October 5, 2022

On September 16, central east Italy had severe flooding, caused by rains of about 17" in approximately 2 hours.  Little warning was given of the raging and rising rivers. The flooding took the lives of at least 10 people in a relatively small area, and more were missing.  The property damage was devastating for many, as it destroyed homes, farms, and businesses. Many farm animals drowned and orchards were destroyed.  The worst, of course, was the heart-breaking loss of human life.     

 

            Left: river overflowing, and cars flooded;

        Right: Mud in front of and inside a basement that we cleaned

This past weekend we traveled to Senigallia and Pianello on the Adriatic Sea, to help with clean-up, where much of the flooding was the worst.  Our colleague Humanitarian Services couple in Italy, Darcy and Peggy Guymon, were asked two weeks ago to assess the damage and needs, before missionaries and Young Single Adults were sent to help. The Church teamed with Caritas, the Catholic organization that helped organize assignments for much of the clean-up in the area.  We were grateful to be able to work with the Guymon's, the missionaries, YSA's and Stake leaders from Florence for this clean-up work.  For two weekends, missionaries from both the Milan and the Rome mission, along with Young Single Adults from the Firenze (Florence) Stake, worked tirelessly to help clean out the mud, assist in flooded homes, and wash needed belongings.  

  

Left: Missionaries before we started working on Saturday.  

Right: 2 young men, Marlon & Kevin, after we started working

We were able to assist several families in helping dig mud out of areas that needed cleaning, replace destroyed fences, clean bathrooms, walls, and floors in homes, and clean mud covered tools so that they could reuse them. In Senigallia, we helped two families whose basements were coved in 4-5 feet of mud, which had  buried all of their belongings.  One of our young missionaries climbed inside these mud covered rooms to help search and find items, including detached sinks, toilets, bricks, glass, insulation, and everything else.  He passed these to us through a window.  Two young sister missionaries, who were the hardest workers ever, and we in turn carried everything to the street in a wheelbarrow or by hand in buckets.  We made several piles 20' long and 6' high, for them to be picked up later for disposal.  The task of cleaning was overwhelming, both for the families affected, and for us who were helping.  The young missionaries and YSA's worked so hard.  We were happy to work alongside of them.  

 

Left: Mud and items in a basement that we cleaned

     Right: 3 young missionaries who helped us clean basements and homes

Pianello, a small town about 14 km inland from Senigallia, was hit very hard.  In Pianello, we also met a man named Ugo, who had just bought his home and a small farm on August 3, 2022.  Six weeks later the flood hit, filled the first floor of his home with water and mud, and killed most of his animals (one horse survived as the horse was able to keep us head above the water).  It also destroyed his fields, orchards, and fences.  It will be months before he is able to put things back together.  Most sadly, however, was that 7 of his friends within a four block area lost their lives from the swift water that hit without notice.  Last weekend is one we will never forget, nor will we forget the people whom we met and tried to give some relief.

 

Left: Farmland in Pianello, at Ugo's property, covered in mud;

  Right: trees destroyed by the flood in Senigallia

As we continue our mission, and as we come to know the people, we see that we all need the same basic things in life.  We need family, friends, our homes, and most importantly, we need Christ in our lives.  May we each try to serve one another, no matter where you live, so that we can lift another person.

Love,

Bryan and Becky

Link to a very brief video of the flood:

 https://twitter.com/i/status/1570681760710787077