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Oral History Interview with Mattie Bell and Earl Cavenaugh, December 7, 1999. Interview K-0282. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007).
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  • Abstract
    In this interview, Earl and Mattie Bell Cavenaugh, who are joined by family and friends, remember their experiences with Hurricane Floyd. Multiple interviewees may have detracted from this interview's value, as their responses to Thompson's questions are sometimes disjointed and unspecific. But they do offer an on-the-ground perspective on the flood and its aftermath. Like many affected North Carolinians, they are frustrated with inadequate compensation and are facing the prospect of trying to rebuild without help from insurance or the government, a prospect which seems difficult for a pair of octogenarians. Earl also offers some thoughts on the general erosion of moral values, prompted by the ban on school prayer, sex education, and social security among other factors.
    Excerpts
  • Past flooding does not compare with Hurricane Floyd
  • Recalling changes in the farming industry
  • Watching, then fleeing, floodwaters
  • The flood devastates the Cavenaugh home
  • The Red Cross helps the Cavenaughs deal with their devastated home
  • Inadequate compensation for losses
  • Earl loses his plywood during the flood
  • A dramatic account of rising floodwaters
  • The intricacies of flood insurance seemed designed to limit payout
  • Many in need are refused compensation for lost property
  • Learn More
  • Finding aid to the Southern Oral History Program Collection
  • Database of all Southern Oral History Program Collection interviews
  • Resources for Educators
  • Hurricane Floyd Learning Object
  • Subjects
  • Duplin County (N.C.)
  • Hurricane Floyd, 1999
  • Floods--North Carolina
  • Disaster relief--North Carolina
  • United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
  • The Southern Oral History Program transcripts presented here on Documenting the American South undergo an editorial process to remove transcription errors. Texts may differ from the original transcripts held by the Southern Historical Collection.

    Funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services supported the electronic publication of this title.