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Prague: Life Slowly Returning to Normal
Covenant News Service
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (August 21, 2002) - Life is slowly beginning to return to
normal as flood waters continue to recede, though a considerable amount of
cleanup remains following the worst flooding in 500 years.
That is the word today from Kelly Prudek, who along with her husband, Fred,
serve as Covenant missionaries in the Czech Republic.
"The public transportation system has adjusted its tram and bus routes to
help with the problem of increased riders above ground, due to the flooding
of the majority of metro
stations," Kelly reports. "Out of a total of 12 bridges spanning the Vltava
River, there are still only two bridges open to public traffic. The traffic
jams are huge as the buses are given one of the two lanes for rapid
transit.
"They are working feverishly to get the roads and bridges in good working
order by the end of August, when the mass of vacationing Praguers return
home," Kelly continues. "The amount of time estimated for cleanup is one to
two months. Many neighborhoods in town are still digging out of the mud,
waiting for the building inspectors to confirm the safety of the buildings
. . . allowing the residents to move back in (the majority of Prague
residents live in apartment buildings).
"The destruction of property is unbelievable in its scope," she writes. "In
the meantime, many people are still displaced - either staying in schools
or with family members. The entire country is in crisis because of the
destruction and we ask you to pray for them. Fortunately we have only heard
of two families affected (in our church). One family of five . . . had
completely renovated an old home they had inherited. The flood wiped out
all their work and they are unable to live there now. Another family of
seven . . . lost their home and is currently staying in the office of the
husband until they can find other accommodations." The school the Prudek
children attend was seriously damaged by water, which destroyed the
school's inventory stored on the first floor.
News agency reports suggest other dangers remain, from the inadvertent
release of chemicals and other materials to the potential for disease
relating to rotted food and other decomposing materials. Flood levels
increased to nearly 30 feet above normal river level, not only flooding
basements, but flooding first and second floors in some of the buildings.
"Raw sewage from a waste treatment plant not far upriver from our school
and other
toxins, which flowed down the river, are complicating the cleanup process,"
Kelly reports. "We are told by the health department to only work up to
four hours at a time clearing out the (school) building, taking precautions
by wearing surgical masks and not exposing any skin.
"In all this we know that the Lord is sovereign and holy," Kelly writes.
"Last week
I read Psalm 29 - a very apt and encouraging word from the Lord. Here is
just a portion: '. . . the voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of
glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters . . . the Lord
sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. The
Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.'
"Thank you for your concern and for lifting up the people of this nation to
God, our Father," Kelly concludes. "I pray that eyes will be open through
this very painful experience to see the reality of God and that many will
turn to Him."
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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