Search Continues After 1-in-1,000-Year Flood Devastates Missouri
What is being called a 1-in-1,000-year rainfall event has unleashed catastrophic flooding along Missouri's Black River. Here is the latest on the ongoing rescue efforts happening in this part of south-central Missouri.
Latest on Flash Flooding Emergency in South-Central Missouri
A rare flash flood emergency unfolded across portions of Missouri late last week, washing out several roads and leaving campers stranded and in need of rescue.
The National Weather Service (NWS) initially issued the emergency declaration on Friday, July 10, for portions of Iron and Reynolds counties. Rainfall of up to 12 inches fell in a period of just a few hours.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe's office said that the magnitude of the rain totals made it a 1-in-1,000 event for some communities. Not surprisingly, rainfall of this degree quickly overwhelmed area streams, creeks, and low-lying roads along the Black River.
The Mark Twain National Forest was caught in the bullseye of this extreme rain event, picking up nearly 12 inches in some spots. The communities of Lesterville and Bixby also suffered the brunt of the heavy rain, with extensive rain reported in both towns.
The Missouri National Guard launched eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to rescue 202 children and counselors who were stranded when floodwaters inundated Camp Taum Sauk in Lesterville. The state's Urban Search and Rescue team confirmed that it participated in over 100 rescues.
Two Missouri State Highway Patrol officers got caught up in a flooding event that forced them to abandon their boat on the Black River while working to rescue people in Reynolds County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol noted that the troopers were able to safely self-rescue and that the boat was recovered at a later time.
The Bearcat Gateway campground, located near the banks of the Black River, was also significantly impacted by the flooding. Campers scrambled to the top of a building for safety as the waters continued to rise. The structure eventually collapsed under the weight of the water. Approximately 20 people were rescued from this campground.
Missouri Governor Declares State of Emergency
Gov. Kehoe declared a state of emergency on July 10 in order to free up resources and to activate Missouri’s State Emergency Operations Plan. By declaring the emergency, state agencies can better coordinate response efforts with local jurisdictions.
The governor warned residents and visitors that the threat was not over, advising Missourians to "continue to monitor local forecasts and follow the guidance of local authorities.” According to the governor's office, over half of the flood deaths recorded in Missouri happen when people become trapped in vehicles, speaking to the importance of never trying to drive through a flooded roadway.
The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (MoSEMA) said that it deployed several local response teams over the weekend to assist. This response included sending medical care teams to the highly impacted Lesterville.
Local and state officials continue to urge people to avoid flooded roads and areas that have been damaged by the storms as the recovery cleanup effort continues this week. The chance of more thunderstorms is in the forecast for places such as Lesterville on Wednesday and Thursday. Some of these storm cells could bring additional bands of heavy rain to the battered region.
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