Young Woman Lost in Rare Flood Found Dead

A Tragic Loss in Missouri: The Story of Faith Gregory

A Missouri family has been left heartbroken after the body of a 23-year-old woman was found days after she was swept away by severe floodwaters. Faith Gregory’s body was discovered by volunteers just 1.8 miles from her home in Huzzah Creek on Saturday morning, following devastating flooding that hit the area on Friday.

The Crawford County Sheriff’s Office expressed their sorrow over the tragic loss, stating, “This is not the outcome that any of us were hoping for.” They added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Faith’s family, friends and all those affected by this tragic loss.”

The discovery of Gregory’s body marked the final person unaccounted for in the county after the disastrous thunderstorms that brought heavy rainfall. A state of emergency was declared by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, who later mentioned that hundreds of people had been saved from floodwaters, trees, rooftops, and stranded vehicles.

Relentless thunderstorms dumped between six and 12 inches of rain near the Black River in southeastern Missouri, causing roads, campgrounds, and communities to be inundated. In the midst of the flooding, the walls of Gregory’s home, where she and her boyfriend Logan Ousley lived, collapsed due to the force of the waters.

She and Ousley, along with their four dogs, managed to find their way into a kayak before Gregory and the dogs were swept away in the currents, according to KSDK. Ousley was able to make his way out of the waters, while one of the four dogs was discovered alive around eight miles from their home. Nearby, two others had also been rescued from the waters, as reported by the outlet.

Upon the discovery of Gregory’s body, her sister Kayla Dawn shared her grief, saying, “She isn’t just my sister, she’s my person, the person I call for everything.” Dawn described Gregory as her “best friend” and the “best Aunt Faye to every kid she knows.” She continued, “I can’t believe this is our reality, my heart hurts. I’m so lost and confused on what to do. All I know is I want to see my sister again…This hurts. I want to hug my sister. I love you.”

Days earlier, Dawn turned to social media to petition for help in finding her sister. She wrote, “The flood was bad, storm was intense. Please everyone that lives down in Cherryville/Davisville, check the creeks, yell her name. Please help me find my sister.”

In a later post, Dawn stated that no GoFundMe would be made by her family and anyone looking to donate should send funds to the Wilson Mortuary for Gregory’s funeral arrangements.

On Friday morning, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency as between eight and 12 inches of rain fell in the area. The NWS warned, “Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation.” They advised, “Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under evacuation order.”

The rainfall and flash flooding followed a warning from Governor Kehoe, who stated, “With additional heavy rain expected through the weekend, the threat is not over. If you’re camping, floating or spending time near rivers and streams, move to higher ground and stay alert of weather conditions.” He added, “Missourians should continue to monitor local forecasts and follow the guidance of local authorities.”

Roads were left underwater, including around Camp Taum Sauk, where children and staff were trapped by the floods before being rescued by National Guard helicopters, according to the state’s highway patrol. Camp Taum Sauk officials posted on Instagram, “We are beyond thankful for your help keeping our camp community safe.”

Kahoe wrote on Facebook, “Missouri’s first responders once again answered the call with extraordinary bravery, professionalism and compassion.”

Four people were pronounced missing by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, one of which being Gregory. The remaining three were rescued, according to the sheriff’s office. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said five people were rescued from Bearcat Getaway campground when the flooding hit the area near Lesterville. A building later collapsed at the same campground, causing around ten to 17 people to fall into the water before they were later rescued, according to KSDK.

In Reynold’s County, Eddie Young of the highway patrol’s Troop G announced that five people were still missing on Friday. Around an hour later, all persons were accounted for in the county, according to the outlet.

The extreme weather also endangered first responders. During one rescue mission, a Missouri State Highway Patrol boat became entangled in a submerged line. The two troopers aboard were forced to abandon the vessel and enter the floodwaters before both safely made it ashore without injury.

The floods came after several inches of rain fell overnight on Thursday and into the morning across a long swath of central and eastern Missouri.

Several major roads became impassable, and authorities established a family reunification center as rescue operations continued. Joe Holt took video of flooding in Lesterville, showing footage from the air of several major roads made impassable due to flooding and damage. Houses were also flooded in Annapolis, Missouri, as rising waters from the creek washed over roads and bridges.

Meteorologists described the deluge as a “once-in-a-millennium” rainfall event, warning that swollen rivers would continue rising even after the rain eased, raising fears that the worst flooding may still be ahead.