A community unnerved by rain

Aug. 24—CRUSO — Every time it begins to rain in Cruso, a sense of unease creeps across community residents — individuals who know all too well what happens when the East Fork of the Pigeon River leaves its banks.

Flooding a year ago has changed the community psyche as well as its makeup. Some renters moved away entirely, while homeowners are in varying stages of getting back into homes that were rehabilitated after water crept into their basements, floors, walls, porches, decks and garages.

The big concern now is how the river will handle heavy rains now that its channel has been transformed. The sheer force of flooding after massive rains prior to and on Aug. 17, 2021, altered the river's course. More concerning, though, is a landslide just south of Cruso on U.S. 276 South that brought down a big chunk of mountain, blocked the roadway and spilled into the riverbed.

Many, including Mitch Burress, estimate the landslide area has raised the river channel 5 to 6 feet. He worries the East Fork won't be able to handle the water it did pre-flood, and that even a heavy rain that dumps far less than the 12-17 inches estimated to have fell a year ago will leave the banks.

Should that happen, the only place for water to go would be straight down the highway and smack dab in the middle of the three buildings that define Cruso — the fire department, the community center and East Fork Baptist Church.

A year ago, the community center escaped damage, while the fire department flooding was relatively minor compared to what happened elsewhere in the community. The church, though, was slammed. Plenty of volunteers and donations exceeding $500,000 helped to get it back open.

Pam Kearse, the caretaker at Camp Hope, a 100-plus acre facility complete with a pavilion, main building and cabins owned by Canton, is also worried about the debris in the stream and how that will impact the possible of future flooding.

While she said rains are needed so that community members can see how the river's flow will react post-flood, the possibility makes many nervous.

Recovery is slow

Bethany Tice, whose husband Mark pastors East Fork Baptist Church, has had a front-row seat when it comes to observing how Cruso had responded to the disaster that arrived a little more than a year ago.

"It's brought us so much closer together," she said. "People ask if we're back yet, and the answer is 'no.' The summer has everybody fooled because everything is green and growing. But when winter comes, that's when all the scars will show up again."

Still, many families are back in new trailers or rehabilitated homes after having been displaced for months, and most in the community stand amazed at how God's people have come together to help.

"This community is amazing," said Barbara Allred, who earned one of Cruso's highest honors in 2016 when she was crowned the "Old Crab," as is featured in the roadside welcome to Cruso sign proclaiming nine miles of friendly people and one old crab. "Everybody helped each other. Most people have had to make changes. I'd say, looking back, resilience is what comes to mind."

Debbi Hall, the treasurer for East Fork Baptist Church, saw the road to her home washed out, but quickly restored, and about half the contents stored in the family's storage building business destroyed. The lifelong Cruso resident said she still sees houses not yet being lived in or empty spots where a home used to be.

"Still, people are reaching out to other people and making a difference," she said.

Pam and Roy Ewart, who live in the Burnette Cove area, saw their road washed out, as well as the steps to their deck, but escaped flood damage in their home. Their relative good fortune allowed the couple an opportunity to pitch in to help those who were hit worse.

While there was hope for and talk of help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Ewarts were disappointed. There were high costs associated with road and culvert work, but the couple only received $159.13, Roy Ewart said.

"We didn't ask for much help," he said. "We figured there were people who needed it more."

Nancy Lane said the Red Cross was very helpful during the disaster, providing $500 credit cards that could be used to cover whatever a family needed most.

Dale and Donna Scott were two of 12 people who tight-knuckled it through the flood at a pavilion on higher ground at Laurel Banks Campground. There, they heard the deafening roar of the river and the giant cracks that accompanied trees crashing into the water.

"The river created a new path in front of us," Donna Scott said. "We'd never felt such fear in our lives."

Not only did the Scotts lose everything they had, but they later learned about neighbors who died in the flood, the biggest lost of all.