Flood victims still recovering

When Bishop Howard J. Hubbard realized the magnitude of the damage done in the floods that barreled through Montgomery, Delaware, Otsego and Herkimer counties on June 28, he asked Catholics in the Albany Diocese to help.

The resultant diocesan-wide collection yielded more than $170,000 to help people who lost their homes and businesses.

Catholic Charities has been distributing the money to parishes and to families who still needed assistance after reimbursement was exhausted from insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and New York's Individual and Family Grant Program.

Family needs

"The monies [donated by Catholics] have been helping with those unmet needs," said Mary Olsen of Catholic Charities.

An example is families in Otsego, Montgomery and Delaware counties who needed help with lost wages because some could not make it into work after the disaster and lost wages.

"Some of these people live from paycheck to paycheck," she noted.

Parish needs

One parish that experienced severe damage to its buildings was St. John the Baptist in Walton.

Rev. Michael Flannery, pastor, said that "four of our parish buildings were extensively damaged, and many of our families lost their possessions and homes. We're still celebrating Mass on the concrete slab and using folding chairs."

The parish has replaced its furnace and hot water heaters in three of the buildings, and flooring in the parish center and rectory.

"We've also installed new appliances and cabinets in the parish center and the hall to replace the ones that were submerged," he noted. "We have a flood relief fund established and, thanks to the generous contributions of so many individuals, businesses and parishes, we've been able to get a lot done."

The target date for completion of repairs to all buildings is Feb. 21: Ash Wednesday.

Help from Catholics

On the diocesan level, Catholic Charities has worked closely with FEMA, New York State, and county and area coalitions to distribute the money donated by Catholics to individuals and families.

"We've set this up in a way that everyone reports back to us as to where the money has gone, who it went to and how it has been used," Mrs. Olsen noted. "We've paid for a stroller that floated away and damaged infant furniture, and even reimbursed a parish that helped supply a farm family with 16 cords of wood to burn during the winter months because their supply was destroyed by water."

"It has been very impressive how so many have come together to help the victims of this flood," noted Sister Maureen Joyce, executive director of Catholic Charities. "Entire communities banded together to help each other. People in the Albany Diocese responded generously to Bishop Hubbard's call for help. When tragedy hit home, they really came forward. Because of their generosity, we've been able to take care of little things that no one else has been able to cover. It makes all the difference in someone's life."

(The diocesan flood relief fund has not been depleted. Victims of the floods of June 28 are urged to call the toll-free hotline that Catholic Charities has set up: 1-800-931-6058. St. John the Baptist Flood Relief Fund is still taking donations to replace the church roof. Call 607-865-7394.)

(12/13/06) [[In-content Ad]]