Amid Columbia’s floods, a new reckoning of sorts

Amid the floods earlier this month in Columbia, Bert Louthian has discovered a new reckoning of sorts.

The attorney’s home on Old Neck Road was overcome. He and his family were rescued by boat just as Louthian was putting his wife, Amy, daughter, Addy, and dog, Sam, on a paddle board to push them out into Lake Katherine.

“The house is destroyed, but we can rebuild the house,” he said. “You don’t really know that stuff is just stuff until you experience something like this.”

Louthian and his wife continue to have a positive outlook on their recovery from the disaster.

“It’s empowering to know that my neighbors and my friends are strong,” he said.

Louthian, 57, grew up in the neighborhood and said the disaster has brought everyone closer.

“I bet you I have 25 new best friends now,” he said. “I know who those people are now just from the way they behaved during this catastrophe.”

This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 9:46 PM.