In the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2005, in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks, a 20-foot wall of water rushed down into the east fork of the Black River, flooding portions of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park and causing substantial damage to vegetation and aquatic habitat. Caused by the catastrophic failure of the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Plant Upper Reservoir, the flood surge swept away the state park superintendent's home and several vehicles from a nearby state highway into an adjacent field. Several injuries were reported. Fortunately, the event occurred during the park's off season and there were no fatalities.