What Middlesboro looked like on June 20, 2011, after more than 8" of rain fell in 36-hour span.
Today, nearly all of Middlesboro, KY is cleared from flood damage.
It looks like nearly everything is back to normal in the small Bell County, Kentucky town of Middlesboro, one year since historic floods swept through the town.
"There are a handful of homes that we are still working on and finishing up. But 95% of everything is back to where we like it to be... or better improved," said Middleboro Mayor Bill Kelley.
On this one-year anniversary of the soaker, where more than eight inches of water fell in 36 hours, residents and businesses relive the storm's impact.
"When the rain first came down, I didn't think much about it because this end of the street didn't have a flooding problem," said Teresa Brown, the co-owner of downtown coffee shop, Shades.
She saw about half a foot of water warp her floors and damage kitchen equipment.
"The overwhelming emotion that you have seen damaged from the water," Brown added.
Besides the clearing of debris, mud, and gallons of water, the city also added some future preventative measures.
"Concrete walls that protect," the mayor talked about several new retaining barriers along the Yellow Creek, which dumps into the Cumberland River. Those barriers protect nearby homes.
"The river from the mountains came down so hard, it made it own course through there and bust some walls," Mayor Kelley said.
He says Middlesboro's rugged terrain will not stop every future flood, but at least, this preventative measure can soften the blow.
"Mother Nature can still win a battle sometimes," the mayor said.