JOHNSON COUNTY - Most flood victims are focused on the future, wondering about buyouts or waiting to rebuild. But in one Johnson County neighborhood people are just getting back into their homes for the first time in a month. On Stewart Road, someone spray painted "Welcome to hell." They might have a valid point. The water washed away two homes. The neighborhood is trashed. But one woman will not call this hell. For her, it is still home. T. J. Lea said, "We built in all our cabinets, but nothing will budge much.”

Lea is finally cleaning out her flood soaked home. She moved out a month ago. This is the second time she will have to tear the house to shreds. She said, "We're gonna have to cut 2 four feet at least, we might have to cut to six feet depending on what we find."

Lea lifted the home several feet following the ‘93 flood. She does not think she will have to lit it again. Lea plans to move back to her one-bedroom one-bath bungalow on Riverfront Estates along the Iowa River. She said, "I think everyone in the neighborhood would like to be able to live here again."

Frank Janaszak agrees. He learned from ‘93 that a squeegee and a little water will clear the mud right out of your garage. He also built up his home about eight feet. His basement flooded, but the water was about a foot from his main floor. Janaszak said, “You gotta prepare for the future and that's what I did. I prepared for a flood."

Both Janaszak and Lea learned from the past and were better prepared for the current. Eventually they hope to be back home to enjoy the future.

Email Steve Nicoles at Steve.Nicoles@kcrg.com