Evacuees return home to massive mess after flooding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Rescue units say they had to evacuate 84 people from rising flood waters across Louisville. For many, the rain came so fast that many said they didn't have time to move their belongings, or their cars, away from the water

Sunday morning's sunrise revealed what many in the Fountain Square apartment complex in Buechel weren't ready for.

"I just saw a sea of water, brown water," said Kendra Barney. She said she woke up at 5 a.m. and couldn't believe what she saw. Cars stuck in at least two feet of water on the main street in front of the apartment complex.

Many struggled to bring their cars back to life, as others found themselves lucky to have pulled up just out of harm's way.

Renters south of there at the Guardian Court apartments off Preston Highway say it only took a matter of minutes before water was reaching well above the floor boards.

"I immediately started gathering up my items and picking up the curtains and draperies and wiping off the items immediately," said Joyce Brummitt. A rescue boat was used to evacuate residents at the apartments, but she refused to go. She says firefighters came back three times trying to urge her to leave, but she didn't want to leave her belongings. "I chose not to leave, I chose to stay in my apartment because I was busy cleaning."

While many did leave. Some found a dry bed at the Red Cross shelter at Atherton High School. Volunteers there say at this point, there's no telling how long they'll stay open. "We have disaster assessment teams out there in the neighborhoods determining what the need is with different people and different neighborhoods in the area," said volunteer Tony Hardin.

MetroSafe says they received 1,000 calls from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Sunday. By Sunday morning into afternoon, that volume dropped to less than half of that.

As cleanup continues, many know that despite losing almost everything, things will get better-- it's only a matter of time. "A lot is going through my mind, but I'll get through it, I don't know how, but I'll get through it," said Brummitt.