Determined not to succumb to the same devastating fate, the residents of Arnold embarked on a journey of preparedness and resilience. And as fate would have it, two years later, the ominous clouds gathered once again, heralding days of unrelenting rain. The Meramec River, began to swell, quickly inching towards a crest at 44.7 feet—a mere foot below the infamous watermark of the 2015 disaster. In a synchronized effort, city employees and dedicated volunteers mobilized swiftly, driven by the collective determination to save their city. With shovels in hand and a determination to save their city, they strategically positioned sandbags along vulnerable areas, creating a makeshift barricade against the encroaching waters.

The meticulous coordination and tireless efforts of the community paid-off; this time, the sandbagging efforts proved to be affective. Over the next few days, the rivers surged, but the fortified barriers held strong, confining the floodwaters to a mere inconvenience rather than a catastrophic disaster.

The collective sigh of relief echoed through the City of Arnold as the waters receded, leaving behind a community that had weathered the storm. The promise made in the aftermath of the 2015 flood had been fulfilled, as the city emerged with minimal damage and a renewed sense of resilience. The City of Arnold had not only weathered the flood but had also etched a new chapter in its history—one marked by unity, determination, and their newly implemented preparedness and disaster recovery system, Crisis Track.