Miami Experiencing Second Worst Flood In Its History

Tuesday, July 3rd 2007, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

Itâ€™s gone from bad to worse in Miami. The Neosho River finally had all it could hold, and floodwaters swamped several neighborhoods Monday night. The News On 6â€™s Steve Berg reports about 600 homes were ordered to be evacuated in whatâ€™s become the second worst flood in the townâ€™s history.

Steve St. John didn't start out Tuesday morning to be a rescuer.

"I'm an electrician," he said.

But as he was in the process of getting some of his belongings out of his own flooded house and into his boat, he came across Amber Lejk and her three children, stranded in their house since Monday night.

"We watched it come up from 11 to 4 o'clock this morning. It raised two blocks. It's crazy," Miami resident Amber Lejk said.

"We've just been getting food, people, cats, dogs. There's was a guy over at the Townsman, sleeping on the second floor, he didn't even know what was going on," said Steve St. John of Miami.

Across the street from that motel, longtime Miami resident Betty King watched nervously as the floodwaters crept closer to her business.

"Oh yes, very definitely, much closer," Miami business owner Betty King said. "It's probably half a block closer than it was this morning. Every bit of half a block."

Governor Brad Henry arrived in Miami Tuesday morning and toured the areas hardest hit by the flooding. He tried to offer encouragement to Lejk who says she has no insurance.

"It'll be okay, we'll get through this,â€ Governor Brad Henry said. â€œTogether, we'll all get through it. And you're going to have the assistance that you need okay."

"I was shocked. Very scary. First flood I've ever been through. I'm from California," Lejk said.

We talked to about half-a-dozen different evacuees, and none of them that we talked to had flood insurance. Again, some of them said they just didn't realize flooding could be that bad in Miami.

For help getting your power back on, call 918-541-2231, 918-541-2214, or 918-542-6685.

For help finding lost pets or to find a shelter for your pet, call 918-541-8521 or 918-5423413.

To volunteer, call 918-542-6685.

A shelter is set up in Miami at the First Christian Church on 2424 N. Main St.

Watch the video: Flood Waters Swamp Several Neighborhoods In Ottawa County

For more flooding information, check out our STORM ZONE web page.