Covenant News

Covenant Missionaries Escape European Flood Damage

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (August 15, 2002) - Evangelical Covenant Church missionaries Fred and Kelly Prudek and their three children are safe from recent flooding in Prague that is said to be among the worst in more than a century, Covenant News Service has learned.

"We are located in a higher area and not directly affected by the flooding," the Prudeks reported today. "Our childrens' school, Riverside School, is almost covered by water and we will have to wait until the water recedes before the damage can be assessed. Some friends we know are without electricity.

"Because of the amount of water in certain areas of town, older apartment buildings, which are primarily made of brick and mortar, are becoming increasingly water damaged and one building collapsed this afternoon," the Prudeks said. "Fortunately, that area had been evacuated early Tuesday morning. We are told that the water may be back to its normal level in three to four days, but the clean-up will take months."

Prague is a central hub in the Czech Republic, which has a population of more than 10 million people. Transportation has been virtually shut down in the city as the Vitava River is flooded 19 feet above flood stage, according to a recent Chicago Tribune story. The Prudeks said that only two of the 12 bridges in the city are open for traffic.

While the Vitava River water levels are receding, people living outside of the city are still being told to stay away from Prague until the city is cleaned up. Many subway systems are flooded and won't be operational for weeks. Even the local zoo has been affected the flood is responsible for the deaths of larger animals, including an elephant and hippopotamus.

Covenant ministries in other areas throughout Europe also have escaped damage from flood-swollen rivers, according to Richard and Jan Epps-Dawson in Halle, Germany, who serve as European regional coordinators for the Department of World Mission.

"I called and talked to the Epps-Dawsons about the rains," said Byron Amundsen, coordinator of missionary services. "They told me that all our mission homes are located above any flooding areas - the places that are flooding are down next to major rivers."

Printable version of this page.