When the water receded from her Northeast Jackson neighborhood in 2020, Barbara Green thought she was safe. A neighbor told her floods like that only happen every few decades.
Friday morning, Green was packing everything she could into the back of her SUV as the Pearl River began to show its ugly side again.
“This was definitely not expected,” Green said as she stood in her garage next to her vehicle. “I’m not financially recovered from the last one.
“I lost everything. My washer and dryer were able to be salvaged and some wooden tables; I was able to clean them.”
Green said she has lived in the home she rents for about seven years. Her first experience with flooding was in 2020 when the Pearl River reached 36.67 feet on the Jackson gauge. She estimated she had to spend $15,000 out of pocket to replace her belongings and is still paying off the credit card debt she incurred.
“I didn’t get any assistance other than Red Cross dropping off buckets of stuff to clean up,” Green said.
Green said 2 feet of water were in her home in 2020 and if the National Weather Service prediction of a 36-foot crest on Tuesday holds true, there will be well over a foot of water in her house.
The thought of enduring such again is taking a toll on her.
“Yesterday when I called my landlord and told her I had to evacuate because I couldn’t afford to lose everything again, it was emotional,” Green said as she appeared to be trying to remain composed.
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One tragedy after another
Linda Williams lives nearby with her adult son in a house they rent. She also lost what little she had at the time. Like Green, Williams had no experience with flooding.
“We hadn’t been here long before the last flood,” Williams said. “I had just moved here and wasn’t familiar with the flooding. I was hoping it wouldn’t get in the house.”
But it did and it turned out to be just one of many challenges she has faced since 2019.
“The reason I moved here was because my house burned down and I lost everything,” Williams said. “Then there was the flood and then my husband passed.
“Now, we’re going through the flood again. I’ve had a hard time.”
Williams said she received no financial assistance for her losses in the 2020 flood. She is leaving nothing to chance this time.
“This time we’re taking everything,” Williams said. “We’re not leaving anything behind.”
Financial losses despite having flood insurance
Friday morning, Corey Turner was stacking sandbags around the front door of his Northeast Jackson home. This isn’t his first rodeo. He said he purchased the home 17 years ago and is doing what he can to protect it.
Unlike some, Turner said he has flood insurance. However, the expenses associated with flooding mount quickly.
“Even if you have insurance, insurance don’t pay for everything,” Turner said. “We have flood insurance, but the killer part is they aren’t going to pay for the stuff inside.”
Turner said floodwaters were 16 inches deep in his home in 2020 and he lost everything. In addition to the financial burden of replacing his family’s belongings, lodging was an issue while his home was being repaired.
“We got a hotel — 40 days in the hotel,” Turner said. “I don’t know if you can imagine that.
“I stayed 40 days in a hotel with no help. It’s massive for me. You’re trying to pool resources just to have a place to stay. I don’t know how I made it.”
Now, he faces that strain again.
“It will truly challenge your faith, if you have any,” Turner said.
Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or at [email protected].
