Flooding damages Mahopac church, spurs cleanup from parishioners
MAHOPAC, New York (WABC) -- Heavy rain caused flooding at St. John the Evangelist Church in Mahopac, sending water through the ceiling and into parts of the church, where parishioners worked for hours to prevent more extensive damage.
Cellphone video showed rainwater coming through the church ceiling and flooding the vestibule before eventually reaching the church itself. Church officials said the sanctuary's marble floor helped limit damage.
Pastor Rev. Szymon Kurpios said parishioners quickly responded to help remove water from the building.
"Because the people started draining everything with the vacuum, the water-there was not enough time to damage the pews. Thank God," Kurpios said.
After the flooding began, Kurpios called parishioners for assistance. Volunteers spent hours using shop vacuums and squeegees to clear water from the church.
Volunteer Frido Goerlich said efforts also focused on addressing drainage issues on the roof.
"So it took us about 4 or 5 hours, and we cleaned the roof off, because the roof was one of the problems. It was completely clogged up. And I think that's where most of the water came from," Goerlich said.
A social hall beneath the church also flooded from groundwater, some of which backed up through a well that is no longer in use.
Cleanup efforts continued at St. John the Evangelist Church. Church officials said the floor will need to be replaced because it contains asbestos tile that requires professional abatement.
Kurpios credited the dozens of parishioners who responded to help protect the church from more severe damage.
"I was crying, I say God help us. And people came-wonderful, beautiful community," he said.
Elsewhere in Mahopac, a two-family home on See Avenue was condemned after a cement block wall collapsed into the basement, causing the front porch to sag.
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