CCA Employees Survive Record Breaking Floods, Tornado

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Flood damage in CCA Buyer Debbie Owen's neighborhood

Although many CCA employees have faced devastation from the recent storms that spawned tornados and caused record flooding in Tennessee, one thing has remained intact: the sense of unity and community shared by employees across the company.

Employees at Hardeman County Correctional Center in Whiteville, Tenn. are among those who were impacted by the flood. Reuben Meyers, correctional officer at Hardeman, arrived home from work on Saturday morning to find that local officials had already evacuated his wife and 17-year-old son to the Utility Department building in Mason, Tenn., where they live. He knew his home would sustain impending flood damage.

“My first thoughts were, ‘Thank God my family is safe and now I have to rescue my animals,’” Meyers says. He and his son waded through the waist-deep water to get their four horses and donkey to higher ground.

Knowing there wasn’t much he could do at home since it would take a few days for the water to recede, Meyers returned to work that same evening and continued to keep his usual work schedule throughout the weekend. He has received $500 from CCAssist, which he and his son used to replace their floors and repair the plumbing. But that’s not the only support he’s received from CCA colleagues – he says there have been numerous phone calls, offers to lend a hand, and lots of prayers.

Three other Hardeman employees were significantly affected. Through bake sales, car washes, and auctioning off executive parking spaces, Hardeman has raised $1,800 for victims. Each of the affected employees also received funding from CCAssist and FEMA.

“The treatment that I have received from everyone has made me feel more like family than an employee,” Meyers says. “I would like to say to folks, don’t worry about what you don't have and be thankful for what you do have.”

At Whiteville Correctional Facility, also located in Whiteville, Tenn., three employees lost their homes completely in the flood; Medical Services Administrator Robert Preston is one of them.

“We had flooding up past the waist,” Preston says. “When I came back to work, everyone told me to let them know if I needed anything. Whiteville feels like a family; everybody really chips in and cares for each other.”

Whiteville employees also showed their concern by holding a fish fry to benefit employees with the most severe damage. Each plate cost $5 and the facility raised $505 – a sum which was split only two ways since Preston gave his portion to the other two employees who suffered total losses.

Metro-Davidson County Detention Facility, located in Nashville, Tenn., was quick to respond before the floodwaters began to rise; a group of Metro inmates filled 1,800 sand bags that were used around the Nashville area for flood protection.

Nearly a dozen Metro employees were affected by the floods, including Rickey Fugett, a field crew officer. Fugett was out of town when the floodwaters inundated his home, causing severe wall, flooring and roof damage. But fortunately, the repairs were made quickly.

“I came home on Sunday and Tuesday I had my roof fixed,” Fugett says. “A week later I had my carpet and wall fixed.”

To assist other flood victims at the facility, Metro is collecting $5 donations for weekly casual dress days over the next month. Additionally, the facility is raffling off executive parking spots and will hold a bake sale.

At CCA’s Nashville-based Facility Support Center (FSC), casual dress days and parking space auctions have also helped bring relief to flood victims. FSC employees have collectively donated approximately $15,000, which was distributed in varying amounts to eight FSC employees who have experienced the most severe destruction of personal property. Those employees received an additional $500 through CCAssist.

Libby Ayers, CCA Partnership Relations analyst, lost her home in the flood – a level of damage she never expected.

“My husband and I left that Saturday when the river was halfway up on the bank,” Ayers says. “We didn’t anticipate it getting into the house but when we returned the next day our street was under water and we could access our house only by boat.”

In the wake of such devastation, Ayers says the support from colleagues has been overwhelming. "My husband and I both feel as though we are being carried through this. The outpouring of support and love we have felt from our CCA family these past few weeks have blessed us deeply.”

Buyer Debbie Owen, another FSC employee who lost her home, echoes Ayers’ sentiments. "I've never seen or felt so much love in my life than inside these walls," she says. "People in this building that I barely knew are now my family.”

Several employees at Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, Okla. were impacted by a tornado that tore through their communities. Marty Garrison, investigation manager at Davis, sustained about $12,000 worth of damage on and around his home.

As the tornado approached his neighborhood, Garrison and his family had to take cover in cellars. Once the storm passed, Garrison and some of his neighbors found themselves trapped inside due to trees that had fallen on top of their cellar doors. Garrison and his wife managed to pry their door open and crawl out, and then went to help their neighbors. They also pitched in to help clear wreckage blocking the road into their community.

“God took care of us,” Garrison says. “We’re fortunate that we didn’t have more damage than we did. Everyone at the facility has offered to help me clean up and the warden said to take all the time I need to get things squared away. Here at our facility we just pitch in whenever someone needs help.”

Did you sustain flood or tornado damage from the recent storms? Do you know someone who did? Tell us how you’ve pitched in to help, or how CCA colleagues have helped you.

By DeAndra Mack