HARRISONVILLE, Mo. — Residents of Harrisonville, Missouri, were working to clean up Sunday after weekend storms caused severe flooding in several parts of town.
"No bargains, no nothing today. I don't know when we will reopen," Loni Cook, who owns the Harrisonville Trade Fair Mall said.
She is stunned by what happened to her business.
"When you put your heart and soul into a business that you love very much, everyone of these people are family," Cook said.
On Saturday night, a storm pounded the city.
"I'm looking at the camera system. At 6:26 p.m., oh, it's just raining. It's alright. There is no water. The creek isn't coming up," Cook explained.
Within five minutes, there were several feet of water in the parking lot
Customers' cars were totaled, antiques ruined and floors covered in mud. It is the third time Cook has dealt with flooding.
"We replaced every stud last time, every sheet rock, every bracket, every shelf had to be replaced down to bare concrete last time," she said.
She spent almost half a million dollars on renovations last time it flooded.
"Every life savings I had. I don't have it to do it again. I guess do the best we can and figure it out on stage at a time," Cook said.
Vendors at the mall were also hit hard by the damaging water.
"I had this really nice wooden table here. There is obviously water damage to it. I can't do much to salvage it," vendor Rick Tarwater said.
He is one of 200 vendors in the mall.
"This is my third flood here," Tarwater said.
Each time, he cleans up and starts over. Despite the damage. Tarwater plans to stay.
"Yeah, I will stay here. I probably won't put anything down belo,w just to keep everything two feet and above that wouldn't be effected by water or flooding," he said.
As for the future of the Harrisonville trade mall, it is uncertain.
"Get customers in here, get vendors in here, get friends in here. Whatever it takes to get it open. But on the other hand, last time the city told us they wouldn't let us reopen if it happened again. So, I am not sure what the whole process is going to be right now to be honest," Cook said.
The mall will be closed until further notice.
