Chillicothe Optimists

WMBD/WYZZ-TV—CHILLICOTHE--People in Chillicothe are taking the flood with a wave of enthusiasm, even though many homes and businesses sit right on the river.

Despite the fact that just last Fall residents were looking at a very similar scene, residents we talked to call it "exciting."

  While some take pictures, others just look in awe of how high the water has risen as it reaches lawn statues and  mailboxes.

To prevent damage, homeowners are stacking furniture and momentos on cinder blocks, all the while looking at the glass as half full.

Judy Malson has lived on the river for 11 years and said, “It's like it's really exciting, it's really pretty if you can look past the devastation.”

  Her husband agreed, “If you buy a house on the river you're taking the gamble and you gotta put up with it,” said Don Malson.

  David Dutton has lived on the river for five years and said. “Ahh it's interesting I mean every window you look out of it's water. You get cooped up inside you got to get out and mess around a little bit.”

  Still, one complaint Chillicothe residents do have is that barges were still passing on the river and while they moved there prepared for floods like this one, just one inch of water can mean the difference between damage and losing a home.