( CNN ) -- As historically high flood waters receded in Tennessee on Wednesday , dramatic stories of tragedy and survival emerged , including that of a woman who saw her husband and daughter swept away . Sherry Qualls watched in horror as chest-deep water washed away her husband and daughter as he tried to save the girl from a rushing creek roaring through their backyard in Linden , Tennessee , on Sunday , according to CNN Nashville affiliate WSMV . `` From his neck up , he was staring at me , '' Qualls said of her husband Bobby . `` He did n't say anything , just staring at me . She was screaming for her daddy to help her , and then by the time the rescue squad got her , I did n't see them any more . '' Their bodies were found the next day , washed almost a mile away , the affiliate reported . `` He was a hero , '' Qualls said Wednesday of her husband , who earlier had rescued the couple 's son from floodwaters . `` He sacrificed himself for his kids , that 's what I think . '' Surveying the property where her home once stood , Qualls said it 's hard to believe her husband and daughter are gone . `` Every time I drive in the driveway , I see my daughter standing at the door smiling , and him , too , and I expect them to call me and ask where I 'm at , '' she said . Linden is located between Nashville and Memphis in western Tennessee . CNN iReporter Nathan Clark went to his father 's house in Dickson , Tennessee -- west of Nashville -- on Saturday to help him salvage possessions as waters from a flooded creek rose on his dad 's property . Clark says they got out just in time . `` The water was at the top of his truck 's hood . '' Clark said . `` If we had stayed any longer , we would n't have gotten out of there . '' With waters receding on Wednesday , Nashville Mayor Karl Dean announced that most city government offices would reopen Thursday and that city bus service would be restored . Nashville students will have another day off Thursday , though teachers and other staff will return to work . `` The news is largely good , '' Dean said at a Wednesday evening press conference . `` We 're making progress and we 'll continue to make progress in the days ahead . '' The weekend deluge in the Mid-South has swelled many rivers to historic levels , turned roads to lakes and caused at least 28 deaths . The rains were especially cruel to Tennessee , killing 19 and immersing landmarks like the Grand Ole Opry . Two Nashville residents are still missing , Dean 's office said Wednesday night . President Obama has declared six Tennessee counties major disaster areas , which makes federal funding available to affected residents . Many area waterways remained well past flood level on Wednesday . The Cumberland River , which cuts through Nashville , stood at just over 48 feet on Wednesday evening -- about 13 feet above flood stage -- said Jim Moser , a forecaster with the National Weather Service . On Wednesday afternoon , more more than 100 Nashville firefighters and police officers were going door-to-door on foot in flood-ravaged neighborhoods , checking on residents and providing assistance . Search and rescue teams visited more than 700 homes Wednesday and will visit more Thursday , Dean 's office said . One Nashville neighborhood , Metro Center , remained closed to residents and workers Wednesday because of standing water . The city allowed some business owners and managers to survey their businesses for a few hours in the afternoon but limited access to people in trucks and SUVS and made clear that they entered the area at their own risk . With one of Nashville 's main water treatment plants still closed from flooding , the city asked residents Wednesday to use water only when absolutely necessary , telling them to put off washing dishes and to limit toilet flushing . `` Citizens are using water at a greater rate than we can treat it and pump it out to the community , '' said Sonia Harvat , a spokesman for Nashville 's water department , in an e-mail message . City officials said Wednesday that the city would be forced to rely on bottled water unless more people started conserving . Still , flood waters should recede significantly in the next couple of days , the National Weather Service 's Moser said . `` We 're not expecting a significant amount of rain through Monday , '' he said . `` It might amount to a quarter or half inch but not enough to affect things . '' After an aerial tour of central Tennessee Wednesday , Gov . Phil Bredesen warned residents to beware of con artists looking to capitalize on the flood response . `` There are always people who come in and do these scams of charging people -- and they seem to prey on elderly people an awful lot -- just charging people an awful lot to do something , '' Bredesen said . `` ( They say ) ' I 'm going to fix your house , you have to do it or the state 's going to tear it down , and it 's like $ 20,000 . Write me a check or give me cash . ' ``
Nineteen deaths occurred across Nashville ; at least two were in Southeast . City government offices in Nashville to reopen downtown , city bus service to be restored . 100 volunteer firefighters , police officers go door - to - door checking on residents . Cumberland River still about 13 feet above flood stage .