It was on this date, April 27, 2011, that powerful and deadly tornadoes tore through Greene County, including the Camp Creek and Horse Creek communities, and into the south central community of Washington County.
EF 3 tornadoes with winds up to 165 miles per hour devastated the communities.
Monday at the Camp Creek Ruritan Club Pavilion, they were remembering the 8 people who lost their lives that day with hundreds of homes, businesses, churches, and farms destroyed, or badly damaged. It was also a day to remember the community that came together with strength, faith, and resilience, and continues to rebuild and move forward
15 Years Later, We Remember, We Reflect, We Honor was the theme of the day, as the public was invited between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm to come by, view the monument and see what’s been going on since 2011 to restore this community.
There was no formal schedule as citizens were invited to come by at any time to pay their respects and honor the community.
Flowers adorn the monument as the Camp Creek Ruritan prepared for visitors on the 15th anniversary on a clear, sunny morning in Camp Creek, much like the day of the storms fifteen years ago.
Susie Harrison (widow of Bobby Gene Harrison), Emma and Shenna Wright beside the monument. They brought the eight roses lying at the foot of the stone to remember each of the victims.
She told Radio Greeneville Monday her emotions run in different directions on the anniversary death of the tragedy.
SUSIE HARRISON
Camp Creek School Counselor Courtney Rader (Miss Courtney to the kids) alongside Mayor Kevin Morrison, speaking to one of the groups of students who came to pay their respects at the monument located beside the school.
(L-R) Kay Vanover (she and her husband Randy survived the storms), Wayne Bettis, former Camp Creek and National Ruritan President and former AIDNET President and current Camp Creek President Reta Phillips.
Kay and her husband thought they had seemingly escaped to the safety of their basement as the storm roared through.
Wayne Bettis pointed out the cross on the inside of the pavilion wall (as seen) and on the back of the monument.
