All we want is a safer community: Waverly leaders work with federal agencies to mitigate future flood risks [Video]

WAVERLY, Tenn. (WKRN) — Several projects are in the works that could prevent another tragedy in Humphreys County.

Three years ago, Trace Creek flooded the city of Waverly. As a result, 20 people died in the county, and about 800 properties were destroyed.

“It can go very quickly from being a very mild stream to a violent, raging river,” Waverly mayor, W.B. “Buddy” Frazier, explained. “We’ve seen that time and time again.”

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Decades of previous city leadership have worked to mitigate the flood risk, but solutions may finally be within reach.

“Our existing flood maps have not been updated since 1981,” Frazier said. “We did meet with representatives from FEMA yesterday and they are revising the flood maps.”

Once those flood maps are revised, several projects to elevate flood risk reduction that were waiting for funding, approval — or both — could be one step closer to starting.

“All we …