Elba Minnesota's waterlogged villagers began to pick themselves up Monday, while marveling at the mess left behind. The foundation of Patricia Arnold's home was pushed in ? but the damage did not appear to break her spirit.
"I think Elba is a great community to be in and we'll come together and help each other to get back going again," Patricia said.
The Whitewater River backed up around the town's levee ? forcing the evacuation of the town of 214 Sunday.
"It wasn't any fun," flood survivor Beulah Waits said. "They kicked us out of here about three o'clock in the morning. And that was the end of that."
By the time Beulah returned to her home of 43 years, water was rushing out her front windows ? mud covered her floors.
Just down Highway 74 south of Elba the surging river laid waste to the Whitewater Valley Campground. Thirty RVs had been tossed around like toys ? fortunately the eight campers had found refuge in the campground owners' home.
The river brought debris ... trailers and pop-up campers from other flooded campgrounds upstream.
"I don't know what to do," campground owner Gladys Hammel said. "We're very undecided what we're going to do."
(Copyright 2007 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)
