FRANKLIN, Va. — As he tells his story, Parker Darden’s voice is surprisingly fresh, considering the weeklong nightmare he has withstood and the stressful future he faces. His cell phone, through which his voice must rise over the static, is his only link to the outside world.
His shop is under 12 feet of water, his phones are out at least until the middle of this week, and he is looking at months of negotiating with federal and state relief agencies to help get him up and running again.