PACIFIC, Mo. (KSDK) - 100 National Guard troops are expected in Pacific, Missouri, Friday morning to help people there start the huge task of cleaning up after several feet of water flooded parts of their town.
Like a lot of communities along the Meramec River this is the second time in less than two years Pacific has suffered a a major flood.
The water damaged several homes and businesses, including two of the largest employers in town.
The Mayor says it is too soon to know the exact scope of the damage, but even some homes that were raised to avoid flooding still took on flood water.
Photos: Flooding around the STL area
"The reality of being hit twice is settling in and it's just the most helpless feeling," says Mayor Jeffery Palmore.
Steve LaFrance owns the historic Pacific Opera House which dates back to the early 1900's when it was relocated to Pacific from the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis. Once again LaFrance says he will rebuild the first floor where he runs a restaurant. And while it could take a month or more to complete he is already getting help from the community.
"A lot of the people that can't get out to go to work are showing up tomorrow to start gutting it out and getting it done," he says. "That's what we do. We continue. We move on."
He worries about his 38 employees who will miss work during the rebuild and a lot of people in Pacific are concerned about two of the largest employers in town who also sustained damage during the flood. They hope they too will rebuild.
