The Very Rev. Jerry Adinolfi, rector of St. Paul’s Church, Coffeyville, Kan., was among the first people to survey flood-damaged areas of the town on July 11 as residents were allowed in for the first time since the Verdigris River poured over levees on June 30.

He and other clergy in the southeast Kansas town offered pastoral care as residents began to pick through what is left of their belongings. About 600 homes were affected by water mixed with sewage and crude oil that spilled when a local refinery was swamped.

“The devastation is terrible. Oil slicks are everywhere on the east side,” Fr. Adinolfi said. “But the long, slow process of healing has begun.”

Three families from his parish lost their homes in the flooding, Fr. Adinolfi said, noting that clergy in other parishes in the Southeast Convocation told him parishioners in Independence, Neodesha, and Chanute also suffered damage. Grace Church, Chanute, was the only area church building affected, but the foot of water in its basement caused no serious damage.

Fr. Adinolfi said the Coffeyville community is working together to meet the needs of the hundreds of residents still displaced. He has provided financial support from his discretionary fund to shelters that provide places for hundreds of people still without a place to stay. The church’s thrift shop is providing clothing for distribution by the Red Cross. The Rt. Rev. Dean Wolfe, Bishop of Kansas, also provided money, from a fund established to aid tornado and flood victims.

Those wishing to donate may direct checks to the Diocese of Kansas Tornado and Flood Relief Fund, Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612.

Melodie Woerman

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