Driving through Laurel: The reality and nightmare of the flood's impact

(LAUREL, Ind.) – The flooding of the Whitewater River in Laurel has left a trail of destruction and has left the town’s future in jeopardy. 

The flood damage stretches from close to Haspin Acres, through the south side of town and nearly to Laurel Elementary School. 

Bev Keller owns the Long Branch Tavern and says this is the worst flooding the town has experienced since 1913, when 15 people were killed and 600 were displaced in Franklin County. 

While the tavern didn’t suffer damage this week, Keller has been one of the many community members who are assisting those impacted by the flood. 

Keller estimates between 50 and 75 homes and buildings suffered significant damage or are destroyed.

The town’s two grocery stores were also heavily damaged if not destroyed as well. 

On Friday, Keller invited The 812 to take a driving tour through the town to hear directly from the residents. Here’s what we saw:

Every home on Basin Street 

Reality hasn’t fully set in for many of the residents, as it still feels more like a nightmare. 

The raging waters swept through their homes and destroyed furniture, clothing, pictures, and cherished keepsakes. 

Brooke Dunsmore is a single mom who spent Friday salvaging what she could from the home that she and her kids have lived in for the past four years. 

She’s always prided herself on maintaining a nice house, however, the flood destroyed that. 

Brooke is still processing what happened and unsure of what comes next. 

The only relocation opportunity she currently has is to move to another town, however, her kids attend school in Franklin County and she works in Greensburg. 

“I can start all over in Connersville, but that’s a big change for my kids and me. And then somehow figure out all the schedules. I know none of us want to leave this town but right now we don’t know what to do,” Dunsmore told The 812. 

During our stop there, Bev made a point to tell Brooke the same thing she is telling every person who has house damage in Laurel.

“Make sure you’re taking photos of everything. There's a good chance there will be relief funding but you have to make sure you’re documenting all the damage,” Keller urged.

Before we left, Bev offered to drive Brooke's kids to the school they currently attend if Dunsmore is unable to get them there.

The waters that ripped through Brooke’s home on Thursday continued west onto Basin Street. 

Basin Street is a dead-end road where every home suffered extensive damage, and there's a good possibility each house might be condemned or torn down in the near future.

On Friday, the Basin Street residents were going in and out of their homes looking for any belongings that could possibly be saved.

For them, this nightmare is starting to become a reality.

There are also fears about what this disaster might mean for the future of this little town.

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A Floodplain

Bev turned around on that dead-end and continued our driving tour by pointing out damage on other roads, including East Jackson Street, where mobile homes are still surrounded by standing water. 

Keller then turned down Marshall Street and saw Brad Spurlock cleaning out his badly-damaged garage. 

Spurlock has lived in Laurel his entire life and serves as the Town Marshal. He's never seen a natural disaster like this one in his hometown.

“I’m worried that in a few weeks everything will go back to looking normal, but it won’t be, and people will just go away and forget about us,” Spurlock said. 

Laurel is one of many communities that have been impacted by the historic flooding. There will likely be relief funding and other resources available for flood victims throughout eastern Indiana.

“I know there’s Richmond and New Castle and all those places, but you also have this little town called Laurel," he said.

"We don’t want to be hollering for help and they say their resources are deployed to different places. I just hope we aren’t forgotten,” Spurlock added.

While many residents are focused on the present, Spurlock has also been wondering about the long-term impacts from this natural disaster. 

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A large portion of the town is located within a floodplain, including many of the homes that have been destroyed or damaged. 

The federal government has restrictions on rebuilding or repairing homes that are located within floodplains.

Although the last major flood occurred 113 years ago in Laurel, Spurlock is concerned that the government will not allow anything new to be constructed. 

While talking with Bev, he pointed toward some nearby homes that will likely be torn down and he questioned if anything will be rebuilt there.

“If they won’t allow us to rebuild, half the town as we know it won't be here a year from now,” Spurlock said. 

Don’t Be Too Proud

Spurlock is not only concerned about the town’s long-term dynamics, but also what the future holds for the displaced residents. 

He’s known these people his whole life and has also gotten to know the new ones through the years of patrolling as the town marshal. 

“I’m fortunate that I’ll clean up and life will go on, but there are some people down here that didn’t have much to begin with and lost it all,” he said. 

He added, “While I have family and friends, some other people stick to themselves and don’t know where to turn right now. I just don’t want them to go by the wayside.”

Spurlock then started discussing a subject that Bev has also been talking about throughout the day. 

Some of these residents have lost everything, but they’re still not asking for help. 

One blessing the town has is the former Laurel High School. It was never demolished after it closed decades ago and has served as a community center for several years. 

It was quickly transformed into an evacuation shelter this week and is stocked with food, supplies, hygiene products, clothes, cots, and air conditioning ahead of the extreme heat. 

One room in the old high school has even been turned into a kennel for pets that were displaced. Many of those dogs were rescued from the roof of their homes on Thursday. 

While a good portion of flood victims are utilizing the community center, there's still some townspeople who aren’t showing up for something as simple as a sandwich. 

Bev said, “I keep telling everyone I see to go eat, or go get a hygiene product, bottle of water or whatever. All of these supplies and food are for them."

"However, I think some are just too proud to even ask for anything. But this will be here when they're ready, no questions asked," she added.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

The evacuation shelter was opened completely on its own by Town officials and volunteers immediately as the flood hit. 

It was fully operational and serving victims more than a day before the Red Cross arrived on Friday. 

“We’re not FEMA people here but we are all doing the best we can. This is just part of living in a town where everybody knows everybody, and everybody wants to help each other," Bev said. 

Many of the volunteers have worked countless hours and have gotten very limited sleep.

On Friday, we saw those local volunteers sorting clothes, while others were making meals, delivering supplies, caring for the dogs, or helping people find a place to sleep.

That volunteerism isn't only happening within the old high school either. 

Locals like Bev Keller have been out visiting residents and ensuring that each victim knows what resources are available and reminding them that essential needs are available at the old high school.

There was one homeowner whose house had several feet of water inside of it at one point.

Despite that, he volunteered to serve as a night watchman to give police a break for a few hours Thursday night.

As the days continue, it will become more clear what assistance the town and its residents will need to hopefully get back to normal. 

For now, you can provide financial support through a verified, tax-deductible fundraiser that was created on Friday. That fundraiser can be accessed by clicking here.

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