FREEMAN, Mo. — Hours after heavy rain and flooding moved through the area, neighbors around Freeman, Missouri continued to clean-up following the severe weather.
Marlea Struble, who has lived in Freeman for over 40 years, told 41 Action News that she awoke around 2 a.m. Tuesday to find her home in the way of rushing water.
"I woke up with the thunder and lightning. I glanced out the window and the water was rushing down the driveway," she explained. "We decided to get out of here because the water was up to my hips."
Struble said water from Poney Creek and the South Grand River overflowed and led to several homes needing to be evacuated.
After returning home on Tuesday, Struble showed water lines feet high on her garage door.
While walking a 41 Action News crew around her home, she showed water-logged carpets and floors, as well as plenty of mud inside.
"It's very hard. I've got a house full of mud and water," she explained.
Struble got help from her grandson, who was staying in the house overnight, as she evacuated and cleaned-up on Tuesday.
She said the home has been in her family for decades and she wanted to continue living there after losing her husband 10 years ago.
"When you're alone without my husband, it's hard to handle these things," she explained. "You can't really describe how you feel because it's just kind of a hopeless feeling. You can't stop it."
Down the road from Struble's home, Leon Bohrer waited for flood water to recede before going back to the site of his trailer.
Bohrer told 41 Action News that he had to use his own boat to evacuate after waking up to the flood overnight.
"I was laying down in bed and I heard a bubble and a banging," he explained. "I got up out of the bed and (outside) was full of water and my dogs were scared to death and shaking."
Bohrer said he was unsure if his trailer would still be at the site after he saw it come off its foundation as he was paddling away.
He hoped to receive help from The American Red Cross following the flooding.
As parts of Freeman continued to recover from the severe weather on Tuesday, Struble amazingly kept a positive attitude.
"What else can you do?" she said. "You just have to do what you have to do."
