Isaias Oak Destroys Johnny Ballard Home in Sandflat; Longtime Clarke Prep Coach Plans to Rebuild

THOMASVILLE, Ala. — The home of longtime Clarke County coach Johnny Ballard was destroyed when Hurricane Isaias toppled a huge oak tree across it on Friday, Oct. 9. The Johnny Ballard home in the Sandflat community south of Thomasville is so badly damaged that Ballard believes it cannot be repaired, and he and his wife, Kathy, plan to rebuild.

Both of the Ballards were inside when the tree came down, and Ballard said where he happened to be sitting may have saved his life.

‘I wouldn’t be here’

Ballard said he was working at his desk and his wife was sewing in the den when the oak fell onto the house.

“If I had been sitting in my recliner, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

The couple are now trying to salvage what they can from the wrecked home. Ballard said the damage is extensive enough that starting over makes more sense than repairing what is left.

“It would cost me more to remodel than to build new,” Ballard said.

A GoFundMe for rebuilding

Tentative plans call for the Ballards to rebuild on the property. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family with the costs of clearing the old house, preparing the site for construction and other expenses.

Clearing a home crushed by a large tree is often a major job on its own. It can require a crane or heavy equipment to lift the trunk and limbs safely, followed by demolition of the damaged structure and hauling away of debris before a new foundation can be poured.

People who want to give through crowdfunding are encouraged to give only to campaigns they can verify, such as those shared directly by the family or people who know them. GoFundMe and consumer advocates have warned that disasters like Isaias can bring a wave of fundraising appeals, and that donors should confirm who organized a campaign and who will receive the money.

Decades on the sidelines

Ballard is a familiar face to generations of Clarke County students and athletes. He coached at Grove Hill Academy and its successor school, Clarke Prep, from 1992 until 2018, and he still substitutes there as needed.

Clarke Prep is a private school in Grove Hill. In small communities like Grove Hill and Thomasville, a coach with more than a quarter century at the same school often ends up knowing whole families, from parents who played for him to their children.

Clarke County’s worst damage was scattered

Isaias made landfall near Destin, Fla., on the night of Oct. 9 as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of at least 105 mph, then moved north into Alabama. Clarke County was on the western side of the storm and was spared the heaviest blow, which fell on Escambia, Monroe and Conecuh counties to the east.

Still, falling trees caused serious damage in pockets of the county. Clarke County Emergency Management Agency Director Roy Waite said his office received 125 damage reports, mostly for downed trees and power lines, and estimated top winds in the county at up to 60 mph. The most costly damage reported in the county was to the roof of Sage Auditorium at Clarke County High School in Grove Hill, estimated at $700,000 to $1 million.

Many of those falling trees brought power lines down with them. Clarke-Washington Electric Membership Corp., the cooperative that serves much of rural Clarke County, had about 9,000 meters out on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 10, roughly 45% of its system. Alabama Power, which serves customers mostly in Grove Hill, Jackson, Thomasville and Whatley, had 2,386 Clarke County customers out at the peak. Crews worked through the weekend, and by Monday morning most service in the county had been restored, with about 200 cooperative customers still waiting.

Law enforcement officers, volunteer firefighters and county road crews spent the weekend clearing trees from streets and highways across the county. No injuries were reported in the area.

Large oaks are a familiar part of the landscape across Clarke County, and when strong gusts catch a broad, heavy canopy, even healthy trees can come down. A falling tree can carry tons of force through a roof, which is why emergency managers urge people to shelter in interior rooms away from large trees during high winds whenever they can.

When a tree falls on a house

For homeowners dealing with similar damage after Isaias, insurance professionals and emergency managers generally recommend these steps:

• Get out safely. If a tree has struck the house, leave and do not reenter until the structure has been checked. Watch for downed or tangled power lines.
• Document everything. Photograph and video the tree, the roof, the interior and damaged belongings before anything is moved.
• Call your insurer. Standard homeowners policies generally cover damage when a tree falls on a home because of wind, though coverage details and limits for tree removal vary by policy.
• Hire qualified help. Use licensed, insured tree services and contractors, get written estimates and avoid paying in full up front.
• Report the damage locally. Contact the Clarke County EMA so the damage is counted in the county’s assessment.
• Keep receipts. Save records for temporary repairs, lodging and cleanup, which may be needed for insurance or tax purposes.

Clarke County is among the 40 Alabama counties covered by Gov. Kay Ivey’s state of emergency, and the Internal Revenue Service announced this week that taxpayers there have until Feb. 4, 2027, to file many federal returns and make payments.

For the Ballards, the path ahead starts with clearing what is left of the house. Then, if plans hold, they will build again in Sandflat.