Last spring, flash flooding tore through Allegany County, dropping more than five inches of rain in a short time across a steep, mountainous stretch of western Maryland. The waters that rushed from George’s Creek and other waterways left behind damaged floors, crumbling concrete, waterlogged basements, and overwhelmed families who could not afford to make repairs on their own. More than a year later, two Presbytery of Baltimore congregations are showing up.

Towson Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Howard County each organized volunteer teams that traveled to Westernport and Lonaconing this spring to work alongside a local Long Term Recovery Committee coordinating ongoing disaster relief.

Towson Presbyterian Church

The Towson Presbyterian team came together after a mention in the March 2026 issue of Tidings prompted member Joel Strom to reach out to Presbytery Social Justice Consultant Susan Krehbiel. Mission coordinator Dave Britt took it from there, recruiting volunteers and connecting with Denny Skeweris, the local coordinator on the ground in western Maryland.

The team of five included Jim Lyon and Dave Britt from TPC, joined by Barry McNew, Gene Swain, and Bob Coleman from First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Hagerstown, where Britt had previously served as interim pastor. Working June 1-5, the team tackled three homes in Westernport.

In a 100-year-old home belonging to an elderly couple, volunteers removed moldy carpet, prepared and installed new flooring with a moisture barrier throughout the downstairs, closed unused floor vents, poured a new concrete step across the back porch with wooden handrails, and replaced two unsafe basement access doors. At a second home, they installed metal drains under a deck that had been contributing to flooding, and began digging post holes for a chain link fence. A third home received concrete work in a damaged section of the basement. All materials were funded through the Long Term Recovery Committee.

The TPC Mission and Outreach Committee provided up to $750 to support the effort.

First Presbyterian Church of Howard County

The Howard County team arrived the week of May 18, a group of seven volunteers: Amanda Cranfil, Amy Curran, Pat Curran, Debbie Reese, Dunstan Sai-Palm, Brett Sivo, and Tom Sleight. Together they contributed 224 hours of volunteer labor across three homes in Lonaconing and Westernport.

At the first home, the team repaired sub-flooring in the kitchen and bath, then installed luxury vinyl plank flooring in the kitchen, laundry room, and entry room, along with new baseboard molding and trim. The second home required a full day that unfolded differently than expected. What began as a straightforward shelf-replacement project revealed shelf after shelf stacked with hundreds of paint cans, many old or expired. Working patiently alongside the homeowner, the team helped sort, clear, and organize the space, filling a dumpster a quarter of the way before leaving. The homeowner was still clearing items the next day. “Rarely do plans go as expected,” said Brett Sivo. “Be flexible, meet the client where they are, and take the time to listen.” At the third home, volunteers installed the first sheet of steel roofing under a deck to redirect rainwater to a drywell, then moved inside to coat basement walls with Dry-Lok. The team had worked on this same home during a previous trip in October 2025.

The team stayed at the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services Garrett County Children’s Center in Lonaconing, which provided complimentary lodging.

A Continuing Response

The work in western Maryland is far from over. Volunteer teams continue to be needed, and the Presbytery is helping connect interested churches with the Long Term Recovery Committee coordinating relief efforts. If your congregation would like to get involved, contact Susan Krehbiel at the Presbytery office.

Photo Gallery

Photos courtesy of David Britt