When flash floods destroyed a large portion of Waverly, Tenn., in the early morning hours of Aug. 21, 2021, reporters from countless news outlets rushed to the scene. They interviewed survivors, highlighted the destruction and gathered the stories of the victims. And for many organizations, that was it.
But not for WPLN News. Through the remainder of 2021 and into 2022, we’ve remained in Waverly, gathering stories of the rebuilding, explaining the challenges and sharing the triumphs. This portfolio of stories shows what a public radio station can do when it commits to covering its community.
Read the original stories in this series:
Some Waverly Residents Praise God After Surviving Destructive Flood; Others Remember Loved Ones (Aug. 26, 2021)
On One Street In Waverly, Residents Take Stock Of The Loss (Aug. 27, 2021)
After Three Major Floods In A Decade, Some In Waverly Are Unsure Of Rebuilding (Sept. 23, 2021)
The flood closed this Waverly grocery store. Now, residents rejoice at its reopening (Dec. 20, 2021)
Tasha Lemley WPLN NewsTed Rice stands outside his flood-damaged home in Waverly. “I’ve always tried to help everybody else,” he says. “Now, it’s me. I’ve never gone through this.”
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