An interview with First Church Property Superintendent Bill Gilmore.
What damage did the outdoor property of First Church sustain as a result of Hurricane Ian?
The wind—which we estimate peaked at over 100 mph—knocked down all the trees in the south parking lot (the grassy area), but only three of them were a total loss. A few days after the storm, we were able to prop the rest of them back up and many are already thriving. Winds also damaged two large trees in the west parking lot (the paved area), but only minor debris (leaves and palm fronds) affected the Resurrection Garden and the Meditation Garden. The metal roof of the cart barn behind First Thrift was damaged, but we had already planned to replace that facility in the coming year.
What about wind damage to the church building itself?
One panel blew off the base of the steeple and it is being repaired. We also patched some minor roof leaks over the Sanctuary. Four large rooftop a/c units above the Sanctuary had panels blown off, but they were replaced and are back to regular operation. One choir room a/c unit lost a fan, and other units needed repairs as well. We will be replacing the soffit that blew off the south end of the choir room. The rest of the building did very well. Thankfully, we had upgraded many windows and doors to hurricane-grade glass over the past few years.
Why was the worship service on the Sunday immediately after the hurricane held in the dark in the Sanctuary?
The storm knocked out our main campus’s electricity for about six days. After dealing with more urgent issues in our area, an FPL crew arrived on October 4 and restored our building’s electricity. They fixed minor problems in the choir room area a week later. Surprisingly, the office building that houses 16 of our staff across Bonita Beach Road had electric service, so many of our staff worked from there immediately following the storm. Despite the lack of electricity, the pastors decided to hold worship on Sunday, October 2, believing the congregation needed to gather. Minimal light was available from the stained glass windows, and doors were open to allow airflow. Our versatile media team set up portable video cameras and microphones and were able to record the service and post it on our website. We were surprised that approximately 350 people came to sing praises, offer thanks, and be renewed by Scripture and brief messages from the pastors.
How has the church been able to assist the community’s hurricane recovery effort?
We invited two groups to stage in our parking lot free of charge through most of October. The first group was a large private contractor called Ranco Response. They work under FEMA’s direction providing mobile generators, showers, restrooms, and potable water (in giant 1,000-gallon drums) to First Responders and other workers operating on the devastated beaches and barrier islands. Several RVs were parked on our property to provide sleeping quarters for 24 workers, and approximately 60 different vehicles were part of this operation. A second smaller group, a Christian non-profit known as Platinum, stationed eight men with trucks who provided demolition services, roof tarping, debris removal, and mold remediation to homes and businesses across the area. We were pleased to offer our property to serve our community in need.
What impact has Hurricane Ian had on our Sanctuary lighting replacement project?
The storm, the lack of electricity, and our electrical contractor’s varying priorities caused a delay of nearly two weeks in completing the mezzanine portion of the lighting replacement project. We were able to replace the lights at the edge of the chancel (Sanctuary platform), but replacing lights over the main seating area will be delayed until next spring. The lighting that is now in place should be more than adequate for all our seasonal concerts and programs.
