KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/DickinsonSturm Family Preparing to Move Home after Flood.

Sturm Family Preparing to Move Home after Flood.

The Missouri River is no longer in flood stage--it hasn't been for months.

But many families are still cleaning up the mess the river left behind.

It says 'Sturm' on the mail box but the Sturm family hasn't called this home on Estate Ave home since May when the Missouri River forced them out.

Stacy Sturm says, "In our neighborhood the houses are all at such different levels so our house is still okay and we're able to save a good portion of our main floor but the people across from us have to demolish"

The Sturms say they feel lucky, their house only got water on the sub flooring. Stacy says, "The biggest problem we have had with our house is warping, We've had to replace a good portion of our kitchen because the house sat in water for months so our counter tops were bubbled up and cupboards wouldn't close. But we are lucky, I'll never complain about it most North Dakotans don't we just put our heads down and get to work."

Labor that's paying off. The Sturm's plan to move back home in two weeks. Stacy says,  "You're probably looking around and saying two weeks really but we're painting today and the floors in next week."

For 10 year old Summer Sturm the days can't go by fast enough. Each stroke of the paint brush making her house feel like a home again. "It was hard because this summer we moved over and over again and so this is exciting that this will be our final move hopefully. "I'm just excited to be able to run around the house and be able to be loud."

A feeling that's echoed throughout her house. "I'm excited and a little nervous too, I don't know if I' m going to know how to live in my house again"

But as each fresh coat of paint dries the excitement of moving home builds. Stacy says, "It's a lot of labor, but it's a labor of love."

Stacy says there's no way they'd be ready to move back in without the help of their friends and family, who helped with everything from painting to minor construction projects. She says after they move back in the next challenge will be reorganizing--a lot of their stuff is still in storage.