The Elizabethton Elks Lodge

The story of a community stronger than the storm

Rain battered the windows, wind howled through the trees and flood waters began to rise; an unexpected tragedy was in the making.   

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, before sending a downpour across the southern states. By Sept. 27, the mountains and valleys of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina were inundated with water as the beloved rivers rose. 

With the Appalachian Trail passing through to the east and the Cherokee Forest surrounding it on three sides, Elizabethton, a quiet and charming town, had been rattled by a storm no one could have expected. When things went quiet and the skies were blue again, residents were left with mountains of debris and heaps of heartache.  

The rivers, once used for fishing and floating, had carried away houses, cars and the lives built by hard-working Appalachians.  

The Elizabethton Elks Lodge, a saving grace for many, sprang into action. 

The Elks is a fraternal order run on the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. With over 2,000 lodges in the country, Elks #1847 resides on N. Sycamore St in Elizabethton, Tenn. The 334 members of the local chapter focus on veterans and children but also assist with any local needs they find.   

When Hurricane Helene hit, the Elks knew what they had to do. What they didn’t know was just how big an undertaking it would be. 

The Doe and Watauga rivers meet just behind the lodge. As they rose, the amenities of the lodge went down, destroying the camp sites, leaving the pavilion halfway underwater and covering the floors of social quarters in water and mud.  

“I was in this building when the flood came,” said Treasurer Keri Austin-Marcus. “The Doe was cresting like the ocean was coming this way.” 

Despite the damage to the property, the lodge began its recovery efforts the next day on Sept. 28. 

The Elks used $5,000 to shop for immediate supplies. Cindy Duffy, activities director, found spots with cell service to make Facebook posts asking for any help they could get.  

“It grew exponentially,” said Duffy. “I had no computer so I would handwrite a list of things that I needed and post it and people started responding.”  

The Grand Lodge from Chicago sent $25,000, which bought propane and heaters. With that, a flood relief program began and lodges all over the country contributed.   

“We had lodges from Boston and Connecticut all the way to Oregon, Florida and Texas,” said Duffy. “All of it funneled right in here. It was amazing.” 

The Elks spoke of truck drivers, nonprofits and community members who volunteered their time, money and effort to help the beloved locals. Assistance came from everywhere, including The Elks Lodge Tennessee State President, Bill Roper, who traveled from West Tennessee to contribute.  

As supplies were collected, distribution began.  

Eddie Wilson, Bill Roper and George Duffy took a trailer of supplies to Poga, a small community on the Tennessee and North Carolina border. A little girl, around 10 years old, and her father received the supplies and loaded them onto their ATV.  

“They vividly remember their daddy saying, ‘Do you know where you are going?’ and she said, ‘Yes, daddy, I do.’ He replied, ‘Be careful, come back.’” said Cindy Duffy, retelling her husband’s story. “She shot right up the mountain through the switchbacks.”  

The stories of tragedy flowed, most being even closer to home. 

Contributed/Cindy Duffy

“A 91-year-old man came down here on his birthday. The only thing he wanted was a pair of dry socks and shoes,” said Eddie Wilson, Elks exalted ruler. “We fed him and he left with a new, clean pair of socks and shoes and a gift bag with everything we thought he might need.”  

Wilson also spoke of an older man, with shaky hands and a timid demeanor, who saw them unloading a truck of water and supplies. When asked if he needed help, he replied, “Do you reckon I could get just a little bit of water?” 

“Stories like that hurt,” said Wilson.  

Five Elks Lodge members were affected and helped by their own Elk family. 

Mike Hardin, Elks esquire, lost everything. Hardin was at work when the storm came. His landlord was put on a boat by the swift water rescue team to escape from their condos by the river.  

“I couldn’t even get to the apartment. All I had was the clothes on my back,” said Hardin.  

Between 30 and 40 Elks lodge members went to the condo unit to shovel out mud and silt and wash the walls. 

“My little place that got destroyed is like new now. It is fully furnished because of Elks members,” said Hardin.  

Elks members helped in all ways, including outside the lodge. Ron Adkins, Elks secretary, was the IT representative for the Corporate Emergency Operations Committee at Ballad Health. His team helped form incident command and deploy resources.  

“We were heavily relied on to make sure that rescues were handled efficiently and to the best of their ability,” said Adkins. “Emotionally, it was tough. Physically, we were just doing what we always do.”  

The Elks Lodge and many tireless members worked for six months to help Elizabethton and the surrounding areas recover. The lodge is still available for assistance on an as-needed basis. Cindy Duffy, deemed “disaster angel,” was awarded the Tennessee Elks Association State Elk of the Year for her work in the recovery.  

The lodge has helped around 12,000 people so far. A total of $1.7 million has passed through, going into various recovery efforts. At Christmas, 521 children were given the magical memories they deserve. The Elizabethton Elks supply food, clothing, household items and more compassion than one could ever hope for.  

The storm was strong, but Elizabethton natives were stronger. The perseverance of the Appalachian people runs deeper than the hollers they live in.  

“All it takes is honesty and the want to,” said Wilson. “I am so proud of this lodge.”