By Paul W. Mayer, Chief, DeSoto Rural Fire Protection District
July certainly came in like a lion in 2015 with torrential rains and flash flooding that required first responders to effect multiple rescues of persons both swept away and trapped in their homes and cars, including family members of one of the firefighters.
The flooding claimed two lives as Buck Creek swelled to a level never seen before. Both victims were females in separate vehicles that were caught in the floods and carried downstream. Searchers immediately began looking for the victims but were unable to continue due to the debris and treacherous conditions in the wake of the floods.
First responders consisting of fire, EMS, Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies and Missouri State Highway Patrol officers using dogs and UTV’s began the search again at daylight. The first victim was located approximately one mile from the point of entry and the second was over two miles downstream. The DeSoto Rural Command/Auxiliary unit was used to manage the search while the Auxiliary members fed and hydrated some 150 plus personnel.
Multiple residences and business were damaged along with vehicles swept away. People lost farm machinery, outbuildings, tools, propane tanks and many livestock and pets, some of which were later found alive including a calf found on Saturday, July 18th more than two weeks after the flooding.
Most of those affected were without flood insurance because they either could not afford it or it wasn’t available to them. Many people who have lived in the area for 50 plus years said the same thing “I’ve never seen anything like it”.
One couple threw some things in their two Jeeps and they, along with their three dogs evacuated their home. After just leaving and driving along State Road P, what they referred to as a “wall of water, like a tidal wave” took them both by surprise. The man climbed out of his car and got on the top and was trying to ride it out. It became lodged to a tree and he climbed up the tree. He was wearing a small headband light and he turned it on so it would blink. Two of our firefighters saw the blinking light and managed to get a PFD to him and told him to continue to hang on to the tree. As soon as he had it on, he jumped in the water. Our firefighters struggled to pull him to safety against the still strong current. His first words were, “my wife went in, in front of me and all I could do was watch her taillights!”
Immediately we sent word to firefighters downstream. At the same time, they were told by a bystander that they heard a woman screaming across the field and over by the creek. Firefighters launched a swiftwater boat and were able to find the woman who was frantic because she knew her husband was right behind her. After it was verified, we were able to tell them both that each other was okay.
The area received mutual aid from almost every department in Jefferson County as well as three Swiftwater Strike Teams from Region C. An initial after action review is scheduled with the agencies that had jurisdiction, the dispatch center and County EMA. Information and lessons learned will be disseminated and organized for a broader after action planning session.
We continue to work with EMA and flood victims to provide SEMA and FEMA with assessments in the hope that the businesses and residents will get assistance. We still have people with no hot water or air conditioning. Area non-profits are taking donations of clothing, food, air conditioners etc. Call the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Services if you would like to help at 636-797-5381. On Saturday, August 8, 2015 FEMA issued a declaration for Public Assistance which will allow federal dollars for the emergency response and infrastructure repairs. We are still working to get the declaration for individual assistance to help the families affected which we believe will be forthcoming.
FFAM
