Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is rushing funds from One Great Hour of Sharing to the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery to help in their response to severe flooding that has hit much of the Northeastern part of the United States. While Susquehanna Valley Presbytery suffered from flooding last year, this year’s flooding has been described as the worst since 1953.

In addition to Susquehanna Valley Presbytery, PDA is in contact with numerous presbyteries in the New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas to offer assistance to those affected by flooding in those states. Hudson River, Lackawanna, Huntingdon, LeHigh and Cayuga-Syracuse Presbyteries have all reported the possibility of serious damage to churches in their midst. We will not know the extent of the damage until flood waters subside.

PDA has been in touch with both the Synod of the Northeast and the Synod of the Trinity to ensure a coordinated response to this unprecedented flooding.

Below is a report from Susquehanna Valley Presbytery:

A slow-moving front dropped more rain on Pennsylvania and upstate New York, including the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery, over several days. The storm has washed out bridges and roads and caused widespread record flooding along the

Ninevah Presbyterian Church suffered significant damage in the basement level, where water rose as high as the floor joists. Photo: Jim & Katrine Anderson

Chenago, Otselic, Susquehanna and Unadilla Rivers in the Presbytery. The storm started Tuesday, June 27, 2006. In some places the rivers finally crested three days later. It will be almost a week before some of the rivers fall below flood stage. Many congregations and churches have suffered flood damage. At this time a full accounting is not possible since the rivers are still in flood stage in many places. Here is what we know so far. Rev. Steve Starzer, pastor of the Conklin church, was taken to higher ground by helicopter. About 25 percent of the congregation has had damage to their homes, including the Starzers. The status of the church is not known. The Walton church has had water damage to its basement and manse.

The town of Walton’s roads are still closed today, four days after the start of the storm. The Nineveh church has sustained damage to its basement and sanctuary. People were able to get to the church by rowboat Wednesday but the current had become too strong to check on the building Thursday. The church in the small community of Guilford Center had a foot of water in its basement. The volunteer fire department showed up, without being called, and pumped out the water. The city of Bainbridge was completely cut off by the Susquehanna River on the east and washed out bridges on the north, west and south. Fortunately both the church in Bainbridge and the Presbytery offices in the Mission Center were not damaged. With flooding still occurring and many roads still out, it will be difficult for the staff to get to their offices in the Mission Center.

The Rev. Matt Medford, who helped coordinate the response to last year's floods, will again serve that role this year.