JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – A local school was overtaken by rising waters and residents were left with extensive damage Monday evening.

“I was watching it and the water kept rising and rising and it got to a point where it was about 8 feet deep in the backyard. It infiltrated the window well and once that filled up, the water pressure pushed the window in and the basement flooded,” Stan Andert, a House Spring resident of 17 years, said.

The Andert family experienced a foot of water in their basement, which was full of antiques. He stated that his insurance would not cover the repairs.

“I lived here 17 years. This is the first time (its flooded),” he said.

With more rain forecasted for the next day, the Andert family prepared for the worst by purchasing several 50-pound sandbags to barricade their basement windows, hoping to prevent further flooding.

“I think the sewer in the backyard connects to this one and then it goes down the hill. I think something got clogged up between the backyard and here,” Stan said. 

Just minutes away, Valley Middle School had flood waters rising almost three feet on the building’s exterior. Several volunteers helped with the cleanup. A volunteer said off camera that sewer water mixed with flooding.

As Jefferson County braces for another day of relentless rain, the communities are coming together to support each other through this difficult time.