Walker flood victims deal with aftermath

By Andy Diffenderfer, Correspondent

LaFAYETTE, Ga. -- The aftereffects of the recent flooding have left some Walker County residents feeling lucky but others looking to relocate.

Adam Morris and other residents at Brown Estates townhomes in LaFayette were seeking new residences after downpours and floods left their homes uninhabitable.

Mr. Morris, who lived at the development with his wife, Sheree, and parents, Mike and Joann, called the damage "devastating" as he and others were packing a moving van. The family is headed for a new home in Huntsville, Ala.

"I'm definitely shocked," said Mr. Morris, a granite installer who had moved to the development about four months ago from Milledgeville, Ga.

Everything downstairs in the home was ruined, he said, including a living room suite, bedroom suite and bookshelves. Items upstairs were spared, he said.

Mr. Morris said he and his family were lucky to have somewhere to go, and was cheered that Brown Estates residents "pulled together and helped others out" during a tough situation.

Deana Good, who lives in Chickamauga on West 10th Street across from Crystal Springs Print Works, said the effects of the fearsome weather were hit and miss in her neighborhood.

She called the rains and the ensuing floods "the fastest I've ever seen."

Water collected under her house, started rising and came within a "hiccup" of coming inside, Ms. Good said.

The water "could not have come any closer than it did," Ms. Good said. "I think what saved us was the last front that was supposed to come through waited, and that gave the water time to recede. We were very, very fortunate."

She'll be doing a close inspection for damage in the wet areas, and she said she's worried about humidity and insects.

Some of her neighbors had small ponds in their backyards Tuesday. Ballfields at the nearby Howard "Baba" Hill sports complex were completely underwater, and some residents surveyed conditions there in canoes.

About 20 people were at Mountain View Church of Christ in Rossville on Tuesday cleaning up water damage.

Pastor Dick Hillis said three-quarters of the building was untouched but carpet probably will have to be replaced.

"We had a foot of water downstairs where the classrooms are," said Anthony Ballard, a church elder. "The water started coming through the walls. The ground was already so wet."

Mr. Hillis, who has been pastor for nine years, said services will go on as usual.

"It's not real bad, but it could have been a lot worse," he said. "We're very lucky. We'll come out with minimal damage."

Andy Diffenderfer is based in Walker County. Contact him at andydiff97@comcast.net