In Henryville, Indiana the chimney of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church was lifted up and slammed back down on the pitched roof during a tornado last March. The 85 year old church’s steeple was also badly damaged.
About a dozen people huddled against the basement wall while the hurricane hit. Fortunately no one was hurt. The church also serves as a shelter and crisis center for relief efforts.
Insurance and Donations To Pay For Roof
Crews will replace the roof; repair the steeple, interior plaster and four broken trusses. The repairs are estimated at $250,000. The insurance will cover all but the $5,000 deductible, the Pastor, Steven Schaftlein hopes the rest can be covered by donations.
Schaftlein said of the repairs “We’re just so happy to see it get started, we want to see it get done, and we want to see it get done right.”
The 300 member congregation held Sunday Mass in the basement since workers discovered the roof damage was more extensive than previously thought.
Indianapolis based AACI Co. Inc. has begun the repair work on the new roof, steeple, trusses and interior plaster.
