As the town of Waverly marks three years since catastrophic flooding claimed lives and destroyed property, residents continue to navigate the slow march towards restoration. On the anniversary of the devastating event, buildings still lie in ruin, reminders of the tragedy and the ongoing struggle for a return to normalcy. Waverly Mayor Buddy Frazier relayed to WSMV that, despite delays, there is progress, with plans in motion to construct new housing and the hope for federal funding to clear the remaining wreckage.
While a memorial to the victims is set to be dedicated, these visible scars are a daily reminder for long-time residents like Gretchen Turner, who told WSMV, "We still have our scars that are very obvious, and then the scars that are not very obvious." With sectors of the town still in partial disrepair, Mayor Frazier remains optimistic that the removal of the damaged structures will facilitate a quicker healing process, as the community sees investment and rebuilding efforts continue.
Elsewhere in Waverly, the Church of Christ has become an anchor for recovery, according to a WKRN report, with elder David Nowlan committed to supporting those affected since the flooding. Contributions from organizations such as Good360 and the Church of Christ Disaster Relief Effort have aided the church in reducing the initial 876 households in need of repair to just three. Still, for some community members, the journey to reclaim a sense of normality is far from over, with Mayor Frazier suggesting a full recovery could span another decade.
One significant step forward is happening at the former Creekview Manor Apartments, a site of melancholy after the flood. According to FOX 17, despite lengthy administrative delays, the property, once full of debris and sorrow, has been sold to investors who plan to rejuvenate it with modern amenities and re-accept tenants with section eight vouchers. Investor Dean Baxter has initiated the clean-up, offering former tenants an opportunity to recover some of their belongings. Baxter's commitment paves the way for the apartments to be rent-ready by year's end, a milestone in the town's long-awaited healing.
While the path to recovery has been replete with obstacles, the dedication and resilience of Waverly's citizens and leaders underscore a collective journey to rebuild and renew the heart of their community. In an enduring small-town spirit, Mayor Frazier told WSMV, “We want homes reoccupied. We want homes rebuilt. We lost part of our population due to this disaster, and I know a lot of those people, they want to come back, they want to come home.”
