VIENNA - The flood water was low enough over the weekend to re-open all major roads in Maries county.
Now that the water has gone down, one Vienna family is dealing with the damage underneath for the first time. The story for this Vienna family is two-fold. The family lost their business of 11 years, and mother of two lost her home and all of her valuables. After the flood, they have plenty of work ahead of them. For Gary Prewett, his loss from the flood was a large one. He and his wife own Indian Ford Resorts.
Their cabins, RV's, and equipment were ripped apart and scattered by the overflowing Gasconade River.
Their daughter and her kids lived in one of the cabins. The only thing left is its foundation. The water was so powerful that it ripped up a 40 foot trailer made of steel, wrapped it around a tree, and then scattered it around the camp grounds. Now their home is their grandfather's house.
"We thought we were going to have enough clothes, but we lost everything," said Tammy Shands, the Prewett's daughter.
As the family celebrated Easter inside, Gary checked the damage site periodically for looters. He found one this morning trying to take his tools.
"If he needed something I would be more that happy to give it to him. Not just to take it after this happening. I'm not a selfish person," said Prewett.
"You either laugh of crying I use laugh at it to get through it," Tammy Shands said.
"My daughter said she's worried about returning her library books," said Prewett.
Whether it's laughter or anger, the Prewett family and many others have a long road ahead of them. Gary Prewett said the damage may cost millions of dollars in landscape repair and property replacement. Next week his family will start cleaning up the pieces after FEMA officials assess the damages. For more information on FEMA assessment dates and footage of the damages, visit the link beside this story.