NEW HARTFORD - After Beaver Creek flooded, residents - who faced a tornado May 25 - face another monumental phase of cleanup.

Lonnie Hartema, a member of the custodial staff at New Hartford Elementary, was overwhelmed.

"I don't know where to start," Hartema said.

"I've lived here just about all my life - I've never seen one this bad. I don't ever wanna see it again, either."

Hartema said nearly all carpeting in the school will have to be replaced. Flooring in the gymnasium, kitchen and hallways must undergo serious cleaning.

A neighbor gave Richard Young a ride on a tractor to get him out of town.

"I spent the night in my car," Young said. "That was the best four hours of sleep I've gotten in two weeks."

Other residents clung to pets as they headed for higher ground. Steven Coker waded through flooded streets to rescue his dog Monday morning after spending Sunday night in his parents' house in Waterloo.

"He's been my best buddy since he was 1 - he was going to the Humane Society so I took him in," Coker said.

"He's not too happy right now - probably hungry. I thought I was going to have to go in and grab him but he came to me."

Julie Bromwich has been at Al and Kathy Abkes' farm in rural New Hartford since 2:30 a.m. Monday helping clean. The group was tending cows, horses, cats, turkeys, geese, goats, peacocks and nearly 10,000 4-week-old chickens - which were rescued after the tornado leveled Jim Dos' farm near Dunkerton. The crew led a few to the barn's loft but dispersed some of the larger animals to neighbors' barns at about 10:30 a.m. Monday.

The animals weren't the only problems for the Abkes' family.

"The house has about 18 inches of water in it," Bromwich said.

Officials shut off electricity and gas in town at about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, and residents were asked to evacuate. Ann Thelen, spokeswoman for MidAmerican Energy, said as of late Monday the power was still out in New Hartford, which has about 650 residents.

"The floodwaters need to recede," Thelen said. "Right now it's a safety issue."

John McEnaney, a resident for 27 years, was having a tough time comprehending the task ahead.

"I mean, God, look at the mess you got," he said. "Your sidewalks are screwed up, the road's screwed up, your patio's screwed up, your lawn's a mess. You know, where do you start?"

He was philosophical, though.

"Oh, well. You live by the river, you die by the river," McEnaney said.

Dave Grandon, a member of the New Hartford City Council, said the community spirit has also helped sustain the effort. In particular, he singled out the men and women on the fire department.

"These guys … have been bustin' their butts the past three weeks, and it's all volunteer," said. "They've done an outstanding job."

Contact Bethany Pint

at bethany.pint@wcfcourier.com or (319) 291-1587.