Catoosa County, GA — Two months after devastating floods swept through the Chattanooga area, many residents of The Crossing Apartments in Catoosa County are still without a place to call home.
“I’m 69 years old. I’m not getting any younger, you know,” said Brenda Crouch, a longtime resident of the complex. “I need my home back. Everybody needs their home back.”
The historic flooding in August forced more than 80 percent of residents at The Crossing to evacuate. Many, like Crouch, lost nearly everything they owned.
“I lost everything except for my husband’s ashes, my dog, myself, and my daughter’s grandfather clock,” she said. “That apartment was all I had.”
Family members of residents have stepped in to advocate for their loved ones amid the ongoing displacement. Connie Lams, whose brother lived at the complex, said communication with management has been difficult.
“We’ve called several times and can’t get any answers,” Lams said. “They don’t have much to begin with, being low income. Now they’ve lost what little bit they had.”
Within two weeks of the flooding, cleanup crews reportedly gutted several of the buildings, including Crouch’s. She is currently staying with friends, while Lams’ brother has been living in a motel. Others, they say, have had fewer options.
Lams noted that while some organizations provided initial support, there has been little in terms of a long-term recovery plan.
“I heard it could be six months before anyone can move back in,” she said. “Nobody’s come to their rescue.”
For now, Crouch says she continues to wait and hope.
“I just want to go home,” she said. “We’re still in limbo. I don’t understand why.”
Management at The Crossing Apartments has not yet responded to requests for comment. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.