Recovery Continues for Tennessee Communities Following Deadly Floods of 2021

By Briana Phillips, American Red Cross Volunteer 

A Red Cross volunteer surveys damage after the flooding in Aug. 2021. Photo by Mike Moody/American Red Cross.

“The flood back in August of 2021… I've never been a part of a natural disaster or anything that devastating before this thing,” recalled Tayla Lynn. “So many lives gone that day, and our whole town really destroyed and not just homes, but businesses and the whole infrastructure of our city of Waverly just wiped out.”

That is what Lynn, the granddaughter of country music legend Loretta Lynn, remembered about the flood that devastated the small Tennessee town of Waverly a year ago. According to The Tennessean, the floods were the result of a record breaking 17-inch rainfall that raised the creek and river levels dramatically. The rapid flooding conditions ended up claiming 20 lives. All victims were from the city of Waverly, including the Lynn’s ranch foreman Wayne Spears, who had been part of her family for over 30 years.

Photo by Virginia Hart/American Red Cross

The Red Cross was there to pick up the pieces of the decimated community as the flood waters slowly drained through the town. “It seemed like the Red Cross was there immediately setting up food and shelter and just being there for what you needed,” Lynn said.

Red Cross volunteer Bruce Felts

Bruce Felts, one of the dedicated Red Cross volunteers that served after the flood, described the situation as a “rollercoaster of emotions.” A life-long resident of Waverly himself still struggles to see his neighbors suffering in the aftermath to this day. “This is a small place, so everyone knows everyone here,” he said, “It makes it very difficult to see people you know having to start over from nothing.”

A year after the flooding, Waverly has made some progress in rebuilding itself with the Red Cross’ assistance, but it is a long way from being back to normal. Many buildings were either destroyed or had major damage. School buildings sustained severe damage that has required the relocation of its students to other accommodations. School officials predict that it will take several years for students to be back in a fully operational school building in the town as they rebuild from scratch.

While the progress is slow, Felts preferred to count his communities’ blessings. “Waverly will be recovering from the flood they had for years to come, but sometimes I think it is good to look back and thank God for what didn’t happen,” he said, regarding the flooded school buildings. He noted that the flooding took place on a Saturday, which was a better alternative to a weekday. “If this had been a school day, it could have been so much more devastating,” he recounted.

The Red Cross would not be able to assist communities like Waverly if not for local volunteers like Bruce Felts. When disaster strikes, the recovery process is much easier when the region has prepared volunteers, ready to respond from their local chapters.

If you would like to volunteer or donate to help the American Red Cross respond to disasters, visit redcross.org/tennessee to learn more about how you can get involved and support the Red Cross in your community.