Members and Missionaries Safe after Hurricane Dennis By Walter Cooley, Church Magazines Hurricane Dennis swept over Haiti and Cuba last Thursday, July 8, and pushed through the Florida panhandle on July 10, bringing heavy rain and 120-mph (190-kph) winds. The storm killed more than 30 people and caused substantial damage to homes in Haiti, the coast of Cuba, and a small area in Florida's Santa Rosa County. All members and missionaries are safe, although during the storm some members in Haiti and Florida temporarily left their homes. Church meetinghouses were opened as shelters for residents who had to evacuate. After the storm, widespread power outages were reported in Florida. Damage from Hurricane Dennis, however, is substantially less than that caused by Hurricane Ivan last year. "It seems funny, but after Ivan, people here seem to think that a hurricane with a narrow path that causes a billion dollars' damage is a blessing," said Elder Nate Olson, a senior missionary serving near Pensacola, Florida. In September 2004, Hurricane Ivan killed 29 people and caused over seven billion dollars in damage to the Southeast and Florida's Panhandle. Many Florida residents prepared for last week's storm more seriously after having lived through Hurricane Ivan, Elder Olson said. "There were lots and lots of people going out of here," he said. Church officials are currently accounting for any damage to Church property. However, no damage has yet to be reported. Basic food supplies were airlifted to Haiti on Friday, July 8. In Florida two truckloads of emergency supplies and food were distributed on Monday to local Church members in need. Another truckload of donated supplies is being distributed by a county emergency operations center. Between 500–700 members from several Florida stakes are expected to help during a community cleanup this weekend.