spot_imgspot_img

VIDEO: Strong church body rebuilds a building in Erwin after Helene

(The Center Square) – A church in the mountains of eastern Tennessee is rebuilding after Hurricane Helene’s flood waters ripped away parts of the building.

The main sanctuary is mostly intact. Recovery, now in the sixth week, remains a journey.

Volunteers had to dig out Riverview Baptist Church in Erwin and fully gut the building to begin rebuilding. Water and mud damaged the church’s electrical system.

“We had about 2½, 3 feet of water in the second story level where the sanctuary is,” Jeff Simmons, a deacon at the church, told The Center Square in an interview. “So, when the water went down, we had about a foot of mud in there. And the basement had anywhere from 3 to 4 feet of mud in there.”

The church of about 80 congregants sits in view of Interstate 26 where flood water swiped the bridges going both directions into the raging Nolichucky River. A temporary causeway reconnecting I-26 was built in 33 days and reopened last week. Before that, all traffic detoured through Erwin, a town of about 6,000.

On the Monday after the storm, roughly 50 volunteers came together to help dig the church out. By Monday evening, most of the church’s parking lot was cleared, mud shoveled from the building, and carpet already torn out, according to Simmons.

“This is a total, total tear-out down here,” he said. “Everything had to be replaced.”

The church is rebuilding thanks to donations and a GoFundMe page set up by Simmons’ wife and isn’t getting insurance money or government funds, he said.

Just over a month after the storm hit, the church’s basement is all reframed and has new wiring.

In the back of the church, two structures attached to the church that served as a fellowship hall and classrooms were lost and need to be rebuilt.

“It got pulled off and went down the river, it’s completely gone,” Simmons said. “Nothing left of it.”

Simmons hopes the church will mostly be ready by Christmas.

DON’T MISS OUT

Be the first to know about the latest news, giveaways, events, and updates from The Black Chronicle!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

spot_imgspot_img
spot_img

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins U.S. Senate race in Michigan

(The Center Square) – Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin has...

Golden claims victory in Maine congressional race

(The Center Square) — Democratic Rep. Jared Golden claims...

Incumbents win five of six House seats with ease in Louisiana elections

(The Center Square) — All six Louisiana U.S. Representative...

Trump once again outperforms polls in Georgia to secure win

(The Center Square) – Just like in 2016 and...

Jeff Hurd overcomes Adam Frisch in Colorado’s 3rd district

(The Center Square) - The 3rd Congressional District of...

Bay Area on course to recall Oakland mayor, Alameda DA, replace SF mayor

(The Center Square) Levi Strauss heir and homelessness expert...

Arizona joins half a dozen states rejecting ranked choice voting

(The Center Square) – Prop. 140 will not pass...

More like this
Related

Democrat Elissa Slotkin wins U.S. Senate race in Michigan

(The Center Square) – Democrat Rep. Elissa Slotkin has...

Golden claims victory in Maine congressional race

(The Center Square) — Democratic Rep. Jared Golden claims...

Incumbents win five of six House seats with ease in Louisiana elections

(The Center Square) — All six Louisiana U.S. Representative...