NOBTS’ new priority text messaging system.
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Hurricane Ike threatens Gulf coast
Florida Baptists refocus after ‘pre-emptive’ preparations, commit to helping elsewhere
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 9, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBW) – Keeping one eye fixed on Florida’s Panhandle where there was still a slight possibility as of Sept. 8 Hurricane Ike could “hook” and strike during the week, Florida Baptist Convention officials are preparing to send help to regions in the United States and Haiti already affected by Hurricanes Hanna and Gustav.
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Haitians desperate for food after storms kill at least 150, destroy crops
After Ike, nothing but rice & beans left
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 9, 2008
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FBC)-Mudslides, washed-out roads and massive flooding hampered Florida Baptists’ efforts to feed the hungry in Haiti where three tropical storms in as many weeks have killed at least 150 persons and destroyed crops and livelihoods.
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Crist declares state of emergency for Hurricane Ike
Florida Baptists note concern for Cuba, Haiti
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 5, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC) – Only a few hours after Hanna bypassed the state, Florida Baptist disaster relief teams are ramping up for Hurricane Ike, which forecasters warn could land in South Florida as a Category 3 storm by Tuesday night.
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Florida disaster relief teams bracing for Ike
MICKEY NOAH North American Mission Board
Published September 5, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (BP)–Now that Tropical Storm Hanna is no longer a threat to Florida, Fritz Wilson, state disaster relief director for the Florida Baptist Convention, and his team are turning their full attention to Ike — the next hurricane in what seems to be a never-ending string of storms tearing across the Atlantic toward Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
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Haitians desperate for rice after storms kill at least 150, destroy crops
Florida Baptists told ‘thank you for not forgetting about us’
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 4, 2008
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (FBC) -Mudslides, washed-out roads and massive flooding hampered Florida Baptists’ efforts to feed the hungry in Haiti where three tropical storms in as many weeks have killed at least 150 persons and destroyed crops and livelihoods.
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Florida Baptists shelter Gustav’s evacuees
For some, the horror of Katrina lingers
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 3, 2008
PENSACOLA (FBC)-Evacuee Jamie Ferrier sits in the gym of East Brent Baptist Church with time on her hands, anxiously awaiting news, desperate for any information about the damage her hometown sustained after Hurricane Gustav tore through the Gulf Coast region on Sept. 1.
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SBC disaster relief teams roll into La.
Published September 3, 2008
CLINTON, Miss. (BP)–The night’s warm breeze gave way to a drizzle as Kentucky Baptist disaster relief units rolled out of Camp Garaywa, a Woman’s Missionary Union camp located in this small town west of Jackson.
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Gustav spawns ministry by Baptists
Published September 3, 2008
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)–The most extensive damage from Hurricane Gustav’s winds in Louisiana is in a triangle formed by Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Lafayette, according to Gibbie McMillan, Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief coordinator.
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Texting keeps New Orleans seminary alert
GARY D. MYERS New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Published September 3, 2008
NEW ORLEANS (BP)–Since Hurricane Gustav, good news has been arriving to cell phones of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary families through NOBTS’ new priority text messaging system.
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Minimal Gustav damage at New Orleans Seminary
Published September 3, 2008
NEW ORLEANS (BP)–New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary suffered only minimal damage as Hurricane Gustav pushed through about 70 miles southwest of the city Sept. 1.
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Florida Baptists prepare for Gustav, Hanna; recover from Tropical Storm Fay’s statewide flooding
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published September 4, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Less than two weeks after Tropical Storm Fay saturated the state from the Florida Keys to Pensacola, Florida Baptists stood ready for the possible threat of another storm as the Witness went to press Aug. 29.
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Relief disbursed in Haiti
Published September 4, 2008
- Relief disbursed in Haiti
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Red Cross asks Baptists to be ready to cook
Published September 4, 2008
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–The American Red Cross and Salvation Army asked Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers Aug. 29 to prepare for the worst.
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Witness seeks damage reports, photos related to storm activity in Florida
Published September 4, 2008
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Gustav on collision course for Louisiana
Florida Baptists offer warm beds, meals
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 1, 2008
UPDATED: 12:30 p.m. Sep. 1
TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-With an estimated 2 million having fled Louisiana while Hurricane Gustav continued its head-on collision course near New Orleans, Florida Baptists stood ready with warm beds and meals for those displaced by the storm.
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Gustav on collision course for Louisiana
Florida Baptists offer warm beds, meals
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published September 1, 2008
TALLAHASSEE (FBW)-With an estimated 2 million having fled Louisiana while Hurricane Gustav continued its head-on collision course near New Orleans, Florida Baptists stood ready with warm beds and meals for those displaced by the storm.
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Florida Baptists prepare for Gustav, Hanna; recover from Tropical Storm Fay’s statewide flooding
LAUREN URTEL Florida Baptist Convention
Published August 30, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)—Less than two weeks after Tropical Storm Fay saturated the state from the Florida Keys to Pensacola, Florida Baptists stood ready for the possible threat of another storm as the Witness went to press Aug. 29.
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Red Cross asks Baptists to be ready to cook
Published August 30, 2008
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)—The American Red Cross and Salvation Army asked Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers Aug. 29 to prepare for the worst.
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Witness seeks damage reports, photos related to storm activity in Florida
Published August 30, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Florida Baptist Witness is asking readers to send in basic information about damaged sustained as a result of major storms impacting Florida. The Witness would like to receive information about damage in your area, damage to churches, disaster relief efforts on the part of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief crews or churches, associations or individuals—and photos to go along with the information.
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Tropical Storm Fay makes 4 historic landfalls in Florida
Storm impacts Florida Baptists from west to east coast and back
JONI B. HANNIGAN, CAROLYN NICHOLS, BARBARA DENMAN & LAUREN URTEL
Published August 28, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBW/FBC) – Moving at a snail’s pace while dumping heavy rain and pushing strong winds in an erratic pattern through Florida, Tropical Storm Fay – or “Fickle Fay” as it has been called – finally headed out of state Aug. 24 after making a historic four landfalls in Florida.
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Florida Baptist Disaster Relief teams pitch in at Barefoot Bay
JESSICA TUGGLE Witness Correspondent
Published August 28, 2008
BAREFOOT BAY (FBW)—Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team volunteers from throughout Central Florida descended into Barefoot Bay in south Brevard County Aug. 21—an area devastated by a tornado Aug. 19.
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‘Fickle Fay’ displaces blind family; Baptist volunteers assist
JESSICA TUGGLE Witness Correspondent
Published August 28, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH (FBW)—Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from Halifax Baptist Association assisted a Daytona Beach family Sat., Aug. 23 after Tropical Storm Fay continued to dump rain in the area, where earlier in the week its unpredictable nature caused one newscaster to refer to it as “Fickle Fay.”
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‘Fickle Fay’ displaces blind family; Baptist volunteers assist
JESSICA TUGGLE Witness Correspondent
Published August 25, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH (FBW)-Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from Halifax Baptist Association assisted a Daytona Beach family Sat., Aug. 23 after Tropical Storm Fay continued to dump rain in the area, where earlier in the week its unpredictable nature caused one newscaster to refer to it as "Fickle Fay."
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Florida Baptist relief volunteers fan out locally to repair Fay’s destructive march
BARBARA DENMAN Florida Baptist Convention
Published August 25, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBC)–On the Monday morning after slow-moving Tropical Storm Fay soaked and wind-whipped the state, Florida Baptists’ disaster relief teams continued to assess damage and set up relief points in affected areas.
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Tropical Storm Fay heading back west in Florida
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published August 22, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBW) – Tropical Storm Fay continued to meander its way westward toward Florida’s Big Bend and Panhandle Friday, wreaking havoc as far north as Jacksonville where 100 patients were being evacuated from a nursing home by Jon boats as floodwaters completely surrounded the facility.
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Florida Baptist Disaster Relief teams pitch in at Barefoot Bay
JESSICA TUGGLE Witness Correspondent
Published August 22, 2008
BAREFOOT BAY (FBW)-Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team volunteers from throughout Central Florida descended into Barefoot Bay in south Brevard County Aug. 21—an area devastated by a tornado Aug. 19.
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Tropical Storm Fay stalls in Cape Canaveral; Disaster Relief at work in Barefoot Bay
JONI B. HANNIGAN Managing Editor
Published August 20, 2008
JACKSONVILLE (FBW)-After rushing the Florida Keys Monday night and making a second Florida landfall at 5 a.m Tuesday south of Naples, Tropical Storm Fay finally made it to the Atlantic coast Wednesday but has stalled in the Cape Canaveral area, lowering the chance it will be become a hurricane when it tracks through northeast Florida.
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