The Charger Online School Newspaper

CDHS Recovers from Hurricane and Flood

Article and Videos By: Kaleo Toscanodulanto, Kylinn Davis, & Randall Sauceman

Photograph By: Emma Parker

On September 17, 2024, Greene County was devastated by the overwhelming flooding coming from Hurricane Helene. Three days worth of rain and debris piled up onto the bridges and made them collapse, which caused a predicament for the Chuckey-Doak High School community and Greene County as a whole. Many residents, including Chuckey-Doak students and faculty, had their homes and businesses destroyed along the river. Routes to school and work became longer due to the damage caused on the bridges. Water utilities in the whole county were destroyed by the flood, so our community was out of running water for about two weeks.  Even the water fountains at school were turned off as everyone had to use bottled water until the water pumps were fixed by the utility company. Sophomore Emma Parker spoke to our CDHS Charger staff about the damage to her home (pictured above).  Emma said that the flood made her realize:  “You never know how good life is until it’s almost gone.”

During times of crisis, our community was able to come together and help each other no matter what the circumstances were. Food distributions, fundraisers, and much more volunteer work were done to try and repair what had been broken. Many students at Chuckey-Doak High School volunteered for flood relief, and so we interviewed them about what work they completed and the thoughts they had on it.  We estimate that one third of our student body and half of our faculty helped in the community during the flood recovery process.

One of our student-led organizations, whose motto is about service, truly showed their dedication to serving the community during this time.  We are so proud of our FFA Chapter, Advisors, and Officers who worked nonstop for about two weeks gathering supplies, distributing supplies (even on side-by-sides and four-wheelers), cleaning up mud, and helping farmers care for their animals.  We interviewed Mr. Chase Murray and Mr. Larkin Clemmer about the aid that FFA provided.

Our FFA chapter president Avery Armstrong was extremely passionate about volunteering and helping Greene County recover. 

Spotlight Interview: FFA Chapter President Avery Armstrong

We interviewed FFA Chapter President Avery Armstrong about his work in the community.  When asked how was FFA involved in the flood recovery efforts, Avery said, “FFA did multiple things to assist with the flood recovery efforts. Mr Murray and his wife Sarah worked tirelessly with many other organizations and FFA  chapters across the state. Members, including myself, helped Murray and his wife with accepting donations, including pallets of water, toiletries, food items, clothing, and more. We were fortunate enough that McMinn FFA and Polk County FFA donated supplies for distribution efforts. They donated trailer loads at a time, which we delivered to citizens across the county who were blocked off in areas. The ag shop served as a little warehouse almost as we held supplies until they could be distributed. Even at one point we did a welfare check for a community member who was blocked off. The Chuckey-Doak FFA was more than happy to help local community members, the region as a whole, and even counties in North Carolina.” FFA was able to relieve some of the damage that was caused by the flood by offering their services for free.

We asked Avery what work was done individually and as a group.  “I partnered with other Chuckey-Doak FFA officers and FFA alumni to provide support to local community members, and at the distribution sites. Two days after Helene, I went to Kinser Park to help with cleanup, and it was just complete devastation. My first day helping Murray, we delivered a car load of water and drinks, roughly 25 cases of water and 100 more packs of other drinks. After that, we went back and helped prepare boxes to be delivered to people blocked off still and in desperate need. I took a truckload of supplies across the Snapp Bridge after it first opened to resupply a church who was distributing. I also got a group together, and we went to help a local farmer who lost their farm including some livestock. I specifically worked on clearing debris that destroyed a fence. Throughout these past few weeks, I have also had other opportunities to help ones in need by donating farm supplies to those farmers who lost everything along the river. At the local auction where I buy goats and sheep, they had loads of hay, feed, and supplies being delivered to be distributed. I am so glad I have been able to help those in need.”  Avery Armstrong has exemplified the FFA motto “living to serve.”

We then asked Avery what was the worst damage that he witnessed when helping out the community.  Avery responded that “There is just absolutely devastating damage all throughout our region. When I helped down at Kinser Park, campers were flipped onto their sides, some were washed away, clothing and other things washed into trees along the banks. When we crossed Snapp Bridge…and out that way the devastation was also just unbelievable. Houses were ruined with one foot or more of mud in some houses. Portions of the river which was at most 200 feet wide are now two football fields wide. Debris is scattered everywhere and mud covered just about everything. I even saw a section of a house that had been washed away. The devastation was just unbelievable. Land near the river was damaged and completely gone for the most part.”  The scene that Avery described was felt throughout our beloved Greene County.  Several of our own CDHS students lost their homes or possessions in this devastation.

Finally, we asked our chapter president how it felt to live through the flood and how it felt to be so impactful and helpful for the community.  Avery emphasized the pain others experienced:  “It was just heartbreaking to see what Helene did, especially in other counties and states. I feel for all of the people who were impacted and lost everything.  I know of farmers who built their lives around their farms and now to be washed away is just heartbreaking. However, it’s amazing how the locals, state, and even the country has rallied together to throw in a helping hand. It brings joy to me to help those others in desperate need. We will overcome this together one step at a time.”  We would like to thank Avery Armstrong for his service and willingness to share his experience with the CDHS Charger.

We would like to share some of the pictures of our CDHS students and faculty serving in our community. We are so proud how the Black Knight spirit was echoed in all of Greene County during the last few weeks.

Our Chuckey-Doak community has been through so much since September 27th.  Homes and property have been lost.  We have all suffered from the loss of power, internet, and/or water.  We are still inconvenienced every time we need to travel to the other side of the river due to restricted travel.  Tragically, Our county also lost a true hero in Boone McCrary, who died trying to save others from the flood.  Despite the many trials, this natural disaster has helped bring our community together.  It has shown the true character of Chuckey-Doak and Greene County.

We hope that you will enjoy this video created by Korbin Shriner, using Katie Taylor’s poem “But I Survived.”

L to R: Vloggers Kylinn Davis, Kaleo Toscanodulanto, & Randall Sauceman

Chuckey-Doak High School
365 Ripley Island Rd, Afton, TN
(423) 798-2636