wfn.org | Fast-rising floods take Ohio towns by surprise

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

July 15, 1998        Contact: Linda Bloom*(212)870-3803*New York
{416}

NOTE: This story is accompanied by a sidebar, UMNS #417, and
photographs.

A UMNS News Feature
By Kay Panovec*

For Kathy Crock, the most frightening aspect of the flooding that struck
the small town of Caldwell, Ohio, was how fast the water rose.

"The flood came so fast and so hard we didn't have time to prepare,"
explained Crock, a member of the Caldwell United Methodist Church. "We
had 8 feet of water in 15 minutes. The interstate was closed, the roads
in town were impassable. We couldn't get out, and people couldn't get in
to help."

The Crock family was one of thousands affected by recent flooding in
southeastern Ohio.  Although their home were spared, the family's lumber
business suffered extensive damage.
  
Ed Crock was at the lumber company when he noticed Duck Creek
overflowing. As the business quickly become submerged in muddy waters,
he moved across the street. Within minutes, cars that had been slowly
heading down the road were swirling out of control, slamming into trees.

"People were screaming, trying to climb out of their cars and trucks and
heading for the trees," Crock recalled.

Some folks were rescued, but others were not as lucky. In the creek that
usually trickles along the back of Caldwell Lumber, three bodies were
found. The fatalities included an older couple, whose mobile home was
found in pieces several yards away from the foundation.

"People ask how we will recover from the loss of our company," Crock
said. "That's just money.  What I will never forget is the screaming."

In Belle Valley, Travis Christman and his wife, Angie, decided to move
to higher ground as the water rose. They gently carried their two
sleeping daughters, ages 2 and 4, to the back of their Jeep. When they
reached the top of the nearby campground, Christman, a student pastor
for the Belle Valley Charge, returned to the small community to assist
rescue crews.

"It was just the right thing to do," he said. "I know just about
everybody in this town, so I made a list of the folks who live around
here. The crews would go in, and when they were loaded in the boats,
we'd mark their names off the list."

Belle Valley had one fatality.

Most people were evacuated from the second story of their homes.
Priority was given to the elderly and those living in one-story homes.

One of Christman's elderly parishioners, Toppy Buckie, was asleep when
the floods came. He was awakened by the sound of his dog barking. When
he left the bedroom, Buckie was in knee-deep water. By the time he
reached the front door, he was wading through water at chest level. Both
Buckie and his dog were rescued.

Some residents managed to retain a sense of humor. Mildred Yonker, 72,
and her two sons, Paul Joe and Bobby, both of whom have muscular
dystrophy, were in their mobile home when the storms came.

As the waters seeped in, they moved to the highest location in the home,
the kitchen. When the rescue crews arrived by boat, Mildred and her sons
were at the kitchen table, playing Yahtzee. The home was a total loss,
but the Yahtzee game was reported saved along with the Yonker family.

Among the 15 United Methodist churches affected by the floods was East
Union Church, where water covered the pews. Every Bible and hymnal was
lost. But attached to the wooden frame of a bell in front of the church
was a note that read: "The God that is within us is greater than the
troubles around us. His love will abound." ( 1 John 4:4)

Families, neighbors, church members, volunteers - all have pitched in as
the cleanup continues. 

"We have talked about taking the church outside the walls of this
building," Christman said.  "This flood has certainly done that. And the
United Methodist Church is helping all of Belle Valley, not just the
people who go to church here." 

Even bishops get into the act. While visiting Epworth Center in
Bethesda, United Methodist Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton packed lunches and
worked with the staff on other preparations for sending out a work team.

"It was revealed to me that the Epworth Center is the best-kept secret
when TITL1dealing with a crisis like this," Keaton said. "The district
superintendents, clergy and laity are working together to address and
meet the needs there. It was powerful to be a part of the ministry and
presence of the church."

# # # 

*Panovec is on the communications staff of the United Methodist Church's
East Ohio Annual (regional) Conference.

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/