It has taken us a few days to find the words to share this. Many of our guests have become like family over the years, and we know so many of you have been worried about everyone at Twin Rivers Landing. The photos are heartbreaking, but now that we are safe and back in service, we wanted to share what happened.
At 2:41 a.m., we received an emergency warning call from Taum Sauk about rapidly rising water. There was no time to waste. Chris immediately began going from camper to camper and cabin to cabin, pounding on doors and using a megaphone to wake everyone and tell them to evacuate. She then led a convoy of campers, trucks, cars, and families out of the campground in her SUV, leaving with only the clothes on her back. Dave stayed behind. He used the backhoe to rescue guests trapped by the rising water, transporting them to the second story of the general store and remaining until every last person had been moved to safety.
As the floodwaters continued to rise, people found themselves stranded on the roof of the lodge, on top of a bus, and in waist-deep water near the garage. Dave stayed until the final evacuation was completed hours later. Meanwhile, Chris remained at the emergency command center, working with rescue officials to identify the locations of stranded guests and guide first responders using detailed maps of the property. The final rescue was completed around 11:30 a.m. Campers, vehicles, buses, buildings, and equipment can all be repaired or replaced. Lives cannot. Our hearts are full of gratitude that every guest was safely evacuated. We are incredibly thankful for the courage of the first responders, emergency personnel, neighbors, friends, and everyone who reached out with prayers, support, and offers to help.
Twin Rivers Landing has always been more than just a campground—it is a community. The flood not only damaged buildings and equipment, but also left our staff without their belongings and their sole source of income. While the damage is significant, so is our determination to rebuild, support our staff, and welcome everyone back. Thank you for standing with us. We are blessed beyond words that everyone made it home safely.
At 2:41 a.m., we received an emergency warning call from Taum Sauk about rapidly rising water. There was no time to waste. Chris immediately began going from camper to camper and cabin to cabin, pounding on doors and using a megaphone to wake everyone and tell them to evacuate. She then led a convoy of campers, trucks, cars, and families out of the campground in her SUV, leaving with only the clothes on her back. Dave stayed behind. He used the backhoe to rescue guests trapped by the rising water, transporting them to the second story of the general store and remaining until every last person had been moved to safety.
As the floodwaters continued to rise, people found themselves stranded on the roof of the lodge, on top of a bus, and in waist-deep water near the garage. Dave stayed until the final evacuation was completed hours later. Meanwhile, Chris remained at the emergency command center, working with rescue officials to identify the locations of stranded guests and guide first responders using detailed maps of the property. The final rescue was completed around 11:30 a.m. Campers, vehicles, buses, buildings, and equipment can all be repaired or replaced. Lives cannot. Our hearts are full of gratitude that every guest was safely evacuated. We are incredibly thankful for the courage of the first responders, emergency personnel, neighbors, friends, and everyone who reached out with prayers, support, and offers to help.
Twin Rivers Landing has always been more than just a campground—it is a community. The flood not only damaged buildings and equipment, but also left our staff without their belongings and their sole source of income. While the damage is significant, so is our determination to rebuild, support our staff, and welcome everyone back. Thank you for standing with us. We are blessed beyond words that everyone made it home safely.