Twenty.four hours after the flooding, the reports continue to get more and more devastating. As of tonight, 21 people are confirmed dead and many still unaccounted for.
Steve and Deb LaForge, two of the most seasoned Reservists in Hope Force, went to Waverly today to assess the damage. While on site today, they stated, "We have been on so many deployments we've lost count, but this is unlike anything we've ever seen. Houses, brick and stone houses, just picked up and washed across the street; the whole town is just devastated!"
We are sending a small team of HFI Reservists tomorrow to do further assessments, get the scope of the damage and begin serving the survivors of Waverly by helping to clean out their homes. As of now, we are trying to determine how widespread the damage is. We are asking Tennessee HFI Reservists to deploy if you are able; if you cannot, to please consider giving to help serve our neighbors.
As we walk in the aftermath of this flood event, we will need many hands on deck to muck out homes. We also need chaplains present as residents process, grieve, and recover.
