The first flood safe community established on Tom�s Mountain, New Hope Village, ended unsuccessfully. No community leadership developed and conditions deteriorated into a pattern of drugs and violence despite investment of resources and volunteers from HEP. The second such sight followed the May 2002 Flood, Premier Park, in Premier was expected to suffer the same fate. Many local leaders watched from a distance not expecting such a grand first of its kind experiment-this �temporary-to-permanent� plan to work. Families from disparate backgrounds were suddenly neighbors having lost all attachment to community, family and history. HEP went literally on the ground with the families, and for starters, organized a massive home decorating project with the assistance of St. Luke�s Hilton Head South Carolina. The Program Director traveled to the church and related that many families will still living out of boxes and feeling no sense of home. The result was a team of women with a large truck load of donated decorator items who traveled to Premier and spent a week making friends, praying and loving and assisting ladies (and some gentlemen) in individualizing their non descript FEMA � cookie cutter� dwellings. Pride of ownership began and homes began to be established with a few pictures, pillows and a lot of prayer and love. At the same time, HEP began holding weekly community meetings: often sitting on stacks of drywall and using portable lights in the unfinished Center: which brought the residents together to talk about their loss, form new relationships, and begin a community. This continues to the present, a Tuesday night Community Council meeting that involves everyone. The grass root leadership development grew and the council became a viable Board of Directors who would eventually oversee management of the community. The residents began to manage themselves by enforcing rules about litter, dogs, noise, rent payment and their own sewage plant maintenance. HEP staff was involved in all aspects of this development and provided leadership and training to families which now include spiritual opportunities.
In January 2005 at the request of the community, HEP formally rented the community center from Premier Park Inc. for one year, and began Sunday worship services.