Marble – While most of Cherokee County was spared nature’s wrath during heavy storms last week, some local homeowners weren’t so fortunate.
Reports show from 6-8½ inches of rain fell the night of July 20-21 on Marble, with high winds and lightning that contributed to creeks being overrun and trees being toppled, resulting in power outages and several roads being blocked.
Robin Caldwell, director of Cherokee County Emergency Services, said while the total amount of damages is still unknown, two homes are inaccessible due to damages to private bridges, about six residences have possible structural damage due to flooding and there is considerable damage to private roads and driveways. There were reports of widespread flooding in the Hyatt Creek and Vengeance Creek watersheds.
“We are fortunate to live in a community that helps one another,” she said. “We have outstanding first responders who spent the night patrolling the area and making notifications to homeowners who might have needed to be aware.”
While Caldwell is updating the state about damages daily, she was not aware of any emergency declaration as of Monday.
Jerry Kilpatrick was one of the local residents most affected by the storm’s severe impact. His home is at the end of Biscayne Lane, only 75 yards away from where the only road going in and out of the area was destroyed, stranding three vehicles. In its place is a hole about 10 feet wide by 20 feet deep and 125 feet long.
The storm also damaged the house’s foundation and septic system, and unstable trees will need to be cut down. As a result, Kilpatrick and his wife plan to move, then turn their old place into a weekend cabin.
Becky Pendergrass of High Falls Road was also stranded at home, as a nearby ankle-deep creek turned her area into a flood zone, creating a 5-foot-deep culvert in one area. And, like many other residents, she doesn’t have flood insurance.
“This is a financial hit for everyone involved,” said Pendergrass, who also lamented the loss of her garden and a neighbor losing their pond.
“About 12 places near us took a beating.”
One of those places was that of neighbor Jonathan Smith, who started an online fundraiser in hopes of getting the road to his home and business rebuilt.
“Severe flooding turned our property upside down, collapsing both of our bridges,” he wrote on gofundme.com. “Although our property is severely damaged, and we have innumerable losses, the one thing that we can’t replace is a bridge.
“Never in a million years would we have seen ourselves in this position. We have no way in or out of our property. We cannot build a bridge without help. We are humbled to our core to ask for this help, as we are usually the ones who give.”
Of Smith’s $25,000 goal, $4,450 was raised as of Monday afternoon.
His wife, Eileen Smith, said they lost thousands of dollars worth of greenhouse supplies when their garden was taken, along with being stranded at home.
“There is so much loss here,” Ms. Smith said. “My husband and I are reeling, and trying very hard to begin cleaning up. Both of our bridges have collapsed, and we have no way in and no way out of our property.
“We have a small plank across a narrow pass over the creek, and a friend has loaned us a truck for the time being, but we have been devastated by the storm – with no relief in sight.”
Caldwell encourages homeowners who received damages during last week’s storm to call Emergency Services at 837-7352.