PONTIAC - It's been a year since the water came. Melting snow and heavy rains caused millions of dollars of damage when the Vermilion River swelled to 19 1/2 feet from its usual 4 to 6 feet. | SLIDESHOW: The first four months | Timeline

Hundreds of people were evacuated by school buses and boats. When the water receded and the clean-up started, the streets were lined with piles of garbage.

One man died when he fell into a flooded basement.

"I think about it every day," Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said. "I think we got through it, and the city was very prepared."

Livingston and Iroquois counties won a state disaster declaration but it was months before the federal government approved theirs, a move that freed more than $8 million in aid to people and businesses that lost their homes and buildings.

Between the two counties, more than 1,002 homes were damaged.

It's been a year, but the impact remains for those who had the most damage. The memories linger.

'We will survive'

"I think the things that I would like to have the most are not really tangible things that we can touch," said Charlene Aaron. "I miss the memories that we had in our house and the thought that we were going to be there forever. It just didn't work out that way, and everything was taken away so quickly."

Her family lost their home of 30 years, the place where their two children were raised. It was among four homes in Pontiac that were demolished because of flood damage.

The Aarons' house, a 1½-story, half-brick and half-frame at 212 S. Main St., had 18 to 20 inches of water in the first floor. In previous floods, the water rose slowly so the family could prepare, mentally and physically. This time, they had only enough time to gather some clothes and a few other items before they pushed through the three feet of water that covered their neighborhood.

Charlene and husband Doug stayed with his father for six months, and spent every Sunday at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The family's faith was the "sustenance" to help them deal with the devastation.

Doug wrote "We Will Survive" on a door that fell off the house and later was discarded and put into a pile of garbage.

"It was very overwhelming, especially for the first few days and weeks. It was so surreal that all of this was taken away," Charlene Aaron said. "People that we didn't even know came over bringing food, and the community was just awesome in how they came together."

A year later, life is back to normal. The couple moved into a new home, built with a low interest federal loan, in their hometown of Fairbury in June.

"Every day I think about it," Aaron said. "I just think about the loss, and, sure, we have a very nice home now and we are very appreciative of it, but we will never get the memories back. Our kids were born and significant milestones took place in our house."

'Always looking for ways to improve'

The city's disaster plans have been updated, including contacts with organizations like the American Red Cross. The city wants to buy equipment -communication systems and back-up generators -for areas like the Pontiac Community Recreation Center, which was used as emergency housing.

"Being the person that I am, I always try to find a way to improve something," McCoy, the mayor, said. "You can always be more prepared."

The city also has talked with the Army Corps of Engineers about flood prevention, but it's hard since the Vermilion runs through the city.

A system of levees is the only feasible solution, said McCoy, because it's too expensive to either widen or deepen the river. The city still is waiting to hear from the Corps about a time and price for the levee work, but McCoy said the cost would be in the millions.

"Preliminary discussions led me to believe that there is really nothing we can to do prevent a massive flooding event," McCoy said. "The event we had in January was a perfect series of events that led to a couple of days of very high water."

---

Flood of 2008

Jan. 8: Rapidly melting snow and heavy rain causes the Vermilion River to swell, flooding several areas of the city. Mayor Scott McCoy declares a disaster area at 10 p.m.

Jan. 9: Gov. Rod Blagojevich issues a state disaster declaration for Iroquois and Livingston counties, offering assistance. Michael "Mick" Huxtable, 36, dies after he accidentally slips and falls into his flooded basement while carrying an extension cord. The river crests at a record height of 19.5 feet, according to city measurements.

Jan. 12: Water levels drop below flood stage of 14 feet.

Jan. 14: The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and local emergency officials begin to assess flood damage. They find 480 homes damaged in both counties.

Jan. 18: Blagojevich asks President George W. Bush to declare the counties as major disaster areas so people and businesses can receive federal grants and loans from FEMA.

Feb. 6: FEMA denies declaration requests.

Feb. 18: Revised preliminary damage assessment shows 1,002 homes impacted in both counties.

Feb. 21: Blagojevich asks Bush to reconsider the denial, and appeals the decision. A letter of support is sent from senators Barack Obama and Richard Durbin and U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson.

March 5: Bush declares Iroquois and Livingston counties a disaster area, authorizing individual assistance for people with flood damage.

March 14: State and federal disaster recovery centers open so residents can meet with representatives of state, federal and voluntary agencies for help and recovery.

April 4: Disaster recovery centers close; disaster loan outreach center opens for U.S. Small Business Administration.

April 25: Federal officials approve more than $8 million in grants and loans for the two counties.

May 6: Federal disaster registration ends.

SOURCES: Pantagraph archives; press releases.