Families near river clean up after flood
Thursday was the first of many muddy, wet, smelly days as families along Java, Meridian and Main streets in Kendricktown began the long cleanup and rebuilding process in the wake of this week's flooding.
The Franklin family, along with some friends, spent much of the day helping Joe Franklin move his stuff out of the home at 126 Java St., owned by his father, Daniel Franklin.
Joe Franklin was lighthearted as he described waking up early Tuesday to find the Spring River, normally several hundred yards to the south, lapping at his home.
"I had a buddy who came and woke me up at 4:30 in the morning and he said 'Do you know where the water is? It's on the porch,'" Joe Franklin said. "From the time I woke up until 7:30 in the morning, I was wading in knee-deep water getting my clothes and moving stuff up high. At 4:30 in the morning, that water is seriously cold."
The flooding resulted from more than 3.5 inches of rain that fell over a 29-hour period across a wide swath of Southwest Missouri and the central U.S. Monday and Tuesday.
Spring River, Center Creek, Shoal Creek and dozens of small streams and rivers across the area were forced from their banks. Spring River and Center Creek both went well over moderate flood stage, while Shoal Creek set a new high-water mark in Joplin.
Carthage firefighters responded to at least four calls for help. In Kendricktown, the firefighters went from house to house making sure everyone was OK and out of their homes.
Tim Snethen, another Kendricktown resident, said the flooding got into the mobile home he was remodeling on Main Street. Snethen said he's putting his house on cinder blocks to raise it out of potential floodwaters.
"I thought I had it high enough to get it out of the floods, but about 3 inches of water came in," Snethen said. "I'll be OK if I just put another couple of blocks under it. I threw my lawn mower on top of a truck and said if it gets that high, it can have the lawn mower."
Daniel Franklin said this isn't the first time the house has been inundated, but it's not a real common occurrence.
"Last year the floods just barely got to the step," Daniel Franklin said. "In 1993, there was 8 feet of water in the home."
Joe Franklin said the American Red Cross came by with bottled water and cleaning supplies and took his name to see if he needed further help.
For now, he'll stay with his father, who lives in Carthage, but the family plans to rebuild the little house in Kendricktown. Joe said he couldn't afford to live anywhere else since he is between jobs right now, and he really can't afford to replace all the items that were ruined in the home.
Daniel Franklin said he and his son will work together to make the home livable again as soon as possible."
Carthage Press