COLUMBUS -- When the water came to Platte Valley, for some folks and businesses, there was no turning back.

“The flood pretty much destroyed that building, it used to be a manure pumping place,” said T-Bone Truck Stop Owner Lance Lehr, pointing just across the street to a completely destroyed shell of a building.

His truck stop is marking the second anniversary of the flood that ruined homes, shops, and lives in Nebraska. While the stop was able to bounce back, the damage from 2019 left its mark.

“We lost part of the building in the back,” Lehr said. “Like literally, I’ve never seen it ever again. It must be in the Missouri [River] somewhere.”

Most of what was inside - lost when the water began rushing in, save only for a picture of Lance Lehr’s daughter Bailey. When the water finally receded and Lance assessed the damage, the next course of action was clear.

“Didn’t even think twice - started rebuilding immediately,” he said, “I love what I do, and I love taking care of my customers.”

With the help of the Duncan fire department, the mud and debris were cleared out of the interior. With the help of some local artists, the stop’s signature cowboy boots were touched up and put back where they belonged.

Now, two years after it nearly came tumbling down, Lance says the stop is back on track, though the experiences of 2019 have kept him wary and preparing for the future.

“I got quarter-inch plate all the way around my building,” he said, “I put it 3-foot down in the ground, and five-foot up.”

“If I got a couple of hours notice, I can pretty much bolt the building up.”

The national weather service says it's keeping a close eye on this week, with more precipitation possible on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Officials say just a couple more inches of rain will make flood conditions possible.

Lance says his shop is probably past the danger for this year. He keeps an album to remind him what it took to bring the stop back from the brink and to keep him optimistic about the future.

“I don’t think there’s a whole lot anybody could do about a flood,” Lance said, “if it happens, you take it, you smile, you make the best of it.”

“We got lucky another year, and hopefully we can make it another ten years before we see another one. And then it will be her problem, not mine!” Lance said, referring to Bailey.