Survivor of Tennessee Flooding Thankful for Kindness of Strangers

Family of three survive floods to begin rebuilding their lives  

March 31, 2021 

Kelly Vaughn went to bed after putting her toddler to sleep knowing the rain was coming down hard around her South Nashville home. The mid-century ranch home is located near Sevenmile Creek. A normally small waterway, by early morning hours on March 27, became swollen as a swift river flowing around her home. Currents so strong, it swept large SUVs into trees like toy cars.  

“My husband and I grabbed my 3-year-old and I carried him out the front door to get to higher ground,” she said. “It was all good until after we started walking down our sidewalk, then I lost my footing. My child and I were floating away until my husband grabbed my foot and a good Samaritan rescued us all from the water.”  

When the waters receded, the evidence of what water can do to a family home was all to visible. Their beautiful 1960s home, that has stood strong for almost five decades, was completely flooded. Water marks as high as two feet saturated dry wall. The worst part, Vaughn did not have flood insurance. “We really didn’t think it was needed it,” she said. “This repair will be all on us.”  

The American Red Cross came by her home the next day. Vaughn and family friends were clearing out possessions ruined by mucky mud waters and ripping out soaked dry wall were taking a break on the front lawn. Red Cross volunteers brought cleaning supplies, rakes, shovels, and hope to the young family. “This means so much to us right now,” Vaughn said. “It is so needed, not just for us, but for this whole community.” Her information, like so many others, taken down by disaster volunteers, so that Red Cross case workers could come by and provide some assistance to the young family soon. 

This story is like so many who have suffered damages, and lost homes in spring storms that swept through middle Tennessee in one week. Ten counties in all were ravaged by the storms.  

If you would like to help families like the Vaughn’s in middle Tennessee, please consider donating to the American Red Cross, so we can continue our mission of helping people when they need it the most. Please click, text or call to donate. Your gift is a commitment to helping people affected by disasters big and small. Every single donation will make a difference in someone’s life. Visit redcross.org/Tennessee, call 1-800-HELP-NOW, or text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.