ROCKY MOUNT, Mo. — Stories of courageous rescues by local emergency responders continue to emerge, as the Lake of the Ozarks recedes and residents affected by floodwaters survey the damage.
On Monday, at the height of the flooding, Rocky Mount Fire Protection District Firefighters were toned out at 9 a.m. to a woman trapped in her home on Montrose Road in Rocky Mount. According to RMFPD Fire Chief Kevin Hurtibise, the woman went to bed on Sunday night with no standing water in her home. She woke up to find her house flooded with water and she was afraid she would be electrocuted if she tried to leave, so she called 911. “That was a wise call,” Chief Hurtibise said.
The water backed up into her home from the Lake of the Ozarks. “The Lake is higher than I have ever seen it in my 40 years in the fire service,” Chief Hurbitise said.
The woman’s home was quickly filing with water. Upon arrival, RMSD firefighters made access into the home by using a fire truck at the porch level located on the side of the home. The woman climbed down using a ladder. She was uninjured. The district shut off all power in the home and transported her to a motel in Osage Beach, where she will stay until the water subsides.
“Even when there is water in your home due to a waterline break it is better to be safe than sorry,” Chief Hurbitise advised. “Do not go in until the power is shut off. You do not know where the electric lines may be shorting out.” Chief Hurbitise recommends calling 911 to get emergency personnel assistance in securing power or with evacuation. There may also be containments such as sewage and hazardous materials in the home. “During the flood of ’93, I went to Rocheport and helped with sandbagging. They offered us shots so that we would not be infected by the water containments,” he recalled.
Chief Hurbitise has also been busy conducting a search of the district to ascertain the amount of flood damage in to prepare a report to obtain funding from emergency agencies. So far he has found 20 homes with flood damage in their living quarters. “There are many more damaged outbuildings,” he said.
“There are still approximately eight low water bridges in the area that have water over them. We advise cars not to cross where there is running water over the road,” Chief Hurbitise said.
