Peek's Creek facts for kids
Peeks Creek is a small stream located in Macon County, North Carolina. It is a tributary of the Cullasaja River. This means Peeks Creek flows into the Cullasaja River, a few miles upstream from the town of Franklin.
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The Big Flood of 2004
In September 2004, Peeks Creek experienced a very serious flood and mudslide. This happened after huge amounts of rain fell. The rain was left over from Hurricane Ivan, which hit the area just a week after Hurricane Frances had already soaked the ground.
How the Mudslide Started
The mudslide began on Fishhawk Mountain, also known as Big Fish Hawk Mountain. It then moved down into Peeks Creek. A large amount of mud and water built up behind a bridge. This created a temporary dam.
The Creek Changes Shape
When the water and mud broke through the bridge, it was very powerful. The creek, which is usually only about two or three meters wide, suddenly became about 45 meters wide! This shows how much force the flood had.
Damage to Homes and Land
The mudslide carried a mix of trees, large rocks, and mud. This powerful flow pushed at least fifteen houses off their foundations. One person was even carried about 150 meters downstream while still inside their home. Another house was pierced by a tree, going from one end to the other. Pictures of this damage appeared in local newspapers.
The area affected by the mudslide was about three kilometers long. A lot of the mud and smaller pieces of debris continued to flow into and down the Cullasaja River.
Impact on the Community
The small community of Peeks Creek was greatly affected by this historic event. It caused a lot of damage and sadness for the people living there.
