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CNN Live At Daybreak

Flooding in Missouri Leads to Unusual Rescue

Aired May 14, 2002 - 06:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Flood-swollen waters are being blamed for two deaths in Missouri and at least one other in Ohio. Heavy weekend rains in the Midwest fell on ground already saturated from earlier storms. The rain sent hundreds of streams and tributaries churning out of their banks, but while officials are monitoring the larger rivers, like the Mississippi and the Ohio, no flooding is expected there.

There is concern, however, in southern Indiana that more high water is on the way when heavy rains from the northern part of the state flow down. The mayor of Vincennes has declared a state of emergency. Shelters have been set up in some locations for displaced families.

In Illinois, new flood alerts have been posted. Roads remain closed, and volunteers stacked sandbags to hold off surging rivers. It's just a mess in the Midwest.

All of that flooding in Missouri led to an unusual rescue too. Reporter John Mills of our affiliate KMOV tells us about one young man who found himself in a critical situation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN MILLS, CNN AFFILIATE KMOV REPORTER (voice-over): The unusual rescue happened early this morning in water-logged Hillsboro, where 53-year-old Linda Brewer screamed, then collapsed from a heart attack. The only other person in the house was Brandon, her nine- year-old grandson, who called 911 and started CPR.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I already knew it. My grandpa taught me.

MILLS (on camera): Oh, really?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He taught me last year. I never forget anything.

MILLS (voice-over): Flash flooding was so severe, emergency crews could not reach the house. Brandon stayed with his grandmother and on the phone with rescuers until she could be reached.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You blow first, and then you push down as hard as you can, and then she started breathing just a little bit.

MILLS: Kenny Brewer is Brandon's uncle.

KENNY BREWER, BRANDON'S UNCLE: Oh, it was great. He saved my mom.

MILLS: Farther south in St. Francis (ph) County, a different flood story with an emotional reunion between father and son. Two 16- year-olds were on the flooded big river when their small John (ph) boat capsized.

VIKKI BLUMENSTOCK, FAMILY FRIEND: If he's gone, he's going to be sadly missed, but yet he's headstrong (ph) strong. He's hanging on. I met his mother for the first time. I told her, I said he is hanging someplace.

MILLS: Both teens swam to shore through the fast-moving water, but neither realized the other had survived until hours later.

ELSON GILE, FATHER: I'm just glad that nothing happened to either one of them, that they made it out safely, and I just hope this teaches all kids the lesson not to get in these swollen waters like this in a boat.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Good advice there. That's John Mills of our St. Louis affiliate, KMOV.

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