Elk Creek was a raging torrent on Thursday morning, catching almost everyone Gilmanton off-guard.

Angelique Breitung and her boyfriend Eli Bloom initially came down to help Eli’s brother Matt.

Breitung said, early on, conditions seemed manageable.

"We were coming down to just help with the lawnmowers,” she said to WEAU 13 News on Thursday. “But, by the time we got down here, grandma's car was all flooded in."

However, the flood waters quickly rose – leaving Eli and Matt separated from solid ground.

"It's scary!” Breitung said. “I know they're big boys and they can handle themselves, but that's my family, you know. So, I'm worried about them."

With Elk Creek rising several feet in a short amount of time, that meant time was very critical for their survival.

"We had to assess the situation and our guys are trained to do what they need to do to get people safely,” Volunteer firefighter Treig Pronschinske said to WEAU 13 News on Thursday. “We needed to get the right equipment here in a timely fashion and I think we did that."

It took the work of several crews from the Mondovi Fire Department – along with a motorboat loaned by a neighbor – to save Eli and Matt Bloom, along with their grandmother and another neighbor who were each trapped in their houses.

Once her boyfriend was out of harm’s way, she had just one thought on her mind.

"You know, I was telling everyone over there when I got him back, I wasn't going to ever let him go," she said. “Words can't describe it.”

While Eli Bloom held on to the outside of the shed, his brother Matt was inside – literally trying to keep his head above water.

“When the water started getting up to my chest, I started climbing on boards to get out of the water,” said to WEAU 13 News on Thursday. “I was hoping the shed foundation would hold up and hold us there, I guess.”

As the waters of Elk Creek began to recede, Matt Bloom had a chance to assess what happened and try to move forward.

"My grandma is 86 and she lost everything,” he said. She lost both of her cars. She had a big, enclosed trailer with all of her antiques in it and all of that stuff is all gone. I kind of feel responsible for not getting her out of there, but I never knew it was going to get this bad.

"I don't know if insurance pays for this, or not. I don't know. It'll be a pretty tough hole to dig yourself out of, I guess. I guess at least you got a chance to work another day."