Floodwaters Make Mess Of Areas Along Illinois River Near Tahlequah

Historic flooding in the Illinois River has caused damage throughout Cherokee County.

One week after the heavy rain, people who live there expect some long days of cleaning up ahead.

Things are far from being back to normal. At the Sparrow Hawk campground, there are picnic tables piled in the tree line. But that’s  nothing compared to the damage all over the area.

Flooding like this doesn't come around often. But when it does, people like Gene Ellis can only hope things don't get any worse.

“Living on the river, I just made the comment today to someone, she giveth and she takes it away,” Ellis said.

Ellis owns the Sparrow Hawk camp. As the water flowed, it damaged the buildings, a car and everything in its path.

Ellis saw it all through his window.

“We stayed here and rode it out, and we were stuck here on an island basically because we couldn't get in our out,” Ellis said. “But we saw huge pecan trees a hundred years old hit power lines, main power lines wrapped around trees."

With the water reaching 12-feet high in some spots, a lot of canoes and tables floated away. So on top of cleaning, Ellis is watching for thieves.

"It's not finders-keepers in the river,” he said. “I know I talk to my friends that own other float places and they say they've already had people trying to loot, trying to load canoes."

Everywhere you look, nothing is normal.  Keith Long knows. He's been coming here since he was 4 years old.

"It's without a doubt the worse it's ever been,” Long said. “It's just devastating to see how the water has altered the gravel."

Right in the center of the camp was a popular karaoke spot. All that's left there is the concrete slab and jagged pieces of old fiberglass canoes.

"This was an awesome set up; it was the only karaoke on the river,” Long said.

Despite the devastation, they say Mother Nature won't keep them down. They have insurance and plan to have the camp open by Memorial Day weekend.

The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission still is assessing the damage. If you have damage or know of any damage, representatives are asking you to let them know.