PARISH PROPERTIES DAMAGED

Rev. Michael Flannery, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Walton (Delaware County), made some resolutions after his recent flood experience.

The first one is to get a cell phone. The second one is to keep fresh batteries around the house for flashlights and the radio.

The third is to leave when he's told to go. Not doing so got him in deep trouble.

Up to his neck

"The first [flood] surge came on Tuesday [June 28] at 10 a.m., but I wasn't too concerned," he told The Evangelist. "The creek that runs by the church property had crested, so I sent our staff home.

"There was a call to evacuate by the fire department, but the waters began to recede in the afternoon, so I didn't even consider leaving at that point."

But more rains came. The power was shut off, and the rectory was without water -- of the sort to drink, that is.

More to come

Father Flannery said, "I kept watching the creek and noticed that some of the streets were flooding. It didn't seem to be too bad, so I went to bed, hoping the worst was over.

"About 3 a.m., I was awakened by the sound of things crashing into the house -- big things. It was pitch black outside; I couldn't see a thing. That was the first time I became really frightened. From what I could see, it seemed as if I was on an island all by myself. I didn't see any streets, and no one else was around. I felt as if I was the only one there.

"Suddenly, I saw the [public] school dumpster go sailing by the back of the rectory. It seemed to be going a hundred miles an hour. It was then that I realized how swift the floodwaters were. I thought immediately of the victims of [Hurricane] Katrina. That's when I became scared."

To his prayers

The priest reported that "I went downstairs to the kitchen and found that it was under water. The back porch was completely gone, and there was no land in sight. I went back upstairs; there was no place else to go. I was hoping the house wouldn't just float away."

Around 5 a.m., he reached for his breviary. "I knew I could go nowhere, so I said my morning prayers," he explained. "The water was still very strong. All I could do was wait."

Shortly after daybreak, the waters began to recede. Eventually, fire department personnel drove up in a payloader with a bucket in the front.

Two to go

Ciccio [pronounced "Cheech"] is Father Flannery's 100-pound Rottweiler. While the dog is afraid of water, he had faithfully kept his master company throughout the flood ordeal.

However, when it came time to evacuate the house, Ciccio refused to venture outside. Father Flannery had to carry him outside and place him in the bucket.

"Then I climbed in myself, and we were rescued," he said.

(7/13/06) [[In-content Ad]]