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European Flood Victims Will Need Assistance in Cleanup Effort
HALLE, GERMANY (August 16, 2002) - Although the flood level in Prague in the
Czech Republic is beginning to drop, the flood danger in eastern Germany is
increasing, threatening churches that are part of the Free Evangelical
Church of Germany (Bund Freier evangelischer Gemeinden), a ministry partner
with the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).
"The rivers that are flooding run parallel to our town, to the east of us,"
said Jan and Richard Epps-Dawson, regional coordinators for Europe for the
ECC's Department of World Mission. "Our own river - the Saale - hasn't been
affected, but a half-hour drive puts you at some of the more devastated
areas," Epps-Dawsons wrote in an email message today.
"There will be more as the week wears on as both the Elbe and Moldau rivers
head downstream," the Epps-Dawsons continued, "north to the Baltic Sea via
Magdeburg and then Hamburg. North of us they are beginning to evacuate our
state capital (Magdeburg) and evacuations are happening tonight in
Bitterfeld - they evacuated over 2,000 people from the hospitals there."
Covenant News Service reported yesterday that no Covenant missionaries or
property are threatened by the flooding as most are above the flood levels,
including Fred and Kelly Prudek and their children in Prague.
Two dams were breached today, according to the Epps-Dawsons, with Dresden
and Grimma seriously threatened. Areas of Slovakia and Austria also are
endangered.
"At this point, blood is being donated to replace what was lost in the
evacuated hospitals," they continued. " Sand is being bagged to set up
barriers in the areas where the rivers continue to rise or are expected to
rise as the water moves downstream. All manner of firemen, police and
military types have moved into the evacuated areas to help. The rest of us
are hoping to help financially and by collecting items that will be needed
to replace lost, damaged and bacteria-infected things."
The cleanup effort will prove to be a monumental challenge, the
Epps-Dawsons noted. "Since this kind of flooding has never taken place in
Prague (nothing this high has hit it in its 800-year history) . . . many
people will not have insurance to cover damages. The church communities
could play an important role in the cleanup efforts with additional
resources.
"Do pray for the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this
catastrophe - those who are cleaning up and those who are in the midst of
the crisis - and for those preparing for the days ahead as the water makes
its way to their towns, villages and cities," the Epps-Dawsons asked.
"There are a lot of weary, heartbroken and disheartened people this side of
the Atlantic."
As with other disasters affecting areas where Covenant ministries operate,
individuals interested in providing assistance may do so by sending
contributions earmarked for "European flood relief" to Covenant World
Relief, Evangelical Covenant Church, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago, IL,
60625.
Updates on the situation and its impact on Covenant ministries in affected
areas will be posted on this news site as they become available.
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