Steel beams under Del Rio home helped 85-year-old withstand floods

DEL RIO, Tenn. (WATE) — Fugate Road in the Del Rio community was one of the hardest places hit in Cocke County from Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters. One house sits on top of the bank of the French Broad River where most homes were completely washed away.

“It was so quick,” homeowner Robert Brannon said.

Brannon said that talking about the rising flood waters. The 85-year-old lives on Fugate Road. He rode out the severe floods on September 27 in his 20-year-old home.

“We had whole houses coming down the river butting into this house,” Brannon said. “You see the roofs going, ‘bam, bam, bam.’ It was very surprising.”

Brannon having built his home on the banks of the river, knew there had to be some extra strength and stability in case of a flood event.

“When I built this house I had people put these H-beams, steel H-beams. About 25 of them,” Brannon said. “They pounded them down into the ground so it wasn’t going anywhere. I did a lot of extra things that you normally wouldn’t do.”

Beau Austin, owner and president of Rapid Dry Restoration is helping Brannon get his home cleaned up. Austin and his team have spent a lot of time in the Newport area following the floods but says driving up river was a different level of devastation.

“We were not prepared for the devastation,” Austin said. “As you come up the French Broad [River] up toward North Carolina and the Pigeon [River], it’s just complete devastation for these people. It’s unimaginable for me being and East Tennessee guy, we just don’t think these things can reach us.”

When asked what made him stay at the home during the flooding, Brannon had one thing to say.

“Well I got three dogs. It’s just why not,” he said.

Considering how close to the water he is, the damage is manageable, however, a majority of the foundation has been washed out. Crews are working on the basement of his home as quick as they can. Brannon hopes to have the home back to near perfect condition in 30 days.

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