State of emergency in Missouri declared after once-in-a-MILLENNIUM rainfall causes catastrophic flooding sweeping residents into 29 foot high waters… and the worst is still to come
Catastrophic flooding has triggered a state of emergency across parts of Missouri after what forecasters described as a once-in-a-millennium rainfall sent rivers surging to historic levels, collapsing buildings, stranding families and forcing dramatic rescues from the fast-moving floodwaters.
Thousands have been placed under a flash flood emergency by the National Weather Service with emergency crews having already carried out more than 90 water rescues.
Relentless thunderstorms dumped between six and 12 inches of rain near the Black River in southeastern Missouri, inundating roads, campgrounds and communities.
Officials warned the danger was far from over on Friday, with rivers continuing to rise and additional flooding expected in the coming hours. The river rose to an all-time high of 28.7 feet on Friday.
Among the most dramatic rescues, around 20 people had to be pulled to safety after a building at the Bearcat Getaway campground near the Black River collapsed beneath them, sending campers into the raging water.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Eddie Young said the group had climbed onto the structure before it gave way, forcing emergency responders to rescue them from the flood.
The extreme weather also endangered first responders. During one rescue mission, a Missouri State Highway Patrol boat became entangled in a submerged line.
The two troopers aboard were forced to abandon the vessel and enter the floodwaters before both safely made it ashore without injury.
More than 90 water rescues were carried out in Reynolds County, Missouri, as flash flooding overwhelmed the area. Joe Holt took this video from the air
Scary scenes unfolded when one of the Missouri Highway Patrol’s rescue boats became entangled in a submerged line
The two troopers on board were forced to abandon their boat, but fortunately, both made it to safety and were not injured
The Reynolds County sheriff’s office said emergency responders had more than 90 water rescues of campers and people in cars after several inches of rain fell overnight into the morning across a long swath of central and eastern Missouri.
The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for the area, which got between 6 and 12 inches as thunderstorms piled on the area one after another, said Matt Beitscher, a lead meteorologist with the NWS office in St. Louis.
‘It’s very, very popular place for recreation,’ said Beitscher of the affected counties.
‘So there are campgrounds there. There are float trip locations there. A lot of vulnerable populations that would be susceptible to flash flooding.’
Governor Mike Kehoe declared a state of emergency as the crisis escalated, activating one of Missouri’s urban search-and-rescue teams while National Guard helicopters were dispatched to reach residents cut off by floodwaters.
A family reunification center has also been set up.
Several major roads became impassable, and authorities established a family reunification center as rescue operations continued.
Joe Holt took video of flooding in Lesterville. Footage from the air saw several major roads were made impassable due to flooding and damage.
Several inches of overnight rain left campers and motorists stranded across central and eastern Missouri
Roads were turned into rivers as raging floodwaters swept through the area
The National Weather Service said repeated rounds of thunderstorms unleashed rainfall totals between six and 12 inches in some locations.
Meteorologists described the deluge as a ‘once-in-a-millennium’ rainfall event, warning that swollen rivers would continue rising even after the rain eased, raising fears that the worst flooding may still be ahead.
