PLYMOUTH -- Cleanup is underway at homes and businesses as flood waters continue to recede. And as the water goes down, life is slowly returning to normal. But in hard hit areas, it's clear there is still a lot of work ahead.

After 31 years on Plymouth's Yellow River, Rita Long and her husband Bill have seen it all. Last Wednesday, they watched as the water surged up into their yard, and began working their sump pumps overtime.

Just 72 hours later, it was all gone.

"As fast as it went up, it's went down," Rita said.

But it's left plenty of mud, sewage and bacteria behind. That's why Rita didn't waste time taking action!

"There's a lot of mud and dirt to clean. I'm just taking a scrub brush and bleach water and just scrubbing the walls and spraying it down," she said.

But despite the draining in Rita's yard, standing water still remains in other spots, including at Gill Park, which looks more like a lake. It's even more proof there's still a lot of cleanup to go.

Just a few hundred yards away from the park, sandbags that were holding back flood waters just two days ago are stacked and the roads are back open.

But a sign reading "closed due to flooding" outside the Boys and Girls Club of Marshall County tells the story of the last 5 days.

"Crazy. Insane. [We've been] pumping water left and right," said Bryon Haenes, a volunteer at the Club.

And all that pumping is helping. Two days ago the water level inside sat at more than 5 feet high. By Sunday night, it was down to 5 inches.

But the damage is already done.

"The smell in there is terrible," said Haenes. "Both furnaces had water in them. Basically [they're] ruined. The water heaters are ruined. Electrical boxes need to be replaced."

It's clear "normal" is still a long way off.

"I'm going to say at least 3 to 4 weeks," said Haenes.

Even so both Bryon and Rita know it could have been much worse if not for the generosity of strangers, who donated time and equipment and are now working to help Plymouth dry out for good.

"We're going to finish pumping [Monday] and just go from there," said Haenes.

Homeowners with flood damage in Plymouth are being asked to fill out a flood damage questionnaire that will be sent to the Indiana Homeland Security Department. You can pick one up at the Plymouth Police Department.