Tragedy in Missouri Flood Waters
Sometimes when you cover the news you end up becoming a part of it.
That was the case this morning in Jefferson County, southwest of St. Louis. I was sent here to cover flooding, with rivers in the area expected to crash at record or near-record levels later in the week, after a winter of heavy snow and a week of unprecedented rain.
• Dramatic Coverage of the Flood Damage in the Midwest
While searching for a live shot location, near the city of Eureka, Mo., we went in search of an area someone told us had high water. We came upon a sign that said Road Closed. We drove up a nearby road so we could turn around, but decided to instead stop there to set up our cameras.
As soon as we got out of the trucks, my photographer Dutch Wargo asked me if I heard something.
“What?” I asked.
“Someone is yelling for help!”
Sure enough, I did hear a woman yelling for help. Dutch pulled his camera out, zoomed in on the river, and we saw a car partly submerged. Right about that same time, a resident from a nearby farm ran up, waving her arms. She was awakened from her sleep when she heard the same cries we did. Within seconds, rescue personnel showed up. They got a call and didn’t know exactly what was going on, so we directed them down the road to where the car was submerged … where someone was trapped in the water.
About 15 minutes later, a canoe came with rescue personnel, wearing life vests, ready to search for the woman. We were told that this river, named the Big River, had been rising a foot and a half per hour today. We got on the scene at 6:30 am — a rescue worker said they did a road check at 2:30 am, and that the roads were passable.
After a few tense minutes, we were told the woman had been rescued. I didn’t see her until later … and we’ll tell you more about it in a bit.
Meanwhile, as the river rescue is happening, another nearby resident came up to us in a panic.
Christine Ellis’ pickup truck (see photo) got stuck in the river outside of her house. She decided to evacuate her house when she still could, and packed her 65-year- old mother, furniture and pets into her truck that was connected to a horse trailer.
• Watch an interview with Christine Ellis
She gunned it — but got stuck about 20 yards out in front of her house. Slowly, the water rose into the pickup truck. They were all stuck there – air temperature was 40 degrees and the water temperature was 40 to 45 degrees. Christine and her mother sat there for an hour until fire and rescue personnel pulled her out.
At first, Christine couldn’t be more elated — she made it out, her mom made it out and her pickup made it out. Shortly, the story took a sad turn.
As we were interviewing Christine, she went back of the horse trailer to check on her pets. Her parrots made it out OK, her Saint Bernard made it out … but sadly, most of her animals did not. Five chickens, three dogs, three cats and a quail drowned in the water.
Christine’s frail 65-year-old mother hobbled to the truck with a cane. When she learned of the death of the animals, it was one of the most jarring and upsetting things I’d ever seen. This elderly woman screamed, “No, not Bubba!!!!”
She then preceded to give her beloved pet dog CPR and chest compressions for 15 minutes – a dog whose eyes were fixed in a glassy stare of death and tongue hanging out. We finally had to tell the woman, “Dear, they’re gone.”
Jeff Goldblatt has been a Chicago-based reporter for FNC since 1999. He reported from the front lines in the Middle East during the battle between Hezbollah and Israel, and his coverage on Hurricane Isabel garnered attention from major news sources … and Jay Leno. 
After hearing this story on the news, as I live in STL, I couldn’t help but start to cry. This reporter showed such quality human emotion including this story of the woman and her dog. We need more reporters to include the human side of things in their stories. Hats off to this reporter and the let us remember they not only have to do their job, but sometimes run into difficult situations themselves.
Godspeed Jeff.
Jeff, just finished watching your report on the floods in Missouri and got a kick out of your reference to the “elderly” 65 yr old women who had to be rescued.You seem like a nice “30 something “guy and ,of course,I don’t know you personally,but I,m still willing to bet that I could out hike ,out swim and out play you in any sport you might choose. I looked over to my wife, the mother of our 5 children,who still weighs the same as she did when we first met almost 45 yrs ago and asked: ” did you know that we’re elderly?” She juist smiled. By the way, she could probably outhike you too!
So continue the good work, stay out of the mud and away from the labels,people tend to believe them after awhile. If you ever get an interview with John McCain, you might want to choose another adjective.
We’ll continue to enjoy your work.
I was worried about this all day. I thought horses were in the trailer but other pets didn’t ease the pain any when I heard most of them perished. This was very sad. I understand the lady’s heartache at losing Bubba. I have many dogs dumped out at my house and would very willingly share one of my sweet dogs with her if that would help. It wouldn’t ever take the place of Bubba, but one of my pets may help ease some of the pain.
Yes, I agree with some other viewers; the older you get, the younger an age becomes. When more people are living to their nineties or hundreds, 65 is not elderly…not anymore. I am 54, and I don’t have a foot in the grave yet; I feel pretty good.
Thanks for your good work today…anyway.
I agree that 65 isnt elderly. However I will say that Chrissy has been my best friend for about 11 years and I am quite aware of the health of her mother. She doesnt look like the average alive and kicking 65 year old, she uses a cane (which Chrissy made) to get around and always in and out of the hospital. I can swear there would have been no possible way she could have made it out of the window of the pick-up. Ive heard gossip about her everywhere I go, and some want to blame her for getting stuck by waiting too long to leave. There was no one that came by to evacuate them. They left on their own accord, and if they were to wait on the police to tell them to go there would be a much different headline to her story.
As far as the pets go, I am heartbroken about the loss of her animals. She is a vegetarian so even the chickens were pets. However the media exaggerated the details a bit (suprised?) and she still has several dogs and all of her horses’ love. I do know all of her cats are gone, and I think she still has a few birds that made it. No one could ever be a bigger animal lover than her.
If anyone wants to help her, instead of showing pity and reminding her of all that is gone, they should take advantage of the spring weather coming up soon and go for a carriage ride and give her a good tip. She is a wonderful person and after all that has happened in the last few days she remains outgoing and bubbly. Best of luck girl! LUV U!!