Recent flooding can mean contamination, mold, loss

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Recent flooding can mean contamination, mold, loss

Branson Daily News - MO*

By Donna Clevenger

BDN Staff Writer

dclevenger@...

http://www.bransondailynews.com/story.php?storyID=7275

Flooding is not just all about high water; it's also about the loss

of precious memories and costly replacement of furnishings and, in

some cases, the loss of a home.

Last weekend the pool at Table Rock Dam was projected to crest at

932.6 — the record set on April 12 was 933.3. Those numbers are just

statistics that don't address the tragedy of people who watch the

guts of their home being torn out and piled into a dumpster.

Salvaging what they can, some homeowners on Acacia Club Road and

down to Foggy River Road are just packing up what's left and storing

it, hopefully only until sometime in June when the spring rains

stop — then they can begin to build back their interrupted lives.

A family who declined to give their name and address, for fear of

vandals and thieves, have already been to the Federal Emergency

Management Agency field office at the airport. They have already

hired a company to come in and demolish the wallboard, cap off water

lines and cart off the water-logged furnishing from the lower level

of their home where at least 8 feet of water flowed in as Taneycomo

water level rose on April 12.

" We thought we might have an electrician come in and at least do the

wiring. We haven't had any power for a week, " the homeowner said.

They had been living in the top floor, but the fear of worse

flooding and thieves breaking in drove them to hire movers to strip

the house and take everything to storage.

A few blocks away, Larry Hooper watched as a backhoe scooped up what

was left of the interior finish of his home and dropped it into a

dumpster.

" We're trying to get the trash out of here, so it doesn't float down

the river if it floods like this again. Or it could end up in our

neighbors' yards — I just want to be a good neighbor, " Hooper said.

" We tried sandbagging, " he explained, point to a pile of soggy sand

bags about five rows high. " It just came right on in. "

Hooper not only lost the use of his house, but also the business he

ran out of his home. He pointed to a rather small POD and indicated

that was what he had salvaged.

" I thought it would be best to just get it out of here where it

would be safe, " he said.

By Friday, the FEMA disaster recovery center at the Taney County

Airport had processed 96 claims with three additional pre-

registrations by the close of the day Thursday. State-wide claims

are 4,663 with $9.7 million " on the street, " according to FEMA

public information representative Jackie Chandler.

" We just monitor the situation day by day, " Chandler said concerning

whether the disaster recovery center would remain open after today.