Road from Damascus

Local Methodists join nationwide team to assist Texas flood victims

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS, PA - The United Methodist Church of Damascus is organizing a group of volunteers to help the victims of Hurricane Ike down in Bridge City, TX. They’ll be helping to reconstruct homes there from March 1 to March 6. Hurricane Ike hit the gulf in September 13, 2008 and United Methodists around the country are sending volunteers.

Jeff Dexter, an independent contractor who was sent there by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), came back with some dire tales about the hardships still being faced by the storm victims. His story was taken up by Pastor Jean Blackie of the Damascus Manor United Methodist Church, Jeff and Linda Dexter’s home church.

“There were about 2,600 homes in the town and only about 14 or so did not get flooded,” Jeff said. “The other homes were flooded with six feet of salt water, which corroded everything. There was no electricity, no phones, no restaurants, no gas stations and no stores for weeks. Their floors and walls were coated with mud. The smell can be horrible. Rehabilitation can be a daunting task.”

“So far, we have six volunteers but expect to have some more by the time we will leave, which will be on February 27,” he said.

The group will leave in a van donated by the United Methodist Church in Carbondale. Another van will be donated by Brian Smith, the chairman of the Wayne County Commissioners and a local farmer. “We will be staying dormitory style with churches along the way,” Jeff said.

“We’ll be working with the Bridge City United Methodist Church down there,” said Linda. Bridge City is approximately the same size as Honesdale.

“While we will be working on construction-type activities, there is no construction experience needed,” Jeff said. “We will be trained in what is needed.” Jeff and Linda worked in towns along the Gulf coast in Alabama after Hurricane Katrina.

The group is also seeking donations. So far, they have received $500 from Reining Lumber Company on Route 652 in Beach Lake. “There are several groups that are holding fund raising events for us,” Jeff said.

Anyone wishing to make a donation or volunteer should call Pastor Jean Blackie at 570/224-4637, Carl Keesler of the Abrahamsville United Methodist Church at 570/224-0004 or Jeff Dexter at 570/224-7270.