Residents return to homes after flooding in Camden County

As flood waters continue to recede in Mid-Missouri, many residents will begin sifting through the aftermath.

At the Lake of the Ozarks, dozens of homes have been condemned after suffering major flood damage.

ABC 17 News has been reporting from Cottage Drive in Camdenton all week where homeowners had to find a new place to live.

Wednesday was the first time the water level receded enough for residents to get into their homes.

One home owner showed us inside his house.

The carpets inside were covered in mud, and his brand new pickup truck was nearly submerged.

He said this has been his home for the past 27 years and has never seen flood waters like this. He didn’t have flood insureance.

Dennis Welch said he and his partner have made other living arrangements, but it was devastating to lose his home of more than 2 decades.

Welch said, “Everything I owned, it’s gone. I gotta redo it. I actually went out with an extra shirt, pair of pants, and underwear like you were going to stay overnight somewhere, and this is actually going to be quite a few overnights.”

Welch said he plans to rebuild his home, no matter how long it takes.