Ravinia Residents Resilient After Heavy Rain

RAVINIA, SD - City officials in Ravinia hope to soon bring in a giant irrigation pump to start removing some of the water that’s flooding the town and ruined the city’s sewer system. But those who live in Ravinia could face problems long after the water is gone.

At four blocks by four blocks in size and with half the town under water, many people and their pets are looking for higher ground. But some, like Gayle Barr are sticking it out, wading through knee deep water every time they go outside. And it's all from days of heavy rain.

"I don't know, its been seven to nine inches," Barr said.

Those who live in the small community say Ravinia has faced high water problems before but this is definitely the highest it has ever been.

Simple tasks are now a struggle, and even if the water dries up, the problems may not.

“Then when the water goes down, it stinks like a hog pen," Barr said.

But the stench isn't Barr's biggest fear. He has at least 16 inches of water in his home, and fears when it dries out, his house could face another threat.

"I don't know how, the water will have to be pumped out from underneath the house, if we haven't already got black mold underneath there," Barr said.

That means this whole summer could be a battle for those in Ravinia. But for now, they're doing the best they can to get life back to normal.

Those in the town are doing what they can to help themselves, but they hope to get help from the county and state.