'It was absolutely terrifying,': Reflecting on two-year anniversary of historic flooding

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - Friday marks the two-year anniversary of the historic flooding in the St. Louis Metro area, as almost a foot of rain fell in some locations and two people drowned.

During the early morning hours of July 26, 2022, a complex of thunderstorms set up along the Interstate 70 corridor in Missouri and the Interstate 64 corridor in Illinois. One of the hardest-hit areas was St. Peters, where upwards of 11 inches of rain fell in about eight hours.

“It was absolutely terrifying. I have never felt like I was going to die before, and at that point, I did,” Ashley Miller, an employee at Elm Point Animal Hospital who was trapped in floodwaters, said.

At Elm Point Animal Hospital in St. Charles, a worker and animals became trapped in the flash flooding and at Stray Paws Rescue, 10 puppies died and 15 others were found with water standing up to their necks.

Highway C in St. Charles turned into a river, with chunks of pavement washing away. Cars were submerged and the water made it into homes and apartments, leading to some close calls.