With the age of 100, Julia Sarno survived two world wars, witnessed how diseases killed millions during the turn of the century, and lived through personal battles. On Tuesday, however, she was found dead in her flooded basement in suburban Detroit.

While the actual cause of death was still being investigated, it appeared that Sarno had died of drowning when heavy rains in southeastern Michigan caused flooding and loss of power, with water sipping into her basement.

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It also appeared that Sarno was alone during the flood because her body was only discovered when her 72-year-old daughter went to the house to check on her mother, said Mayor James Fouts of Warren, Michigan.

Fouts described the flood, which was caused by 5.2 inches of rain that poured in Warren since Monday, as "the great flood of 2014".

Officials reportedly said that Monday night's rainfall in Detroit was the most the city has received in almost nine decades.

How Sarno ended up in the basement of her house and eventually drowned was still unknown because investigators have not found any witnesses. Her daughter also has not spoken to the press.

Neighbors said Sarno was a kind-hearted and charming woman "who does not look her age". Sarno would send Christmas cards to neighbors and would say hi to everyone she met on the road, one neighbor said.

One neighbor blamed the city government for not preparing for the heavy downpour.

 "They should have had the sewer system better prepared, the city should have been better prepared for the storm, but they were not prepared at all," the neighbor said.

Aside from Sarno, a 30-year-old woman also died due to seizure when her vehicle was trapped in high flood waters. The high waters stranded about 1,000 vehicles as many roads were closed, and some people spent the night in their cars.

TagsMichigan Flood, Julia Sarno