From the Flood Waters of Missouri to the High Desert of Arizona

With one week to go before our planned move to Arizona and our new retirement home the rains came.  More than 14 inches of moisture in a 7 day period is more than the White River watershed could handle.  First came the release of water from the Beaver Lake Dam and quickly followed by the record release of water from Table Rock Dam.  Living downstream on Lake Taneycomo and just 3 miles from the dam we quickly experienced the effects of 68,000 cubic feet of water per second.  With a 7:30 knock on the door from a deputy sheriff warning us that the flood gates would soon be open we quickly went into action.  The warning to evacuate without a time frame was somewhat alarming. With a few phone calls, 4 moving trucks and 14 friends and co-workers came to our rescue.  Would you believe than from 10 am until 2:30 pm we were able to move out of the lower two levels of our home.

 Only one other flood had occured in the previous 40 years and that was in 2008.  That previous record flood only reached the two lower levels in our rented home.  With quickly rising waters we all departed and only could watch as the water quickly rose to the height of the 2nd level.  Everything seemed to be in order until we were notified that the flood gates would be opened and that we could expect an additional 4 feet of water.  What?  Another 4 feet in addition to the 8 we already had?  A quick decision was made to get a boat and to break a window (the deck level doors were locked) so that we could move the 3rd level furniture to the top and final level.  Do you know how hard it is to break a thermopane window with a sledge hammer?  After several full swings it finally exploded into thousands of pieces.  With four of us making a quick move of furniture to higher ground we were able to keep everything dry.

We will post the rest of the story including rescueing the grand daughters pretty dresses that grandma just had to have for the retirement party.  Yes a retirement party in the middle of a flood and move.  More to come with photos!  Stay tuned!